Backing off and debarring in the UK ?

[UK-21]

Does anyone have any views on the above? Is it prevalent? The conditions or what can lead to being politely asked to leave the table. Which chains and houses etc (if any) is it more likely to happen with? Views on how sharp the dealers and floor staff are with regard to spotting skilled players?

Lots here. Please contribute.

Newb99

 

[Harman]

I think it is a lot more unlikely to get backed off in the smaller casinos if you play small limits.. I don't think the British casinos know too much about card counting, apart from the Big'uns like The Ritz. I know that Mint and Grosvenor casinos mostly use CSMs so you can't count there. I think David Pom could shed some light on this subject

 

[_shed_]

I reckon they're as sharp as in Vegas. Or at least it's a good idea to think they are.

Someone on the boards said that counting's not very common in the UK, well I'm not so sure. At a table I was backcounting tonight, a player was joking about counting with the dealer and the dealer goes "I wouldn't talk about that so loudly in here", like in a really serious tone.

That said, in my short counting career (3 weeks!) I haven't spotted another counter, or even a decent BS player.

And about the effect of the movie 21, I haven't heard anyone else even mentioning it, so maybe it didn't do as well over here as in the States.

 

[UK-21]

My thoughts precisely.

When I played not so long ago, the fact that I only played above the table minimum for a few hands in succession now and then was clocked by the dealer:

Dealer: "You haven't taken your winnings"
Me: "It's alright. I'll let 'em right ride"
Dealer: "Oh? That'll be the first time tonight"
Me: "I've just won two on the trot. I'm feeling lucky".
Dealer: "Hmm. . . of course. "

Another dealer clocked the fact that I was taking as much interest in everyone else's cards as my own - and that certainly was out of the ordinary, as nobody else was taking any notice of mine (I think! - there may have been a real pro there, but I doubt it.). Didn't let on though.

Great this innit? I know you know I know . . . . .

 

[moo321]

My thoughts precisely.

When I played not so long ago, the fact that I only played above the table minimum for a few hands in succession now and then was clocked by the dealer:

Dealer: "You haven't taken your winnings"
Me: "It's alright. I'll let 'em right ride"
Dealer: "Oh? That'll be the first time tonight"
Me: "I've just won two on the trot. I'm feeling lucky".
Dealer: "Hmm. . . of course. "

Another dealer clocked the fact that I was taking as much interest in everyone else's cards as my own - and that certainly was out of the ordinary, as nobody else was taking any notice of mine (I think! - there may have been a real pro there, but I doubt it.). Didn't let on though.

Great this innit? I know you know I know . . . . .

Sounds like you got as friendly a warning as you can get that your act isn't up to snuff. Just be glad it wasn't a boss telling you to GTFO.

 

[UK-21]

Where I played there wasn't a PB as such. This place doesn't seem to have them. Each dealer deals for around 20 minutes and is then relieved. When off the table, each takes turns in "watching the tables" (??? my interpretation), although they seem far more interested in looking for dealer mistakes than in watching what the players are doing. The guy I said who took and interest in me taking an interest in all of the cards, had told me earlier he frequently took a place on the other side of the table when off duty, and I suspect he knew what he was looking for. There is a floor supervisor, but he sits far away from the gaming area, and only came over when summoned by one of the other staff.

I think what would put up a flag would be someone betting £25 chips, frequently placing the max of £100, and winning consistently. It's that sort of place.

This instance does tend to fly in the face of some of the advice I've had from long term seasoned players from the States along the lines of "don't worry about cover play, just wait until you get busted". I'd rather not.

Newb99