AP questions at border

[Felix Rue-de-Guerre]

Just thought I'd share this because I found it interesting.

I was on my way into Canada to play in a tournament and was stopped by a roadblock on the American side. (Typically U.S. immigration is worried about you when you are returning from Canada, not heading there).

They told me to get out of the car and searched it, took my passport and made me read and sign a paper that described the 10,000 limit on transporting cash. Ok, a bit much, but this stuff happens up there sometimes.

Then I told them I was up for a blackjack tournament and it just got weird. Questions included:

"Oh, Blackjack?, so this is what you do for a living?" (Asked twice)
"Do you have any other pockets or anything in your pants?...No?... you don't have a pouch or anything in around here?"(Motioning around his belt/groin area).
"So, blackjack... is that all luck or can you get good at it? I've heard you can win a lot if you get good"
"I hear you have to play in teams" (Stated a couple questions after asking if I was meeting anyone in Canada)

If I thought a bit harder I'm sure I could remember more along the same lines. They had me out of my car asking questions for a good ten minutes.

I found it bizarre being questioned about being on a team, or that they had associated the jewelers pouches sold on a couple of these sites with blackjack players. Or, that I was asked if blackjack is what I did for a living. I'm sure they were looking for big cash transportations in general. But they had obviously been briefed on Blackjack AP.

For what it's worth, an Asian kid who doubled down on a hard 18 and pulled an ace pushed me to BR3 on the last hand of the first table. I would have had a re-buy as BR2. Oh bother.

-Felix

 

[eyesfor21]

reminds me of when the police had buns ablaze

I was deep in the trenches of Vegas a few years back loaded with
cash and looking for a parking spot in front of the Western, when I
asked a couple of locals in front of the joint if I could park there.
The locals mentioned something inaudible. I drove around the car and
6 cop cars with surround sound system and guns ablaze told be
to get out of the car. They ransacked my car for two hours,continued
to ask why I was in a heavy drug area of town,why officer IAM here
to play blackjack", officer metioned we know you are here to buy drugs
now cooperate with us or your going in. i was located in the backseat
of the cruiser in handcuffs,all this for nothing..
I was then asked about blackjack, the usual jargon, I even mentioned
the mayors site so they could get informed, they seemed mildly
interested but with disblief.
scary-thought I was a goner for the joint.

 

[KennilworthKid]

traveling with cash

I am no expert on this, but law enforcement agencies believe a person traveling with a large amount of cash (over $10,000) is highly suspect of drug dealing, or other illicit activities & income. They can take your cash as mere evidence of a suspected crime & hold it for a long time, leaving you stuck. It can be very difficult and often expense (legal fees) to get your money back.

As someone related to an IRS agent, I heard several times that large amount of cash, particularly when crossing the boarder, means illicit and/or unreported income made out of the country. If you are a US resident, your earnings are taxable by the US no matter where you have earned it. So a cash wad found on you will subject you to all kinds of unwanted attention.

I understand the best way around that is to use travelers checks, which can be replaced even if taken from you.

Also, the customs agents of many 3rd world countries use the capital import/export laws to fleece you of cash they find on you. Travlers checks cover you here too.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Bank of America

Now I use a Bank of America savings account for transporting my bankroll around the US. They have branches in all the major venues except for Mississippi. If I'm going to be arriving after hours I bring money from my local bank, if the banks will be open when I arrive I don't, and when I am done playing I just drop it all in the night deposit. Prevents loss, robbery, and unpleasant encounters with the police. Of course, this won't help much when traveling across the border as BOA doesn't do business in Canada. You'd think that the cops in a place like LV would be comfortable with the idea of people going in and out of casinos with a lot of cash.

 

[Anon]

destination police state

Drugs and terrorism are answers to the antilibertarians' prayers.