TV show Red Or Black

For those of you who don't know how it works when the show reaches the final two contestants a decagon appears on screen with the 10 segments randomly changing from red to black at speed such that at all times five of the segments are black and five red.  For a split second the final decagon is shown on screen and the 2 contestants must remember which of the segments were black and which red.  One of the contestants is given the choice of either going first or choosing the colour,  then the segments are revealed alternately.   The object of the game being to reveal your allotted colour first.

I've watched this the last 2 weeks and on both occasions the person given the choice has chosen red giving up their certain chance of going first.  This is unforgiveable imho and quite deservedly on both occasions they've lost.  I'd guesstimate if it was me playing the mrs the person going first would win 75-90% of the time.  It does help to explain though why there is money to be made gambling.