Gambling With an Edge - Eric Rosenthal part 2

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

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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/

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 
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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/

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 - guest Don Johnson

The guest this week is Don Johnson. We talk to Don about his massive wins at blackjack, porn stars, horse racing, and Phil Ivey.

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Gambling With an Edge - guest Jimmy Jazz 3

The guest on the show this week is Jimmy Jazz. Jimmy talks about lessons learned from his years of play, and tells some amazing stories of his gambling exploits.

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The Player Secrets of a Vegas Whale

I opened Netflix last night only to see this in my recommended list. How could I not watch? The Player is 45 minutes of what I would call "Newsotainment"; not really news, and not really entertaining. It is the story of how Don Johnson won $15 million in Atlantic City by exploiting their loss rebate program.

The show is filled with a lot of fluff. The actual time spent on what Don Johnson did maybe totals 10 minutes. The rest of the time is spent talking about how the economic collapse of 2008 effected CET, MGM, and Wynn. There are interviews with Steve Wynn, Jim Murren (CEO of MGM), and Gary Loveman. (CEO of Caesars). Now either Gary Loveman has no clue as to what goes on in his casinos, or he is a blatant liar. When Trish Regan asks him about DJ being barred at Caesars properties he says, "We can't, or wouldn't bar you from coming to the casino." Really? Would you like a list of just the people who have sued CET for being handcuffed and mistreated while being 86ed for doing nothing illegal?

Unfortunately I'm and addict. For me these shows are like pizza - even when it's bad it is still pretty good. The more you already know about the Don Johnson story, the less you will like this show. One tidbit the show brings out that hasn't been mentioned much in other places is his use of porn stars. The idea is the dealer and pit get so distracted by the girls they make errors. One or two errors a night and DJ now has an overall edge. If you're bored some night and scrolling through Netflix you might check it out.

The show was originally made for Bloomberg TV, so if you don't have Netflix you can also watch it here. The Player.

Gambling With an Edge - guest Brian McAllister

This week's guest is Brian McAllister, a long-time options trader.  He has been on the show before to talk about his video poker exploits, but tonight we will talk about what options trading can teach you about gambling.

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Gambling With an Edge - guest Steve Cyr 2

Our guest this week was Steve Cyr, Super host. He is the subject of the book, Whale Hunt in the Desert which contains many of his crazier exploits. 

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Gambling With an Edge - guest Bob Nersesian #7

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.  He is also the author of Beat the Players.

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Gambling With an Edge - guest BJ Traveller

The guest on the show this week is BJ Traveller.  BJT is Chinese and has played blackjack in 76 casinos around the world, and written 10 books about his exploits.  You can read my print interview with him here under the interviews link.

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Gambling With an edge - guest Kevin Lewis

The guest this week is Kevin Lewis, on to talk about video poker in the Reno/Tahoe area. We also discuss the upcoming loss rebate promotion at Revel in Atlantic City.

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Don't Revel in your loss rebate

The internet is all aflutter with the announcement by Revel Hotel-Casino in Atlantic City, that for the month of July they are offering a 100% loss rebate up to $100,000. That's right, 100% on 100k. The offer applies to action on slots, video poker, and electronic table games. There are threads on Wizard of Odds, VPfree, and several blackjack sites. I am sure that casino consultants will weigh in very shortly.

Before you get too excited you should know that to collect this rebate you receive 5% of your loss back each week for 20 weeks. You may be able to do this in 10 trips if say the new week begins on Monday you can schedule your trips so that on Sunday you collect for week 1, and then after midnight collect for week 2. But this would still mean making 10 trips to AC.

But there is a bigger problem. Casinos often have promotions that give away money. They often cost themselves more than they realize, and many players take advantage of these promotions. Usually when they stick their foot in it they lose 6 figures, maybe into 7 on a really bad one. This promo has the potential to cost them tens of millions of dollars. There is a long history of casinos changing the rules in the middle of a promo, or even after the fact. Every player faces the danger of the casino suddenly saying, "We changed our mind, Video Poker doesn't count," or "Sorry, we didn't mean those slot machines that you played, it was only for these that you didn't." On the flyer I read it said, "See the Revel card desk for details." I haven't been able to find any additional details online. So if you live fairly close to AC and want to give it a shot, by all means. Just don't expect this to be a walk in the park.