If you're being pedantic, since New Scientist is a British publication, European roulette would be played which only has a single zero on the wheel, therefore m

If you're being pedantic, since New Scientist is a British publication, European roulette would be played which only has a single zero on the wheel, therefore making the odds of hitting Red or Black 18/37 or ~48.65%. In addition, some online casinos offer games with no house edge - Betfair, for example, allows you to play roulette without a zero. I'm unsure if this is simply a loss-leader or whether it turns a profit indirectly due to gambler's ruin and earnings through additional deposits.