The Christians Who Took Millions From Casinos

This is an episode that originally aired in 2013. It has been reedited. 

They were Christians. They counted cards. And they took millions from casinos. Colin Jones co-founded the Church Team — the blackjack team featured in the documentary Holy Rollers — and went on to found BlackjackApprenticeship.com, where he's trained a generation of card counters. In this episode: the disguises (including Hollywood makeup tricks), how the team tested new players, card-counting training and apps, and what life looked like after the documentary.

podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-christians-who-took-millions-from-casinos--75732861

Show Notes

Gina Fiore - New Book: Advantage Player

This week we sit down with Gina Fiore to discuss her new book, "Advantage Player: A Memoir of Blackjack, Backrooms, and Beginnings".

Get the book - https://amzn.to/3W7mZyL

podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/gina-fiore-new-book-advantage-player--75566827

Show Notes

[00:00]  Introduction of Gina Fiore, professional gambler and author of Advantage Player

[01:05]  Dealing Blackjack in Nevada and California

[02:35]  What prompted Gina’s move into advantage play?

[03:22]  Learning about card counting

[05:21]  Hole carding and signaling

[11:08]  The All-Stars and edge sorting

[16:07]  Selecting team members and managing a team

[18:18]  Work ethic 

[21:49]  The benefits of having been a dealer

[23:14]  A bitter custody battle

[26:55]  Inspiration for writing Advantage Player, writing process 

[29:09]  Player banking strategies in California card rooms

[37:26]  Playing in the Party Pit

[40:39]  Advantage Player pre-order, release date (10/27), and related events

[46:54]  Recommended:  The Invite, Land Man, Lioness, and Risk Takers Podcast

Books Referenced:

Advantage Player by Gina Fiore - https://amzn.to/3W7mZyL

Blackjack for Blood by Bryce Carlson - https://amzn.to/4z16nrj

Million Dollar Blackjack by Ken Unston - https://amzn.to/4yrGkbr

Gina Fiore Links:

https://linktr.ee/ginafiore

Are casinos cheating on their slot machines?

Many casinos are resetting slot machines after players have built up free spins or other bonus features.  We speak with Buddy Frank, a former slot director who contacted the Nevada Gaming control Board about this.  In addition we talk about some of the new things Buddy saw at the annual Global Gaming Conference.

podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/are-casinos-cheating-on-slot-machines--75524394

Show Notes

[00:00]  Introduction of Buddy Frank, experienced slot and casino operations executive
[00:51]  Are casinos illegally resetting slot machines?
[05:57]  Evidence of Money Balls being reset
[09:34]  Checking Phoenix Link reset numbers, repeated RAM clearing
[12:53]  Lack of consequences for casino corporations that cheat players

[16:50]  G2E, facial recognition, eConnect, prediction markets

[23:00]  Lack of persistent state slot machines at G2E, new version of Sigma Derby, 

[26:45]  Roll to Win Craps

[29:53]  Marble Run by Interblock, wide area progressive slots

[32:02]  New offerings from Zitro and Light and Wonder

[33:28]  Buy a bonus features, Buffalo Power Play

[35:52]  Higher W2G limit impact on ambiance and Blueberi Gaming's jackpot speaker system

[38:42]  Self pay for W2G's, $1999 jackpot machines

[42:04]  Ainsworth Playboy theme, popular themes, and copycats

[45:00]  Licensing fees for Dragon Link versus Spooky Link

[47:20]  Skill-based slot machines

[49:32]  Recommended:  Ann Patchett's Bel Canto, Art Manteris' The Bookie

Links:

cdcgaming.com/writers/buddy-frank

willyallison.com/post/white-paper

Recommended:

Ann Patchett's Bel Canto - https://amzn.to/4yjWGDf

Art Manteris' The Bookie - https://amzn.to/4hFHObM