Gambling With an Edge - RX Gamble

Our guest today is RXgamble, a woman born and raised in Vegas who went from casino dealer to top advantage player.

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Blog rxgamble.com
Twitter @rxgamble

Gambling With an Edge - Listener emails

We have no guest this week. Bob and I answer listener emails.

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Gambling With an Edge - guest Max Shapiro

Our guest today is Max Shapiro, longtime CardPlayer columnist of "Read 'Em and Laugh," and one of the best poker humorists of all time. But first we go back to the mail bag to answer listener questions.

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Gambling With an Edge - poker player Barbara Enright

Our guest today is Barbara Enright, member of the Poker Hall of Fame, the Women's Poker Hall of Fame, and the Senior Poker Hall of Fame. Barbara is also the only woman to ever make the final table of the main event of the World Series of Poker. Before our interview with Barbara we answer listener emails.

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Gambling With an Edge - guest Jimmy Jazz

Bob and I are joined by Jimmy Jazz to talk about getting the most bang for your bucks on auto rentals, air travel, and credit cards.

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Show Notes

Gambling With an Edge - card counter Ryemo

This week our guest is Ryemo (pronounced RYE-mo), who is a family man who plays blackjack full time without a partner. Ryemo is on the road playing about 500 hours per year, and talks honestly about the difficulties of life on the road, and long losing streaks.

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blackjackdiscord.com

Gambling With an Edge - Poker Pro, Tony part 2

Bob and Richard visit with poker player Tony in the second of two back-to-back interviews. We speak of how the UIGEA and Bitcoin regulation are related, cheating in poker, online tells, and being clipped in a European strip club.

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Show Notes

Gambling With an Edge - Poker Pro, Tony

Bob and Richard visit with poker player Tony in the first of two back-to-back interviews. We speak about how he got started, his WSOP bracelet, and his experience playing in Macau,  among other topics.

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Show Notes

[00:35] Tony’s first poker BR and rebooting

[04:30] Live poker and underage gambling

[09:39] Limit Hold ‘em bots

[14:59] WSoP event where Tony won the bracelet

[17:56] The Macau gold rush and money exchange

[21:48] Differences between Limit and No Limit

[23:35] Tournament v.s. Cash games & Tony’s take on mixed games

[32:15] Cases and how to handle cheating in poker for both online and offline games

[45:31] Online tells

[48:41] What are the big mistakes that online poker players make?

[51:57] Poker resources   

Gambling With an Edge - Tax Adviser Russell Fox

Our guest this week is tax adviser Russell Fox.  Russell is a tax adviser with many professional gamblers as clients.  We talk about the new tax laws, and how they effect both professional gamblers, as well as the recreational player.

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Gambling With an Edge - Super host Steve Cyr

Bob and I talk to super-host Steve Cyr. We received many questions for hosts from our listeners, and many of them made it into the podcast. We will have Steve on again in the near future to address more of your questions. You can always submit questions to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com. 

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Show Notes

[00:51] Salary host v.s. Theoretical loss hosts

[02:51] The changes in Palms in the recent 6 weeks

[05:29] The new rule on the source of funds and its effect on casinos

[08:58] Does Steve tell people to wire the money?

[09:58] How to verify the sources of funds and whose blame it is if the source is incorrectly identified

[11:41] What’s the benefit of wiring and calling the host ahead of time?

[13:20] Using central credit

[14:27] If the host makes promises to a player based on some amount of action, and he plays nowhere near that amount, what happens then?

[16:13] Hard comps

[19:58] Discretionary comps

[25:09] Representing players internationally v.s. domestically

[31:23] Steve and boxing

[34:17] Tip etiquettes and realities for hosts

[38:28] Awkward situations with advantage players

[40:19] Subtleties with promo chips

[45:41] If a player stiffs the casino, how does this affect Steve?

Email: Steve@Stevecyr.com

Twitter: @SteveCyrVegas

Gambling With an Edge - Listener emails

We have no guest this week.  Bob and I answer listener emails, and then discuss lessons we learned about gambling from starting out in backgammon.

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Gambling With an Edge - Maria Konnikova

Bob and Richard are joined by Maria Konnikova, a writer and psychologist who contracted with poker star Eric Seidel to teach her enough tournament poker so she could write a book about it. Turns out she was pretty good at poker. The book has been delayed as she pursues poker full time.

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Show Notes

[00:49] How Maria met Erik Seidel

[03:53] Deciding on the learning process?

[05:09] The initial vision of the book?

[05:56] How much time did Maria originally plan to practice? Was it a full-time commitment in the beginning?

[08:29] Did she move to Las Vegas?

[09:19] The arrangement at Aria

[11:50] Erik’s lessons and his book recommendations

[12:46] Maria’s poker experience prior to the project

[15:19] Low limit tournaments in Las Vegas that were different from online tournaments

[18:04] Angle shooters & women players

[21:59] Maria starting to play professionally

[22:49] The Poker News article on Maria

[24:17] Black Widow’s comment: advantage and disadvantages of playing as a woman

[27:13] The false dichotomy of approaching poker psychologically and mathematically

[32:57] Poker Star’s sponsorship of Maria’s project

[34:10] WSoP & satellites

[36:07] Tournament winnings & turning full-time poker player

[38:19] Did the book change along the writing process due to the unexpected developments with her poker experience?

[39:50] Will some chapters be published in different places before the publication of the book?

[41:54] Will she play poker 5-10 years later? Other immersive projects in the future?

[43:16] Is Erik comfortable with Maria writing about what he taught her?

[45:10] Maria’s previous books

[46:51] The Grift podcast

[49:04] Last thoughts

Maria Konnikova: https://www.mariakonnikova.com/

Best ways to reach Maria:

    Twitter @mkonnikova and 

    Instagram @grlnamedmaria

Maria’s books:

    The Confidence Game  https://amzn.to/2xpjtUW 

    Mastermind  https://amzn.to/2L7wPaq

    The Biggest Bluff: https://www.mariakonnikova.com/books/the-biggest-bluff/

The Grift Podcast: http://thegriftpodcast.com/

The Poker News article on Maria: https://www.pokernews.com/news/2018/05/maria-konnikova-poker-30637.htm

Erik Seidel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Seidel

Jennifer Harman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Harman

The Sia Lata episode: https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/podcast-poker-pro-sia-layta/

Harrington on Hold’em vol.1: https://amzn.to/2LlMabG

Harrington on Hold’em vol.2: https://amzn.to/2uQHZdQ

Harrington on Hold’em vol.3: https://amzn.to/2LlMQ0I

Gambling With an Edge - Sports betting coming

Bob and Richard are joined by four sports betting experts to discuss the recent Supreme Court ruling legalizing sports betting across the country. Anthony Curtis, Frank B, Captain Jack, and Jake (aka The Chairman) all chipped in with their opinions.

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Show Notes

[01:35] The situation with the union and the strike.

[05:04] The integrity fee, royalties, and the leagues.

[12:36] Is the new change good for the AP?

[18:58] Anticipating which state will legalize sports betting first.

[27:11] The effects of lobbying

[32:13] New casinos and promotions

[35:33] Future of other online gambling

[38:21] How would legalizing sports betting affect Nevada and New Jersey?

[44:47] Nationally legalizing sports betting

[49:24] Indian tribes and sports betting 

Weighing The Odds in Sports Betting by King Yao

Conquering Risk: Attacking Vegas and Wall Street

Sharp Sports Betting by Stanford Wong

Gambling With an Edge - The Big Blackjack Team

This week we are joined by "Thea" and "Theo," a brother-sister combination who talk about the early days of their blackjack team-playing experiences. This pair went on to run one of the biggest and most successful blackjack teams in history.

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Show Notes

[00:46] Origin story

[07:37] The expansion of the team

[19:25] Getting away with it

[21:35] Being a female player & Backoffs

[30:06] Stories before the team became big

[33:45] 150+ hrs losing streak and early lessons

[40:45] Cross-polination with other Blackjack teams

[42:24] Rigorous checkout process

[49:06] Compensation structure

[54:02] Investors & time commitments of bankroll & administrative expensive

Gambling With an Edge - Seth Palansky, WSOP 2018

This week Bob and Richard interview Seth Palansky, Vice President of Communication for the World Series of Poker, which begins later this month

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Show Notes

Gambling With an Edge - Blackjack Ball 2018

We have 3 guests this week discussing the 2018 Blackjack Ball.  Max Rubin who hosts the Ball, Wally Simmons, the latest inductee into the Blackjack Hall of Fame, and Wahoo who won this year's skills competition.

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Show Notes

[00:45] Why was the BJ Ball held in Spring this year?

[04:37] Richard’s role in this year’s BJ Ball event

[05:43] the bet: who is going to be inducted into the hall of fame

[06:11] What being inducted into the Blackjack hall of fame mean to Wally?

[07:54] Favorite questions of guests and the hosts

[15:49] Wahu and Attorney WRX

[20:49] The finalists and the 4 contests to determine the winner

[42:41] The guests and hosts' favorite parts of the Blackjack Ball  

[48:19] A quiz on counting system 

[50:27] True v.s. False question regarding a first lady

[54:05] Countermeasures and bottom lines

Gambling With an Edge - Dr Alan Schoonmaker

Bob and Richard interview industrial psychologist Alan Schoonmaker who has written a large number of books and articles about the psychology of poker

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Show Notes

[00:39] Introduction to Dr. Alan Schoonmaker

[05:27] How negotiation relates to poker

[07:13] The importance of game selection in business

[15:06] “Your worst enemy is yourself” Why it’s more important to study yourself than to study your opponents

[20:07] Game selection differences between poker and VP

[25:30] Compulsive gamblers and their first gamble

[29:37] Herbert Simon and evaluating information

[37:40] Dan Ariely

[39:18] “Business is a Poker Game"

[47:13] Inspirations for his book writing

Dr. Alan Schoonmaker’s website: https://dr-al-schoonmaker.net/

“Negotiate to Win, Gaining the Psychological Edge” by Alan Schoonamaker https://amzn.to/2I99wMe

“Business is a Poker Game” by Alan Schoonmaker: https://amzn.to/2I8tSoC

Gambling With an Edge - blackjack player Lone Wolf

Bob and Richard interview "Lone Wolf," an east coast blackjack player who has primarily worked alone.

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Show Notes

[00:52] Are 6 to 5 Blackjack beatable? If so, how?

[04:47] Lonewolf’s origin story

[06:55] His first time in casino and the progression of the BR

[16:03] BR by the year 3

[17:56] When did the heat start coming?

[20:08] How much Lonewolf has been playing

[21:06] Swtiching to Blackjack variants

[25:11] Other versions than Spanish 21

[26:09] Blackjack Switch

[27:02] Getting in touch with Lonewolf

[28:25] Side counts

[29:21] The origin of the name Lonewolf

[30:45] Family reactions

[36:47] Lonewolf’s AP daughter and team play 

[43:44] Blackjack writing 

[45:32] Backoffs

[50:57] Playing rated

[54:45] For a player with 2 yrs practice, 10k BR planning a 5 day trip to the US. Where should he go?

"Blackbelt in Blackjack” by Arnold Snyder: https://amzn.to/2rBLVxB

"Professional Blackjack” by Stanford Wong: https://amzn.to/2rtH6X2

Gambling With an Edge - guest attorney Bob Nersesian

Our guest this week is attorney Bob Nersesian. The primary source of questions for Mr. Nersesian were emails from our listeners.  If you have questions you would like Bob Nersesian to answer on future shows please send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com.

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Show Notes

[00:43] For a non-US citizen who is mistreated, are his rights different than a US citizen?

[02:17] If a passenger in a driver's car has substances, is he in a legal jeopardy due to his passenger’s substances?

[06:44] Is the Paster v.s. Garcia case regarding mistreatment in tribal casino accurate and final?

[11:43] Why are there no real craps or roulettes in CA?

[15:20] An AP in southern California with a prospective case against a tribal casino 

[15:54] A tribe in NY has two satellite casinos, but not a part of reservation. Would the case proceed because the casinos are in US soil?

[17:51] Machine mispay case

[22:16] The legality of a woman entering the WSOP dressed as a man

[25:49] Is preferential shuffling in Blackjack legal?

[31:05] Bob Nersesian’s take on Phil Ivey case

[34:33] Is a phone charging machine where you could play VP a gambling machine?

[40:36] Can other states extradite you if Nevada issues a warrant for unpaid marker?

[42:44] Is it legal to show somebody else’s player’s card as opposed to playing as a refusal?

[44:25] Would Bob Nersesian come to answer Q&A for your hourly rates?

[46:55] Are VP machine required to show pay schedule?

[47:33] A VP player was trespassed. Does that extend to the poker room at a related property?

[54:46] Can a security guard demand to see your cellphone?

[56:17] If a blacjack team video tape a member’s play to later discuss errors, is that a crime?

"The Law for Gamblers” by Bob Nersesian: https://amzn.to/2I4YQCc

"Blackjack and the Law" by I Nelson Rose and Robert Loeb: https://amzn.to/2KP59I3

The Black Widow WSOP reference: https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/podcast-poker-pro-sia-layta/

Gambling With an Edge - Millennial Gambler

Our guest this week is "Millennial Gambler," a young Canadian player who parlayed online gambling and the rise of Bitcoin to go from a bankroll of $250 to more than a million dollars.

Two important notes:
This episode is about Internet gambling which is illegal in some places.  Know your laws before you do this. Second, it is paramount that if you play any online casino with a bonus that you carefully read the terms and conditions.

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Show Notes

[00:47] A humble strategy for Pokey 

[03:56] The origin of MG’s name 

[07:07] MG’s start as an intelligent gambler

[10:49] What happened in 2009 and Bitcoin

[27:19] Camouflage bets

[36:51] Total Rewards, social media, and voluntary child labor

[43:50] The Las Vegas story

[46:03] Other gambling interests

[48:08] Watchdog websites for online gambling

[49:49] Issues over trust between partners

[53:21] Online resources on online casinos

Blackjack Blueprint: https://amzn.to/2H9tTcx

Comp City:  https://amzn.to/2EiZTaM

Wizard of Odds: https://wizardofodds.com/

Pogg: https://thepogg.com/