Pages

I have two distinct lives. One in the trenches of low-budget film and television, the other in professional gambling. Because of the feast-or-famine nature of show business I need a reliable income... gambling. So here you will read about both worlds. Enjoy!



Thursday, October 26, 2017

Gambling With an Edge - Max Votolato

Our guest this week is Max Votolato, talking about his new book,  “Gardena Poker Clubs: A High-Stakes History.”  Max's initial research into the card clubs in Gardena was for a documentary film called “Freeway City.” 



Click to listen.  Alt click to download

Show Notes:

Freeway City is streaming free on Vimeo @ https://vimeo.com/146613357
Also, for anyone interested in more info - they can check out the film's website: www.FreewayCity.org


00:50 How did Max become interested in Gardena?
06:09 When did legalized poker come to Gardena and why Gardena?
16:28 The political battles along the the poker club’s legalization process
29:17 Card clubs from 50’s and 60’s v.s. current poker rooms in Las Vegas and elsewhere
32:53 Cheating problems back then and countermeasures
40:00 When Larry Flynt wanted to built the Hustler Casino
49:09 Gardena club’s competitions that led to its demise
53:47 Ernie Primm’s relations with the town of Primm

You can reach Max Votolato on:
Twitter: @Votolato

Gardena Poker Clubs: A High-Stakes History  http://amzn.to/2zNoHa3



Thursday, October 19, 2017

Gambling With an Edge - listener emails

We have no guest this week.  Bob and I answer questions from our listeners. We always welcome your questions so post them below, or send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com.


Click to listen.  Alt click to download


Show Notes

[00:58] All the AP opportunities in Macau
[03:43] VP player playing slot machines for cover
[05:19] Traveling BR. Flying v.s. driving with cash
[09:31] Comp games outside Las Vegas. The games Richard and Bob play and average hours per week.
[12:07] Leaving a job in order to become an AP. Advantages of being older
[15:24] Life before AP for Bob and Richard
[19:44] Part-time card counter’s BR management
[21:56] Slot AP turning card counter is asking for advanced learning resources
[23:27] How to network with other players
[29:43] Getting nervous with losing big bets
[32:27] A strategy for VP points challenge
[35:09] Sports betting: can you win money by betting the opposite side of terrible sports bettors?
[37:49] Is AP a gateway to crimes?
[40:13] Do you quit playing a session when you are behind?
[46:00] Weight-loss bet stories
 
Rick Blaine: Blackjack Blueprint http://amzn.to/2x0lemI
Standford Wong: Professional Black Jack http://amzn.to/2ystjUo

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

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Gambling With an Edge - card counter Yoshi

Our guest this week is a young card counter named Yoshi. Yoshi lives in the Midwest, started with a bankroll of $3,000, and built it to several hundred thousand in a bit over a year.


click to listen - alt click to download

Show Notes

[00:47] Counting cards in the Midwest
[01:13] Yoshi’s origin story and the how the BR grew
[06:36] Using players’ cards
[10:45] Casinos in Oklahoma: the ante and the casino personnels
[14:50] Networking with compatible, competent AP’s?
[18:39] Proving age without showing ID
[23:16] Exchanging casino chips with other players and managing cash outs.
[31:39] Interesting back-off stories
[34:53] Card eating effect of splitting 10’s
[38:12] Other advantage playing
[40:28] Yoshi's quitting point?
[43:48] Dealing with the family’s reactions and traveling with cash
[50:03] Unfair treatments and getting ripped off


Stanford Wong, Professional Blackjack: http://amzn.to/2yZvX1h

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Gambling With an Edge - G2E 2017

No guest this week. Bob and Richard discuss this year's Global Gaming Expo, also known as G2E. Bob talks about the new video poker games, and I talk about new table games.  We also discuss "skill based" games.


click to listen - alt click to download

Show notes

[03:59] Surveillance educational seminars
[05:57] Federal rule procedure 37(e): using electronic data in a lawsuit
[07:58] Scams, cheats, and blacklists
[10:26] Slot machine game Haystacks: legality of winning money without wagering money.
[16:43] New Video Poker games and other skills based machine games
[28:17] Interesting table games: side bets and consequences of 3CP's expiring patent
[35:21] A new shuffling machine
[41:23] Video games of skills
[53:33] Driving game 
[54:55] IGT's mobile game that lets you earn comps at home
[56:18] Remote wagering via phones


G2E Global Gaming Expo: http://www.globalgamingexpo.com/
CDC Gaming Reports: https://www.cdcgamingreports.com/