We got one on the inside! :-)

[Preston]

I'm not naming the casino where this is, but my wife recently got hired to work the cage. Taking a pay increase and getting benefits to boot. Funny thing is, we've hit this casino regularly as counters and have taken the place for a decent chunk of change already. in fact I have never lost there . She's getting the tour of the whole place tomorrow and I'm hoping they'll show her the surveiliance room so she knows how they watch for counters.

So now when I'm off the road I am going to car pool in with her and work the same shift as her at the tables. Did this on her first training day -- this past Monday -- and ended up making $322 plus comps. With only about 5 hours of playing time. (other 3 hours spent at the buffet, taking care of errands, searching for apt)

Not really asking any questions, just kinda bragging 'cuz I think this is frickin' awesome.

 

[EasyRhino]

This doesn't seem like it will turn out well.

 

[halcyon1234]

I'm not naming the casino where this is, but my wife recently got hired to work the cage. Taking a pay increase and getting benefits to boot. Funny thing is, we've hit this casino regularly as counters and have taken the place for a decent chunk of change already. in fact I have never lost there . She's getting the tour of the whole place tomorrow and I'm hoping they'll show her the surveiliance room so she knows how they watch for counters.

So now when I'm off the road I am going to car pool in with her and work the same shift as her at the tables. Did this on her first training day -- this past Monday -- and ended up making $322 plus comps. With only about 5 hours of playing time. (other 3 hours spent at the buffet, taking care of errands, searching for apt)

Not really asking any questions, just kinda bragging 'cuz I think this is frickin' awesome.

I'm sure some other membres will be able to point out the exact legal bad-things about this-- especially if you are arriving and leaving with her all the time.

However, if things do work out, the only thing I can say is-- tip to the house!

 

[RJT]

Your major issue here is that if you get caught, there's a good chance your wife will lose her job and that will be only a small worry, because if they've tied the two of you together you could be facing theft or cheating at gambling charges.
I don't know if you've read anywhere else on the board, but there have been several discussions about dealer who when tipped will give hints about their downcard. The responce every time is to walk away! It may be a very profitable opertunity, but the risk of getting accused of working with someone on the inside is FAR too high.

RJT.

 

[shadroch]

Maybe I'm missing something,but I don't see whats the problem with his wife working the cage.
Shes not dealing to him,nor granting comps.
Now if she starts giving extra payouts,I can see trouble but short of that ,kudos are in order.
But I wouldn't expect to learn much about their survlience techniques,after all the cage is under even more scrutiny than the BJ pits.

 

[RJT]

My issue would simply be the chance that they could make some form of accusation. If they find out that the partner of one of their staff is counting on their tables, there is going to be a major investigation and she is going to come under extreem scrutiny. If they really want to, they'll find something to pin on her and even if they don't, i'd doubt how pleasurable an experience it will be all round.
By all means find out whatever you can about the inside runnings of the casino, but i'd stop playing that joint.

RJT.

 

[21forme]

Does her employment contact prohibit gambling or prohibit gambling at the same house by close relatives? TV game shows have restricitve eligibility clauses like that. If the casino does, it should be heeded. If not, I wouldn't worry.

 

[Preston]

Whoa Whoa Whoa!

You guys are jumping a bit here. I was the one with the thread about the dealer showing their downcard when tipped. That is a totally different casino in a totally different state.

She is working in THE CAGE. NOT DEALING. I won't even be going to her window because I don't want the extra heat. She is not allowed to play there. Not allowed on the boat when she isn't working. I have been coming there semi-regularly for a few months. And get this -- I know a good number of the dealers and a couple pit bosses. No heat. On a first name basis and everything.

She even brought up the fact that I would want to play there in the interview. They seemed to have no problem with that. I doubt there will be much of an issue because the times I'd be coming in with her would not be all that regular. I travel almost non-stop 9 months out of the year. So the summer months I'm home I would be making trips to the casino probably twice a week. There are four casinos within an hour's drive anyway, so even if this place decides not to let me play, I can still play elsewhere.

Right now the closest casino is 3 hours away. So moving will be a good thing.

 

[SecurityRisk]

I'm not naming the casino where this is, but my wife recently got hired to work the cage. Taking a pay increase and getting benefits to boot. Funny thing is, we've hit this casino regularly as counters and have taken the place for a decent chunk of change already. in fact I have never lost there . She's getting the tour of the whole place tomorrow and I'm hoping they'll show her the surveiliance room so she knows how they watch for counters.

So now when I'm off the road I am going to car pool in with her and work the same shift as her at the tables. Did this on her first training day -- this past Monday -- and ended up making $322 plus comps. With only about 5 hours of playing time. (other 3 hours spent at the buffet, taking care of errands, searching for apt)

Not really asking any questions, just kinda bragging 'cuz I think this is frickin' awesome.

She won't get a tour of the surveillance room. You need to work surveillance to get in that room.

 

[ihate17]

Counting where your wife works

Preston, I think several of the posts here took things too far and I agree with you that you should never cash your chips at the window where your wife may be in the cage.
I have many family members who have worked for casinos. They have ranged in positions over the years from operations manager down to dealer. I have stayed in hotels where family members work but one strong rule I have is I do not play blackjack in their casinos and it does not matter if the family member is the shift boss or a dealer. It is simply this; if they should figure me for a counter, bust me as a counter or even just think I might be a counter, the result could be embarrassing or even detrimental to my family members position in that casino. Even a casino with a high tolerance level towards counters might take it more personally if the counter is family of an employee. Something you should think about.

ihate17

 

[EasyRhino]

At first I had the vision of you playing blackjack 8 hours a day so you could carpool with your wife, and I just started screaming (in my mind).

It's cool that the casino already said it was okay if you gamble there. However, they didn't say that you could count there. I'd probably recommend, at most aggressive, treating it as a place that is already sweating you, with lots of cover and short sessions and a small spread, etc.

 

[bluewhale]

i see no reason to change your play in any way AS LONG as your wife doesn't mind losing her job. not that i am saying that she will.... i'm just saying that if they catch you, there is a decent chance that she will. so just keep that in mind before you continue counting there.

 

[NDN21]

We got one on the inside!

How does your wife working at the casino give you an advantage over what you already have by counting?

I don't get that part of it.

If she doesn't give you any extra advantage that having her work there then how is her working there a big deal?

If she does give you an extra advantage by working there then you could be in big trouble if you get caught.

I doubt if the gaming commission will have to try hard to prove anything, just charges from them might be enough to convict you. After all, they do have tons of security measures to stop cheating and if the casino goes to the trouble of charging you with cheating then that must mean they have a strong case against you. At least that's how a jury might feel about your situation.

Read her employee manual real good to see what the casino policy is toward immediate family members gambling at the casino.

In the end, you were already making money at this casino so is it worth it to have her there and possible ruin this casino for you?

 

[mdlbj]

Its just cost effective on the gas money.. During any payout, its under the eye in the sky.. The +EV is in the transpo.. Work it dude...

 

[Preston]

How does your wife working at the casino give you an advantage over what you already have by counting?

I don't get that part of it.

If she doesn't give you any extra advantage that having her work there then how is her working there a big deal?

If she does give you an extra advantage by working there then you could be in big trouble if you get caught.

I doubt if the gaming commission will have to try hard to prove anything, just charges from them might be enough to convict you. After all, they do have tons of security measures to stop cheating and if the casino goes to the trouble of charging you with cheating then that must mean they have a strong case against you. At least that's how a jury might feel about your situation.

Read her employee manual real good to see what the casino policy is toward immediate family members gambling at the casino.

In the end, you were already making money at this casino so is it worth it to have her there and possible ruin this casino for you?

I am smart enough to tone down my aggressiveness to draw less heat there. I figured that already. I will probably be playing poker just as much as blackjack, in fact probably playing poker more than blackjack. I also do things to make me look more like a gambler than a counter. I play other games besides blackjack. I high five people when the dealer busts. It only took drawing heat once in Mississippi for me to figure out what gave me away.

The +EV comes from a few things. Besides the gas cost, We are moving to the area, which is a lower cost of living to begin with, and we will be near 4 casinos within an hour's drive. Right now where we live the closest casino is 3 hours away.

Secondly, she took a pay increase and is guaranteed 40 hours a week. At her last job (which she was fired from the DAY we got home from Vegas) She was making $2/hour less and was only pulling 30-35 hours a week. Just that alone will make a $6500/year difference. And she will be getting benefits, subject to regular pay increases, among other things.

I don't see why there would be such pessimism toward this. I'm not going to be playing there 5 days a week, wouldn't think to in a heartbeat. After years of only being able to gamble online or on the road, I'm just excited I'll have a casino I bike to.

 

[halcyon1234]

I don't see why there would be such pessimism toward this.

It isn't pessimism. It's just caution. Everyone's playing the blackhat in a brain storml We're just covering all angles to make sure there's nothing unforseen that will blow the above-mentioned "gas and +$6500/year" +EV...