I'm worried about being banned

[john]

There is this state that has made it a law that every person has to have a players card. Basically, I had to give them my I.D. and address. Now they have a face with a name. I don't live in that state but I want to go back after a little time has passed. The reasons they give for the law is to keep people from losing 500 dollars or more in two hours but I think the real reason is to make it easy to ban people. I mean they swipe your card when you enter the casino for god's sake.

They asked if I wanted to be "rated". I don't know what that means but I told them no. I think it meant: We lost track of your earnings and now we want to know how much your up.

I went into the casino at about 8:30 a.m. and maybe that was a little suspicious since they open at 8 a.m. I stayed until about 12:30 p.m. and left up almost 80 units.

Is it time to leave when they ask you if you want to be "rated"?

 

[WinBot]

MO is a little bit strange anyway.

Missouri passed that law to "protect problem gamblers" from themselves. What they really did is make their BJ games almost counter proof. I say almost because if you can't buy more than $500 in chips in an hour you're playing fairly low stakes. I asked a player the last time I was there how thye get around the "buyin limits" and he told me they don't generally cash out at the end of a session, just leave with the cheques for the next time they play and buy in then too. That way they have a substantial bankroll without having to adhere to the foolish limits.
I'm pretty sure that the player card thing is so the casinos can be compliant with the state law and "ratings" are conducted seperately by the casino. I wouldn't worry too much, you'll know when they don't want your action anymore.
You shoulda seen the ruckus I caused when I threy my Harrah's card that I got in AC on the table in St. Louis. It wouldn't read in their terminal AND it wasn't signed by me! WHOA baby....suits and pens all over the place. Hilarious.

 

[revereman]

Among the various reasons that they ask you to be rated is for you to earn comps. True, they also like to keep track of your wins and losses. Once you reach the green chip ($25) level, it's more suspicious when you refuse to be rated than the risks you take to be rated. Depending on the casino and your play level, comps can easily exceed $500 for a weekend.

 

[Rob McGarvey]

95% of what a person worries about never happens. If it does, worrying about it before it does does you no good. Use your cover. Just because you have a card doesn't mean you have to use it. Sit down and when they ask you for your card tell them you left it in your room. Make them print you a new one. Every time you go past a bank of slots stuff your card in one and leave it there. Someone will end up playing it and smearing slot points onto it, and you'll look like a star.

And if you get barred, don't worry about that either. It's like getting to work late.

"Don't worry, be happy"

 

[Abraham de Moivre]

I agree. Don't worry -- Be happy.

You can count on the fingers on one hand the number of people that have been barred in that State for counting in all the years they have had casinos.

They won't bar you (they have gotten huge fines from the gaming commission for this in the past) they will merely move the cut card and make the game unplayable.

As mentioned, there are ways around the $500 per 2 hour limit. Go buy in for $500, leave, eat at a resturant, come back buy in for $500 more, leave. etc.
Also don't cash in winnings and build a bank of chips, etc.

Give them your name, get rated, you will probably get offers for free rooms and meals the next time you do come back. Relax, these joints have 100,000+ visitors per year, the ID thing is the State's doing, the casinos would love to get rid of it.

 

[john]

Re: I agree. Don't worry -- Be happy.

You guys are great. Thanks for the advice. I feel like even though I was up 80 units there (my biggest ever), I could have made another 80 given a few more hours. I was in "the zone" or something. Hmmm..maybe I could have gotten a hotel room. That place was great, too. It was probably the best casino I have ever been too. I found a great dealer. I actually tipped him, too and if you get a tip from me then you are lucky. Blackjack...tip, blackjack....tip. He didn't mind me hitting my 13 vs. 2 's or my 12 vs. 6's . I'm a red chipper now but I hope to be in green really soon. I played at a green table in my last trip but it was one of those play the first 5 hands....win 5 in a row....lose the 6th hand, and leave and act like your mad type of deal.

There was this one casino that was absolutely horrible. The worse I've ever been to. I walked in and the security guard, acting confrontational, said "Can I help you?" I said, "yeah, I'm trying to find the casino." Duh!! Why he was acting that way was beyond me but I think it has to do with me looking like I'm 17 years old. Okay, I look 17 but I'm 27. Man, those security guards look at me like I'm trying to steal chips but I'm there to use my mind. There was one playable bj game there. Only one!! The rest were CSM's . 10 tables: 9 were csm's and one actually dealt from the shoe (25 dollar table) . That is the worst I've seen. I made about 32 units (as a red chipper) in 5 minutes. I left, and I don't know if I'll go back there.

Rob, I think that in Missouri, you can't play unless you have your card or an I.D. So the woops, I left it in a slot machine deal won't work I don't think.

All in all, the pit bosses treated me fairly well and I don't think I was even around that much for them to talk to me. I'm usually the one betting the smallest on the table. Do you guys drink beer while you play? I'm not much of a drinker but it sure would loosen me up. My family gets tired of me talking about blackjack so y'all will have to deal with me now.

 

[Stealth]

Interesting point you made

Abraham de Moivre, you said:

They won't bar you (they have gotten huge fines from the gaming commission for this in the past)

So what's up with the Missouri Gaming Commish? Nev certainly doesn't take the same position. Do you know of any case history on the subject? Please elaborate more on this. Tell us what you know.

 

[jpb.]

how many fingers do you have on your hands

you can count the number of card counters that have been barred from playing blackjack on both hands if you had all ten fingers (counting the thumb as a finger) cut off.

And they cannot tell you you are allowed to only bet $50.00. If they do that, go find the gaming commission on board (the person may or may not have a clue as to what is allowed) and then fil a WRITTEN COMPLAINT on a form found on hte MGC website.

They can and cut pen and maybe lower entire table limit. They are also allowed pref shuffle, but as far as I know only Ameristar is doing this. If they are not using these countermeasures you are still below the radar.

 

[eyesfor21]

Re: how many fingers do you have on your hands

The casino's do want they want and the gaming commision does what
it wants too.they al make there own rules and even have there own
special police to enfore what they want on there side..
Regarding flat betting they tell many players that..often
Regading pref shuffle-that is more rare..

 

[Stealth]

Re: I agree. Don't worry -- Be happy.

Hey John:

Your sounding kinda wild-eyed and bushy-tailed, which is great. But I hope your not getting a false sense of security out there.

I just want to say, keep your head on straight and keep gaining knowledge. Welcome to the board.