Casinos confused on card counters *LINK*

[zengrifter]

November 22, 2004

Casino workers frequently confused on card counters

By Liz Benston
<[email protected]>
LAS VEGAS SUN

Jimmy Pine is an animated, stocky former singer with a vague resemblance to Tom Jones and a propensity to gamble.

But the Rhode Island resident is not welcome in many Las Vegas casinos, where he goes by the nickname "Young Jimmy Dime" and is tracked by surveillance and told to leave if he tries to sit down at a blackjack game.

But last week was a rare moment at the Golden Nugget, which rolled out the red carpet for Pine and about 40 other "advantage players" who participated in the newly crowned second season of the "World Series of Blackjack."

The players included Kevin Blackwood, the buttoned-up author of "The Counter," Joe Pane, a retired Brooklyn cop who is banned by more than 30 casinos in Las Vegas and "Hollywood Dave" Stann, a 25-year-old actor who dresses like a punk rocker and talks a blue streak to distract his competition. None are welcome at local blackjack tables but are rising stars on cable television.

... continued at LINK below -

 

[KevinBlackwood]

Buttoned-up

Interesting article, but it still shows some of the common misconceptions about who the winning players really are. Plus I'm still chuckling over being described as buttoned-up. Maybe I need to change my wardrobe.

 

[Virgin Counter]

Question for Mr. Blackwood

At what level of play are the casinos becoming paranoid about counting? If I am playing a $5 6D shoe with a 10x spread using KO, would this even merit attention by the house? Does a lower limit player such as me even have to worry? What are some strategies to use to avoid detection even at the low limit tables?

 

[Victoria]

Not Mr Blackwood but

Your question can not be simply answered because every place is different.
I can spread from $25-$300 in a place like the MGM, tell them I have no rewards card because they do not comp little betters like me hardly, and stay under their radar on relatively long sessions.
The same spread next door at the Tropicana can be used for a short session but without a card you would get a ton of attention, so I use one.
At a Coast Casino I would be escorted out the door in a short period of time.
The same spread at the "Big W" would last about 3 seconds and I would probably be mugged on my way out.
Know your opponent and incorporate a strategy, including a spread, that fits their profile. A $5-$50 spread will be easily tolerated in many high and middle end places (if you can find $5 tables) but in the lower end places once you are betting green you are now a high roller (that's red for the Western) and expect careful evaluation of your play.
Victoria