Playing the numbers

“No more bets, please” said the croupier at the roulette table. I was at a university reunion at a casino. It was like the old days; indeed, my friends were still wearing the same clothes and hairstyles as at university. We had £25 split on 33/36, £200 on red, and £100 as an outside bet—all our chips staked on one roll of the ball. “Red 36.” We jumped and hugged, exchanging loud, poorly chosen expletives—heterosexual male love is strong. It wasn’t the …