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

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

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/

Gambling With an Edge - German BJ player, Ultimate

Our guest today is a German blackjack player who posts under the name of 'Ultimate' on various forums. He tells us about extended trips in the United States and Europe --- how they are similar and how they are different.

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Show Notes

[00:51] How competent was Ultimate before and after the Blackjack Apprenticeship bootcamp

[05:15] Ultimate’s extended trip in LV

[16:08] When should you cash out the chips?

[20:55] The losing streaks

[25:07] Traveling with money 

[28:33] Blackjack in Europe 

[41:03] Game protection and crossing borders with money in Europe

[46:39] Future plans for Ultimate

[48:11] Was Ultimate always playing solo?

[49:46] Responses from family and friends

[52:17] A free ride from a Samaritan policeman

Blackjack Apprenticeship: https://www.blackjackapprenticeship.com/

Gambling With an Edge - Sia Layta

Our guest is Sia Layta --- a pseudonym of a woman whose about-to-be-published book is called Black Widow Poker. It's about the advantages and disadvantages of women playing poker. In addition, Sia is planning to enter the Main Event in this year's World Series of Poker dressed as a man. Seth Palansky, WSOP Communication's Director, has said that dressing in this manner is against WSOP rules and Sia will be removed from the event and her entry fee forfeited if discovered. Bob and Richard also dip into their mailbag.

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Show Notes

[00:49] The origin of the nickname “Black Widow" and the advantages of being a man in poker

[05:35] Cash games v.s. tournaments

[06:26] Playing poker disguised as a man

[09:48] Black Widow’s first time dressing as a man

[16:49] WSOP rule on revealing identity

[18:57] Go Fund Me page

[19:41] The origin of the name Sia Layta

[20:59] Advantages of being a woman at a poker table

[27:05] Will the pictures in her book inadvertently reveal her identity?

[29:13] Playing the main event v.s. satellites

[30:13] Women’s representation in the world of poker

[37:31] A strategy deviation in Triple Double Bonus

[40:12] Paul Magriel’s passing

[43:18] Are good VP games still available? Do you have to learn all the strategies? What kind of BR do I need?

Black Widow Poker: http://black-widow-poker.com/

Go Fund Me page: https://www.gofundme.com/blackwidowpokerlegalfund

“Backgammon” by Paul Magriel: https://www.amazon.com/Backgammon-2004-Paul-Magriel/dp/1593860234

VPfree: http://www.vpfree2.com/

Bob’s section on Gambling With an Edge: https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/author/bob-dancer/

Gambling With an Edge - Professional card counter, Joe

Our guest this week is a professional card counter named Joe.  Joe is a young blackjack player with the expressed goal of getting kicked out of every casino in the country. We are also joined by Colin Jones, who was in town for a Blackjack Apprenticeship boot camp.

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Show Notes

[00:42] The Irish Roulette player

[03:29] Joe’s goal in the beginning

[04:11] Joe’s origin story

[07:08] Building the bankroll

[10:49] 200hr losing streak

[14:57] Team play and thoughts on counting systems

[18:37] Heat, overplays, and tourism

[30:14] Tipping

[33:35] Playing internationally

[39:09] Betting less for longevity

[40:59] Joe’s two experiences with illegal detainments

[43:35] Wearing disguises

[46:28] Casinos in the U.S. that Joe hasn’t played yet

Blackjack Apprenticeship: https://www.blackjackapprenticeship.com/

Gambling With an Edge - Slot Expert John Robison

Our guest this week is John Robison, author of The Slot Expert’s Guide to Playing Slots. John has been a gaming writer for more than twenty years and we talk about some of the inner workings and misconceptions regarding slot machines.

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Show Notes

[01:39] John’s thinking on slot machines and common misunderstandings

[11:37] The reality of loosening and tightening of slot machines

[13:44] How the casinos set their theoreticals

[22:43] Class 2 machines v.s. Class 3 machines

[25:09] Fruits in England

[29:47] The Big Time Bonus in Station Casinos 

[34:24] How do slots randomly trigger bonus events?

[38:37] Are the slot machines next to the restrooms are looser?

[43:01] Are no-name slot machines looser than licensed slot machines?

“The Slot Expert’s Guide to Playing Slots” by John Robinson: http://amzn.to/2oMFBSd

"Slot Machines: A Pictoral History of the First 100 Years” by Marshall Fey: http://amzn.to/2Gk9Ck4

Indian Gaming Regulatory Act: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Gaming_Regulatory_Act

Gambling With an Edge - Geoff Freeman of the AGA

Our guest today is Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the American Gaming Association. The AGA is the chief lobbying organization for the casino industry. We discuss the coming spread of sports betting in the United States, and other issues that effect both the casino industry and the players.

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Show Notes

[00:27] Is it fair to say that American Gaming Association is a chief lobbying organization for gaming in the United States?

[01:09] Sports betting and PASPA

[03:16] Will there be national or state laws regarding sports betting?

[04:51] Structuring the gaming taxes to ensure sports bettors stay in the game

[07:05] The prospect of reducing the WTG threshold

[09:41] Confiscating cash by law enforcers

[11:35] Are tribal casinos’ memberships to AGA a recent development? How many tribal casinos are part of the AGA?

[20:49] Mass shooting in Las Vegas 

[23:09] 5 years ahead: the casino expansion in the U.S. 

[27:24] AGA’s view on online gaming and why did online sports betting move faster than online poker?

[31:11] Millennials and skill based gaming

[34:43] A proper time to end a Blackjack and Video Poker session

[38:50] Civilians pointing out dealers’ mistakes in favor of the player

[39:54] Cover plays in Blackjack counting

[41:46] Are differences in the basic strategy for Blackjack S17 and H17 big enough to learn separate strategies?

American Gaming Association: https://www.americangaming.org/

PASPA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_and_Amateur_Sports_Protection_Act_of_1992

Gambling With an Edge - listener emails

No guest this week.  Bob and Richard discuss, in blackjack the cost of cover, and whether to play smaller stakes to stay under the radar, or play higher stakes, get barred, and move on.  We also discuss the difference between house edge and casino hold, and the new rules in the UK for online casinos.  Will these effect online casinos the way Atlantic City's no barring policy changed things for card counters?

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Show Notes

[01:01] Richard’s trip abroad

[01:24] The downfall of Steve Wynn

[03:53] Why is it much easier to find pictures of Bob than Richard?

[08:24] The new rules for online casinos in U.K. How will it affect AP's?

[12:13] Merits to cashing out credits after $400-500 wins. Will it convince the machine to be more generous because it thinks a new player is sitting down?

[13:02] For playing higher denomination VP, can you go to the cashier’s cage and get betting slips instead of feeding $100 bills to the machine?

[13:31] In Blackjack, why do many casinos limit the number of split hands to maximum of 4?

[15:00] Sometimes in negative count, the player bets table minimum and the dealer keeps busting anyway. Should he stick with it or go with the flow?

[17:01] A good strategy for Sic Bo or Baccarat

[17:53] What is the status of “Inside the Edge?”

[19:59] Using cover for card counters 

[26:57] Playing as a refusal for smaller stakes or signing up for a card and playing bigger

[34:17] Studying references for sports betting, college basketball in particular

[35:20] 2017 report, LV Blackjack tables held 15% of every dollar wagered. What does it mean?

[40:47] The OPP count

[42:49] Playing VP for comps

[52:30] Any value for getting "Video Poker for the Intelligent Beginner" when the listener already has Jacks or Better guide and the Video Poker for Winners software

Gambling With an Edge - Frank B and Anthony Curtis

Our guests this week are Frank B. and Anthony Curtis. We discuss football contests, sports betting in general, and other things happening in Vegas.

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Show Notes

[00:53] A casino cancelling an sports arbitrage bet

[08:49] Why do sports books hate arbitrage players?

[14:24] Can you profit from betting the opposite of a weak sports bettor?

[20:36] A meter money opportunity at the Lucky Dragon

[25:41] Partnering up in football contests

[31:53] Expert witness opportunity with Bob Nersesian

[38:17] Max Rubin’s ratholing story in his book, “Comp City"

[40:23] When is the best time to rathole?

[44:18] Highlights in this year’s LVA book

[47:58] New books coming out

[50:39] The implications of the Supreme Court decision on sports betting

Gambling With an Edge - listener emails

We have no guest this week.  Bob and I again reach into the mail bag to answer listener questions.

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Show Notes

[03:25] What is the protocol for tipping floor personnels and hosts in video poker?

[09:01] "The Best Blackjack Machine on Earth”

[12:02] How should I decide whether to play more aggressive or not? 

[14:42] How do I network with other AP’s?

[18:13] What is the life of an AP now?

[25:40] Why can’t players play standing up?

[29:37] Using a Basic Strategy card at the table 

[30:58] Is Las Vegas a Wasteland?

[32:24] Getting a P.O.box as an out of state visitor or a local.

[38:23] What is a stadium Blackjack game?

[39:54] An update on Bob’s student

[43:20] Teaming up with a friend and managing compensation

[47:19] Are some VP machines rigged in casino’s favor?

Gambling With an Edge - Super Bowl 2018

Our guests this week are Frank B. and Anthony Curtis. We discuss this week's super bowl, and talk about proposition bets. We focus not just on good bets to make, but more importantly on how sharp players think and analyze bets in order to get an edge.

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Show Notes

[00:37] http://fivethirtyeight.com/

[02:04] How does public's sentiment apply to bettors? Getting an advantage over the over-reacting public

[07:13] Betting props: who would be some of the more interesting players for New England?

[11:33] The effect of specific players in the New England Super Bowl

[16:58] Cross sports prop bets and the basic strategy

[29:31] The value on the rushing yards for the quarterbacks

[32:19] Betting no safety, no overtime, and no 2 point conversions, no 3 point margin of victory (bridge jumper bet of sorts)

[42:18] Over/Under on field goals

[45:13] Market Efficiency and the basic strategy for sports betting

[47:51] Interesting off the wall props this year

Gambling With an Edge - listener emails

We have no guest this week.  Bob and I reach into the mail bag to answer listener questions.

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Show Notes

[00:37] A bankroll requirement for a stadium Blackjack game

[02:38] Traffic hazards

[06:11] What do you wish someone has told you at the beginning of your career?

[09:26] What purchase of $100 or less in the last year improved your life the most?

[12:27] What are your favorite gambling books?

[15:33] Did James Grosjean’s book cause many card counters to switch to carnival games?

[17:55] Would the strategy change if you have a use-once-MP coupons

[19:52] Playing slot machines for cover

[22:01] Traveling bankroll: how much should you carry?

[25:13] If you have found AP earlier or if you were younger, would you have left your career immediately for it?

[28:09] Richard and Bob’s previous lives

[29:38] Supplementing income with Blackjack card counting with $3,000 BR

[32:07] Book recommendations for Blackjack

[34:12] Dealing with big losses

[35:54] Which game should I play for point challenge with a $10,000 BR?

[38:26] Similarities between AP and crimes

[40:14] Would you quit depending on the amount of win or loss?

[46:33] If the casino has a low game protection procedures in general, is it safe to count cards?

[49:08] EZ Baccarat

[50:37] A new casino in Las Vegas

[53:35] Recommendations to a middle-aged man starting out as an AP

[58:18] Multi-Line VP v.s. Single-line VP

[1:00:52] Bonus multi-lines game

[1:01:26] Why average BR is 3x-4x jackpot?

[1:02:51] Tutorials for Dream Card

"Gambling Wizards” by Richard W. Munchkin: http://amzn.to/2E7C9L3

"The Man with the $100,000 Breasts" by Michael Konik: http://amzn.to/2FD6FcQ

"Fast Company" by John Bradshaw: http://amzn.to/2DY3P5H

Daymon Runyon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damon_Runyon   Amazon author page

Beyond coupons: http://www.blackjackforumonline.com/content/beyondcouponsbjfo.pdf

"The Moon and Sixpence” by W. Somerset Maugham : http://amzn.to/2E8paZA

"Knockout Blackjack" by Olaf Vankura and Ken Fuchs:  http://amzn.to/2DWl8UG

"Blackjack Blueprint” by Rick Blaine: http://amzn.to/2Ezaqk7

"Professional Blackjack” by Stanford Wong:  http://amzn.to/2GIMOKk

Ken Uston: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Uston

Gambling With an Edge - guests Peter Fornatale and Mike Maloney

Our guests this week Peter Fornatale and Mike Maloney. Together they have authored Betting With an Edge; A Professional Horse Player's Life in Thoroughbred Racing. Mike has been betting the horses since he was a child, but quit his job in 2000 to pursue it professionally. Mike is the Daily Racing Form Tournament editor, as well as the host of the DRF Players' Podcast.

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Show Notes

[01:19] How did the book come about?

[07:59] How did Peter meet Mike?

[09:31] How did the computer assisted betting in the 90’s affect Mike’s betting?

[10:11] When did Mike quit his job?

[13:36] What is track bias, and how does Mike handle it on multiple tracks?

[16:49] What is mapping routes?

[19:44] Is there a way to narrow down the candidates for looking for biases?

[21:55] The threshold for getting rebates and how much can you expect?

[23:21] Declines in the popularity of the U.S. tracks

[29:17] “The Sting” and cheating in the 21st century

[38:41] Ways where Horse racing could improve

[49:05] Tournament horse racing v.s. normal horse racing

[52:47] Resources for getting started in horse racing

[56:07] Handicapping thoroughbred horses and quarter horses

"Betting with an Edge”: http://amzn.to/2DXUfff

Mike Maloney: @silk1900

Peter Fornatale: @loomsboldly

Gambling With an Edge - guest card counter SmallCap #3

Our guest on the show this week is a very successful card counter we call SmallCap. He has been on the show twice before (see show notes below for links to past episodes) and has always been a very popular guest. We talk about card rooms in California, as well as some of his personal struggles.

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Show Notes

[00:43] Cardrooms in CA and banking games

[09:06] How non-AP gambling got him barred

[14:12] Taking a break for personal improvement

[23:26] Day trading v.s. Blackjack

[29:12] Going back to Blackjack

[35:36] Idiosyncrasies among different AP's

[37:57] Safety concerns of working in a less secure neighborhood and Tinder strategies

[42:07] Playing in Europe and DBA

[45:29] Benefits of playing at a higher minimum

[48:00] DUI in New Jersey

[52:14] His next plan and why liquor licenses can be great for a laundromat

SmallCap episode 1: https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/gambling-with-edge-guest-card-counter/

SmallCap episode 2: https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/gambling-with-an-edge-guest-card-counter-smallcap/

Gambling With an Edge - guest Molded Truths

Our guest this week is Molded Truths.  That is the handle he uses on the blackjack message boards.  MT has played all across the US, and in many foreign countries. He has been manhandled a few times by casino security, and this has lead to some successful lawsuits against casinos which we discuss.

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Show Notes

[01:45] The origin story

[05:01] The initial bankroll: the upside of interest free credit card loan

[10:17] The lawsuit Arizona 

[15:52] Is Columbia dangerous for AP?

[19:20] Lawsuits in South America

[32:47] The Reno lawsuit

[47:27] How much does Molded Truths play these days?

[50:57] Where is Bitcoin heading to?

Yoshi episode: https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/gambling-edge-card-counter-yoshi/

Andreas Antonopoulos:  https://antonopoulos.com/

Gambling With an Edge - guest Bob Nersesian #19

The guest this week is Bob Nersesian. Bob is a frequent guest to the show, and always entertaining. Bob is the lawyer who advocates for the players against the casinos, and has successfully sued many Vegas casinos on the behalf of players. His new book is called The Law for Gamblers: A Player's Guide to Legal Survival in the Casino Environment. Today we discuss questions submitted by our listeners.

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Show Notes

[00:27] The Donovan case in Indiana and various conditions of trespassing.

[11:36] Can a sportsbook in Nevada refuse to pay a player due to posting an off number?

[15:19] Is it a malfunction when a player hits a jackpot wagered with the slot credit higher than the amount offered by the casino host?

[17:46] What happens if you don’t pay a marker from Indian casino

[20:14] Bob’s view on lowering the Nevada bar exam’s passing score and omitting essay on commercial paper.

[26:40] A player who was self excluded from Caesars in Atlantic City about 15 yrs ago, hit a jackpot at a Caesar’s property in Arizona. What are the implications?

[30:03] What happens to a 7-card straight flush in Fortune Pai-Gow Poker when other players muck their hands?

[41:12] 500% fewer people support attacking Syria than supported attacking Iraq. What does "500% less" mean?

[42:57] Would it be better to carry chips rather than cash in consideration of civil forfeiture?

[46:58] Recent uptick of Suspicious Action Reports. What can you do?

[51:38] Do you have to show I.D. for betting on a baseball game? 7 bets, and all less than $1,000 each.

[54:20] At Silverton, jackpots over $12,000 just spits out a ticket. When cashing that ticket of over $12,000 the casino insists on showing I.D. to cash that ticket.

[58:27] The legality of carrying a passport from a country that no longer exists

[1:02:58] Is it true that TSA can’t legally open a sealed envelope if it made it through the x-ray? 

Gambling With an Edge - guest James Vogl

Our guest this week is James Vogl.  James is a former backgammon, and poker player (He won a WSOP bracelet at 24.) who then moved into the world of hedge funds.  Now he has moved on from the trading world to start something called The Cerebral Gym.


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Show notes

[01:27] James Vogl’s backgammon career

[02:47] Are there still active backgammon club in London?

[03:55] What it was like transitioning into poker from Backgammon

[06:23] Poker books that stood out for James

[07:39] Why did Gus Hansen change his name?

[09:14] How long did James play poker before he got a real job?

[09:47] Did James play a lot of online poker?

[12:29] Hedge funds, computer, and math skills. What was James’ market?

[15:38] Did the fund keep track of P/L? How did James compare to S&P 500 over the years?

[17:15] Video Poker v.s. trading

[19:28] Why did James leave trading?

[20:23] Did his romantic relationships affect his decision to quit gambling?

[23:34] Gambling v.s. trading

[28:39] Do the traders look at themselves as gamblers?

[30:51] Is a press-up the same as a push-up?

[33:31] Does James find the various games he played different or similar?

[38:52] Does James see himself returning to the gambling world?

[47:47] James’ cheating encounters at gambling or trading

"Theory of poker" by David Sklansky: http://amzn.to/2BfhRi1

"Play Poker, Quit Work and Sleep Till Noon” by John Fox: http://amzn.to/2BBuwJ3

"Liar’s Poker” by Michael Lewis: http://amzn.to/2CHePzi

Cerebral Gym: http://www.cerebralgym.com/

Gambling With an Edge - guest Mike Shackleford, the Wizard of Odds

Our guest this week is Mike Shackleford of the Wizard of Odds, and Wizard of Vegas websites. Mike is a former cohost of Gambling With an Edge, and his websites are the number one resource when people need information about casino games.

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Show Notes

[00:29] Mike’s take on 21 sidebet 

[04:14] Video Poker speed challenge on Wizard of Vegas website and how to play 2,000+ hands per hour

[16:07] Super Bowl prop bets and no safety

[20:58] Dan ruben and Pai Gow Poker

[22:44] Dream Card

[28:13] Video Poker Wizard and Win Poker

[35:13] Mike’s strategy on total eclipse

[43:21] What does the number 19 trillion represent in the WoO VP strategy calculator?

[47:11] The cycles in a great big loop

[50:01] Game inventor’s conference

[52:28] Pai Gow Tiles: pros and cons of banking

Win Poker: http://www.zamzone.com/

Cartwright episode: https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/gambling-edge-guest-cartwright-4/

Wizard of Vegas: https://wizardofvegas.com/

Pai Gow Strategy: https://wizardofodds.com/games/pai-gow-tiles/strategy/optimal/

Pai Gow Poker: https://wizardofodds.com/games/pai-gow-poker/

Gambling With an Edge - Rozanna Travis and Jo part 2

This week our guests are two female advantage players.  Rozanna Travis, and Jo started out as card counters on one of the largest blackjack teams of all times. Over the years they have played with several other teams, as well as individually.  This is the second of our two interviews with them.

podcast

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Show Notes

[01:11] Blackjack tests Rozanna Travis had to pass

[09:33] The Blackjack test Jo had to pass

[15:02] How well did Rozanna Travis and Jo know each other before Blackjack?

[18:16] Getting ripped off and the requirements for joining the Sinatra group.

[25:11] Emotional effects of teams breaking up

[33:21] Dealing with the family, Gambling Anonymous, and relationship dynamics for professional Blackjack players

[47:14] Rozanna Travis’s writings

[48:37] Televised Blackjack programs, before and after.

[52:15] Their favorite part about the Blackjack world.

[57:20] Who would they thank for the success in Blackjack?

Rozanna Travis and Jo epsiode 1: https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/podcast-rozanna-travis-jo/

Checkout Rozanna at:

Website: http://rozannatravis.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/leftywriting

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rozelee21