Los Pealyos

Tracking faults infinitesimal casters casinos around the world, a family clan Spanish - Los Pelayos - was in the news ... and maddens the green baize!

They blew up the bank. The casinos. Madrid, which they originate, Tenerife, Vienna, Copenhagen, London, among others, and, of course, consecration, Las Vegas. The family Pelayo - Los Pelayos for friends - has defied the wheels of the world. And she has overcome.

A universal dream became reality thanks to a technique developed by Gonzalo, white beard and wicked eye, the father: "One morning I woke up thinking:" No machine is perfect. " Watches of Swiss watchmakers and the NASA shuttle does not. So I told myself that casters should not be, either: a harder wood in one place than another, a difference of less than one millimeter between the two boxes ... They are invisible but factors that could drive the ball more often to stay on some issues. "

A material limitation on random, really. With this supposed weakness, Gonzalo begins to haunt the Casino de Madrid and identifies the winning numbers of each wheel to verify his theory.

"I was right. Soon enough, I noticed that each wheel had numbers that came out more often than others.But the trend did not demonstrate value. For whatever the case, he had to count at least 5,000 shots per roulette ball. "

Consider a couple of weeks of study per machine. To do this, Gonzalo appealed to members of the family clan. The flotilla - the fleet - soon to implement. At the controls: Ivan, the son, surrounded by several cousins. Pelayo all aged in their twenties. Deploying around the gaming tables Each wheel is carefully observed. The slightest scratch is an important information identifying the device. Los Pelayos are present from opening to closing the casino. Twelve-hour shifts with every six hours. The results are recorded under the wary eye Chiefs room. The endless lists of numbers are then forwarded to Gonzalo who comes to statistics, research the probability of victory. His goal: take advantage of the casino.

"At the wheel, says it was a disadvantage to the casino because there are 37 digits (with 0), then a chance of 37 to win . But when you win, we paid only 36 times the bet. In the long term, it is invariably the loser.It all adds up. Me, I wanted to reverse this trend. "

In mathematics, Gonzalo did not know much. To carry out his project, he seeks the help of a friend, a professor of statistics. He learns the laws in intensive courses. Gradually, the results fall, positive: each wheel well of significant trends emerged. It is now time to act. It's summer 1992 and the Barcelona Olympic Games looming. "The day we were going to follow the Olympics in the evening at the casino. And we won! "Says Gonzalo.

A trial of 10 years finally won

The fleet is now seen to be exported. Canary Islands in the first place. Then the rest of the world. Soon, without really bet large sums, earnings reached 250 million pesetas (more than 12 million francs).

Faced with continuing this vein, those responsible for casinos, unarmed, tried to discourage the winners."They harassed us, we put the pressure when we were in the room. One day, they began to evict us by force of arms, in flagrant disregard of our rights - and our dignity. But we do not trichions. At the casino, you can lose indefinitely without being disturbed. But when you win too much, you become undesirable. "

Arrive finally bans. Madrid first, then all the other casinos. Victim of its success, the clan refused entry casinos. And thus a way to increase their earnings. They complain against the Madrid before returning, reluctantly, to their previous occupations.

But Los Pelayos have not said their last word. Recognizing the uniqueness of their adventure, and Ivan Gonzalo, encouraged by Joaquin Sabina, successful singer and friend, undertook a few years later writing a book. The Fabulous History of Los Pelayos, which unfortunately has not yet been translated into French, Spanish arrived in bookstores in 2003 and obtained an unexpected success. Commercial success - with more than 20,000 copies sold, the book was just published in paperback - and the media. Chains and Spanish newspapers are discovering the family and invite them on their shelves and in their columns.Gonzalo and Ivan tell, tirelessly, their escapade and reveal their method, the book also contains a technical annex.

In recent months the good news after another. First, last June the Supreme Court's verdict in Madrid after a trial that lasted ten years, rejected the casino and restored their right of access to members of the fleet - which have good demand compensation and for the damage suffered. There were also signed a contract with a major production company interested in the Spanish film adaptation of the book. It is rumored that Antonio Banderas would be reading it.