Fox Reality, a US cable channel, recently announced its casting call for a new show entitled “Double or Nothing,” in which one person will gamble everything he or she owns on one spin of the roulette wheel. In a press release published last week, Steve Bourie, the author of the “American Casino Guide,” takes a stand, claiming that reality shows have simply gone too far this time.
"Anyone willing to risk their entire net worth on one spin of a roulette wheel might be better off spending that money on a rehab program because they probably have a problem," he says. "Gambling [and especially roulette] should be looked at as a form of entertainment, enjoyed by players who set a budget, and not as a quick fix to try and double one's net worth.”
Bouri gives another reality show, “Man Vs. Vegas,” as another example of horrible gambling practices. The show follows a man who has already lost most of his money in various Vegas casinos on an expedition to lose his the last pennies as well. Bourie calls the man a compulsive gambler, and notes that every time he begins a losing streak while playing roulette, blackjack or any other casino game, he increases his bets.
"It's especially interesting that the producers of this show will have their contestant play red or black on a roulette wheel,” continues Bouri, “most people believe that a player has a 50-50 chance when making this bet, but the casino advantage on a double-zero [roulette] wheel is 5.26%. Therefore, the producers are forcing someone to wager everything they own on one of the worst [roulette] bets in the casino."
Bouri accuses TV producers of promoting bad gambling practices and expresses his worries of those bad gambling habits turning into a new trend. His book has been published annually since 1992, and has sold 450,000 copies so far. | 
