Discovering the Numbers that Frequently Come Up
Backed by the right application, the Pelayos will prove to the crowd that roulette is not unbeatable. Their algorithm will replenish their finances.
In the early 1990s, Gonzalo Garcia-Pelayo used a computer to track the progress of the roulette balls at the Casino de Madrid in Spain. By betting on the numbers that had a higher chance of winning, family members made a million dollars over a few years. Very soon, he noticed that some numbers came up more frequently. He focused on developing an algorithm that would suggest a range of winning numbers.
The court sided with him when he was accused of cheating by the casinos. Of course, he became unwelcome in gaming houses worldwide. To continue this legend, read the Pelayos saga.
Following the tiny flaws in casino systems around the globe, a family from Spain caused a stir and gave the gaming industry cold sweats!
Gonzalo’s idea, the innovator, came to the mind of every gambler one day: to beat the casino. Reflecting on this, Gonzalo realized that no device is supreme. Swiss watches and NASA shuttles have flaws. Roulettes must also have their issues. The quality of the wood or the uneven spacing between pockets… These hidden causes could help the ball frequently stop on certain numbers.
Chance finally had its own material constraints. Starting from this hypothesis about imperfections, Gonzalo began frequenting the Casino de Madrid and recorded the winning numbers of each roulette to validate his theory.
He felt he was on the right track. He could see that the continuously coming numbers depended on each roulette. However, periodic observation mattered little except as testimony. For the process to be validated, at least 5,000 spins per roulette were needed.
In total, each roulette required half a month of labor. Gonzalo enlisted his family in the adventure. The fleet invested in the places. Ivan from the second generation led his cousins. They are members of the Pelayos and are all young. They positioned themselves around the roulettes.
Each table was studied carefully. Every flaw, even minor, was used to detect the faulty roulette. The Pelayos spent all their days at the casino. The observations lasted twelve hours, and they took turns halfway through this period. The findings were noted under the watchful eyes of the table managers. Endless sequences of numbers were handed over to Gonzalo. He extracted statistics and explored the possibilities of success. His goal was to dominate the casino over chance.
Gonzalo explained that the roulette is operated to the detriment of the bettor. With its 37 zones (from 0 to 36), the bettor can only succeed once in 37. However, when successful, he is only paid by a gain of 36. Over an extended period, he is consequently always defeated. It’s logical. Gonzalo wanted to swap the odds.
Gonzalo was not a math expert. For his plan to germinate, he took statistics courses from a friend who was a teacher. This friend devised a special program to quickly teach him the laws of statistics. Gradually, the effectiveness of the method became clear: the properties of each roulette for number draws were well marked. Real betting trials could begin. The story takes place in the summer of 1992 during the preparation for the Barcelona Olympics. Gonzalo remembers all the bets they placed on the Olympics at nightfall, in gambling establishments as well as all their victories.
Ten Years of Legal Battle
The fleet considered leaving Madrid for abroad. They found a fitting area in the Canary Islands. From this region, they attacked the rest of the planet. Very quickly, while they refrained from betting big, they secured the sum of 250 million pesetas (equivalent to 12 million francs).
The room managers were powerless against this constant luck. They could only demoralize the winners. They harassed and tormented them relentlessly as soon as they noticed their presence at the casino. Then came the time for exclusions, purely and simply, trampling on their honor. However, the Pelayos were not cheaters. In a casino, it is acceptable to incur incessant losses without any questions being asked. Conversely, if one wins a lot of chips, one becomes suspicious.
As a result, the Pelayos are among those barred from casinos. The initiative first came from Madrid, but all other establishments followed suit. Due to their notoriety, the fleet was denied access to gaming houses. Collecting additional gains became impossible. The flotilla sued the Casino de Madrid but ultimately had to return to their previous activities.
However, the Pelayos did not abandon their plans. Aware of the unusual nature of their story, Gonzalo and Ivan began writing a book a few springs later. They found an ally in Joaquin Sabina, a well-known song personality and friend. The fantastic legend of Los Pelayos was introduced on Spanish shelves in 2003 and received a warm welcome. The book was not adapted for the French-speaking audience. It is an honest victory in business and in the press. Since then, 20,000 copies of this biography have been sold. The work is marketed in a small format. The country’s media welcome the family into TV studios and interview them in their columns. They share their memories and their method; it is detailed at the end of the book.
Lately, positive news keeps coming. In June, the verdict was declared by the Madrid court against the casino after ten years of litigation. The Pelayos team can return to play in the casinos. They believe they have been wronged and plan a new legal battle to seek reparations. There is also the confirmation of an agreement with a major film company in Spain for the book’s rights. According to rumors, Antonio Banderas is considered for the casting.