Michael Shackleford

Michael Shackleford is an American mathematician famous for his mathematical analysis of casino games. He developed an interest in the mathematics of gambling when he was a child. Michael’s popularity was brought about by his websites “The Wizard of Odds” and “The Wizard of Vegas”, which include analyses of different casino games and various tactics and tips. When developing the information on the sites, Michael uses all his experience gained during his career. Data analysis and statistical studies are used to describe each game. The information is accessible and easily understandable even for amateurs.

In 2002, Shackleford published an RTP rating for slot machines. He was the first one to categorize this information, let alone make it publicly available. His goal was to show which slots in Las Vegas casinos have the best and worst returns. The study was recognized as innovative. In 2005, the book “Gambling 102: The Best Strategies for All Casino Games” was released.

Today Shackleford specializes in the analysis of new games for providers and casinos. Among his clients are Playtech, Realtime Gaming, Hilton, and many others. Shackleford also consults on gambling problems and is involved in the design of slots.