Cal State offers course on the math behind games of chance.

For those who wonder about the odds behind blackjack, roulette, craps and other games, California State University, East Bay's continuing education program is offering a new summer course: "What are the odds? Introduction to gambling and chance."

No, it is not only about how to gamble, said Michael Orkin, Ph.D., the professor of the home study course. "It's about the math behind the odds."

The class is being marketed mainly to teachers, who have increasingly used gaming odds to make statistics and probability lessons more interesting — and can use such courses to build teacher education credits.

But anyone with $225 and a basic understanding of high school algebra can sign up.

Orkin, who has made a number of appearances on national television and radio shows to discuss gambling and odds, is a statistics professor at CSUEB and a managing scientist at Menlo Park-based consulting group Exponent. Home study students in the course will read Orkin's book, "What are the odds? Chance in Everyday Life," and other material, which they will receive in the mail. They will be assigned to turn in problem sets and written assignments online, and Orkin will be available by e-mail for questions.

Orkin said the course will help answer a host of questions people often have about gambling: "How are odds set? How do these people really count cards in blackjack?"
In the past, when he has incorporated gaming into statistics lessons, students often have come away surprised by their findings, he said.

Students will earn three quarter units of graduate credits or two semester credits.