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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, September 27, 2018

Gambling With an Edge - Gabby Girl part 2

Gabby Girl returns, telling us about her interactions with mobster Tony Spilotro and others.

podcast 
Click to listen - Alt-click to download

Show Notes

[00:00] Intro
[00:43] Listener question #1: Should a casino care about simultaneous pass and don't pass bets? [05:18] Listener question #2: Is it just as effective to count only aces and tens?
[07:30] Listener question #3: Do casinos care if players use a video poker strategy card at the machine?
[09:00] Listener question #4: Which machines are best for coupon redemption?
[10:35] Listener question #5: Is a 25% commission reasonable to sign someone else's W2G
[14:17] Gabby Girl's experience wearing a wire in a DMSO case discussion
[19:19] Has Gabby Girl ever testified?
[21:00] Gabby's experiences with Anthony Spilotro
[22:11] Tommy Amato discussion
[26:59] Conflicts between private investigator work and social life
[30:57] Prostitution sting at The International (currently known as the Hilton)
[35:23] Serving papers on a boxer
[40:44] Chateau Vegas
[42:39] Frank Cullotta's avoidance of gun use
[44:48] Toastmasters

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Gambling With an Edge - Gabby Girl

Our guest this week is Gabby Girl, a woman who was a private investigator back in the early 1980s and did work for Oscar Goodman as he defended mobsters.

podcast 
Click to listen - Alt-click to download

Show Notes

[00:00] Gabby Girl Intro
[00:55] Show Notes for GWAE
[02:12] Richard randomly experiences of the value of an Las Vegas Advisor coupon at the Palms [03:42] Listener email question #1: Why would a sports book ban a sharp player?
[06:43] Listener email question #2: How do you discretely scout table games?
[08:40] Listener email question #3: When is it socially acceptable to leave a poker home game? [11:14] Listener email question #4: Is 6:5 blackjack here to stay in Las Vegas?
[13:40] Listener email question #5: Why are Europeans more accepting of constant shuffle machines? [14:23] Listener email question #6: Where does Richard play chess online?
[14:54] Gabby Girl's experience as a private investigator before she was 21
[16:14] How Gabby Girl learned to extract information from people
[18:01] Cary Sayegh kidnapping case
[21:13] Joseph Yablonsky and Oscar Goodman
[24:23] Gabby Girl's father's perception of her job
[25:23] Anthony Spilotro and the Hole in the Wall Gang
[29:15] Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal
[35:11] Frank Cullotta
[41:29] Eddie LaRaue and bonuses for serving difficult subpoenas
[47:39] Surveillance in adultery cases

Las Vegas Advisor - https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/
Mob Museum - https://themobmuseum.org/
Chicago Joe's - http://www.chicagojoesrestaurant.com/

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Gambling With an Edge - Eric Rosenthal part 2

Our guest this week is Eric Rosenthal. Eric returns to continue our conversation about advantage traveling.

podcast 
Click to listen - Alt-click to download

Show Notes

[00:00] Introduction of Eric Rosenthal,
[00:50] Richard wants to go to London efficiently via cash and/or points
[07:15] How to build a network of casino hosts, getting value from social skills and host referrals [14:18] Utilizing player cruise offers, UrComped.com
[20:28] Creating goodwill by referring other strong players to hosts
[22:32] Identifying and maximizing tier-based benefits, additional cruise offer discussion
[30:00] Are hosts interested in AP video poker players?
[33:53] Starwood Preferred Guest, Marriott, and Cosmo points
[36:58] Timing action and "theoretical" to maximize offers
[40:10] Could someone earn Seven Stars only via churning without gambling?
[43:08] Markers versus front money
[46:04] Leveraging non-casino programs to negotiate with hosts
[50:52] The need for modern day travel agents/award travel specialists
[52:48] "Vegas Confessions" podcast

Award Wallet https://awardwallet.com/blog/
Urcomped https://urcomped.com/
Travelzork https://travelzork.com/
Twitter @erosenthal1029
Email ericr@travelzork.com
podcast Vegas Confessions https://www.vegasconfessionspod.com/

Thursday, September 6, 2018

Gambling With an Edge - Eric Rosenthal

Our guest this week is Eric Rosenthal. We talk to Eric about combining advantage gambling with advantageous use of travel options.

podcast 
Click to listen - Alt-click to download

Show Notes

[00:00] Introduction of Eric Rosenthal, @erosenthal1029, ericr@travelzork.com
[00:45] TravelZork.com, casino loyalty and travel loyalty education company
[02:45] Eric's experience with Revel's $100k loss rebate promotion, mailers, and the benefits of verifiable play
[13:36] Finding partners, managing taxes, and dividing comps from the Revel $100k promotion [18:25] Parlaying play at Revel into offers from competing properties in Atlantic City
[32:56] Travel hacking, manufactured spending, credit card discussion
[40:40] Tracking loyalty and credit card points, Award Wallet app
[43:54] Nothing lasts forever in AP or churning
[45:34] Creating extra video poker "theoretical."
[49:48] What has happened to Eric's team since the Revel promotion?
[52:42] How is Las Vegas for comps?
[54:05] Creating extra table games "theoretical."

Max Rubin's Comp City https://amzn.to/2PJt2mC
Award Wallet https://awardwallet.com/blog/
Urcomped https://urcomped.com/
Travelzork https://travelzork.com/
Twitter @erosenthal1029
Email ericr@travelzork.com
podcast Vegas Confessions https://www.vegasconfessionspod.com/