Saint Louis School of Don Bosco, Inc.

Explaining the Mathematics Behind Gambling: Why there are more losers than winners.

Partial fulfillment of the requirements

Members:

Legaspi, Miracle Gyne Angelique

Omnos, Micah Antoinette

Teves, Dunia Mischca F.

Artemio Banagua

Subject Teacher

May 2024
 Gambling is a major issue in society, and it sparks debate over whether gambling is moral or

wrong, as well as how it might become addictive. As a mathematician, I want to investigate why most

gamblers lose more than they win, particularly in card games. I'll use math concepts such as counting and

probability to illustrate why this happens. Let us break it down step by step.

In the game of blackjack, a natural blackjack is one of the most favorable outcomes for a player. It

consists of drawing an Ace and any ten-value card (10, Jack, Queen, King) as the first two cards in a hand.

The calculation of the probability of such an event is crucial for both players and casino managers to

understand the odds and implications for game strategy and casino operations.

This report aims to provide a detailed calculation of the probability of drawing a natural blackjack

from a standard single deck of 52 cards, utilizing combinatorial mathematics to ensure accuracy and

relevance.

To compute the probability of drawing a natural blackjack, we use the concept of combinations,

which is suitable for scenarios where the order of outcomes does not matter. The steps involved are:
Calculation of Total Possible Combinations of Two Cards:

𝑛!
Using the combination formula 𝐶(𝑛, 𝑘) = 𝑘!(𝑛−𝑘) , where n is the total number of cards and 𝑘 is the

number of cards to be chosen, we calculate the total possible combinations of two cards from a 52-card

deck.

52 × 51
𝐶(52,2) = = 1,326
2

Calculation of Favorable Combinations for a Natural Blackjack:

A natural blackjack can be obtained by drawing one Ace and one ten-value card. The number of

Aces in the deck is 4, and the number of ten-value cards is 16.

Combinations for natural blackjack = 4(Aces) × 16(ten-value cards) = 64

Probability Calculation

The probability is then calculated by dividing the number of favorable combinations by the total

combinations.

64
𝑃(Natural Blackjack) = ≈ 0.0483 or 4.83%
1,326

The calculations show that the probability of drawing a natural blackjack in a single-deck game is

approximately 4.83%. This means that out of every 100 hands dealt, about 4 to 5 of them are expected to

be natural blackjacks, under perfect random conditions.

Understanding the math behind gambling, especially in card games, helps explain why there are

usually more losers than winners. By looking at how things combine and the chances of different

outcomes, it's clear that the odds are often not in the players' favor. This is because of things like the

house advantage, the rules of the game, and random luck. While gambling might seem like a quick way to

make money, really understanding the math shows the risks and challenges involved. People who are

against gambling can use this math to help others understand why it's risky and encourage them to

gamble responsibly if they choose to do so.

This report confirms that the probability of obtaining a natural blackjack with a single deck of

cards is about 4.83%. This statistical insight is vital for strategic planning in games of blackjack. Players

and casino operators alike should consider this probability when developing strategies and setting game

policies.
 Math Grade 10
TO BE SUBMITTED (GRADED)
ASSESSMENT EVIDENCE
PERFORMANCE TASK
Name: Legaspi, Miracle Gyne Angelique Section: CIMATTI
Omnos, Micah Antoinette
Teves, Dunia Mischca F.

User Anti-gambling advocates fights gambling addiction by considering moral issues of gambling and
other problems related to gambling as possible areas for convincing people to do away from gambling
habits.

As a mathematician, your task is to prepare a convincing written report on why are there more losers
than winners in gambling. You have to give example and be able to explain that in gambling why are there
more losers than winners by making mathematical computations of determining the number of winner
or the probability to win.

Criteria for evaluating your output:

DATA CHART Advanced Proficient Developing Beginning SCORE
(Table) 4 3 2 1
Written report is Written report is Written report is Written report is
exceptionally clear and reflective of some unclear and
clear, thorough, reflective of idea of what is difficult to
and fully students’ learned, lacks follow.
supported with personalized clarity and
Comprehensive theories and ideas and some accounts have
Written report principles of accounts are limited support.
combinatorics supported by
and probability principle and
and well theories.
explained.
Computations are Computations are Computations are Computations
logical and complete and not logical and shows a lot of
Computations complete and showing no showing minimal errors.
showing no errors. errors.
errors.
Explanation of The student is The student is The student is The student is
the concepts of able to able to able to able to
Combinatorics demonstrate in- demonstrate demonstrate gaps demonstrate
Permutation or depth understanding of in their minamal
Combination understanding of the key concepts understanding of understanding of
the key concepts of combinatorics. the key concepts the key concepts
of combinatorics. of combinatorics. of combinatorics
Total