How much would you bet on a coinflip?

[tek]

$17--how's that?

(Inside joke for people from Minesota...)

[stinkypete]

i like to flip a coin to see who pays for dinner when i go out with a buddy.

this is a positive EV bet, because it takes less time to pay the bill this way.

[bholdr]

i would think it'd be pointless after the first few flips, say 20 or 30, the variance being so small. you'd have to agree to only do it a set number of times, or allow progressive betting, etc, to keep it interesting.

and i'm not so sure about the penny thing. i don't really see how a very slightly heavier side of a spinning, caroming coin could affect the outcome. i'd like to see data on a million actual flips or something, to prove or disprove the idea that calling tails on a penny flip is +EV. i would also think that the SHAPE of the protrusions on the faces of a coin would matter more than their weight, in terms of them coming to rest easily.

and i suppose it depends on the method of the flip- if you'll let me catch it and flip it on my wrist....

how much do you wanna bet?