My understanding of this unique-to-Vegas aspect of the hobby is that the client gives the provider a stake, and whatever she wins is hers to keep, and if she loses it all, it's on him.  Ladies, is this generally the way you handle this?

My reason for asking is this:  I'm going to guess that most Vegas hobbyists are craps-players--which is a game that I just don't enjoy.  I much prefer blackjack; unfortunately, nearly every casino in Vegas prefers that I do *not* play blackjack.  I've been barred from playing blackjack just about everywhere (Yes, barred for counting.  Yes, counting still works--don't believe that bs you saw in "Rain Man".  The two-deck games at the MGM properties in particular are very exploitable--as long as you don't wear out your welcome by beating them regularly and consistently--which I have).

I was hoping that maybe I could get away with a little blackjack play if I did it as a "team" effort--I could play the part of the bored spouse standing behind my "wife" as she sat and played, the provider could be the degenerate gambler, and we'd have some kind of rudimentary signalling system (we could be holding hands, and have some combination of taps and hand squeezes so she'd know what to do).

If I were going to do this, I'm clearly not giving her all the profit, though.  Even if we went 50/50, would I be out of line if I wanted some of her 50% to cover some part of the donation?

Didn't we already discuss this in the past ???  

Ok , here it is again ..........

Are you trying to get a provider 86'd from a hotel ???

If you have been 86'd or just asked not to play Black Jack , that means the casino is looking out for you.
Standing behind a provider pretending she is your wife , is just going to cause eyes on her ......
yeah that is all she needs.

How do you think "teams" of black Jack players who count cards sooner or later get busted by the casino.
And if you were only asked to step away from the Black Jack tables , rest assure now you will get 86'd .

Sounds like you have already wore out your welcome to the Casinos ......  
so good luck with that.
xoxo CindySpice  

 

 

I believe that what you are describing is a felony in Nevada for both you and the lady.

And for the record, I've never been 86'd from a casino--just politely told that my play is not welcome at the blackjack table--or sometimes told that I can play, but I'm not allowed to vary my bet size until the deck is shuffled (which kind of takes away the edge given by counting)--I'm always totally welcome at my primary game (as for which game that is, I'll leave that as an exercise for the reader).

But your larger point is well made:  Even if I could make it look good with some kind of disguise, the providers certainly don't need the attention that would come with playing at fairly high stakes--and correctly pressing bets higher at  the key moments, as they would be doing.

Oh well--there goes that idea...

After reading "Bringing Down the House" by Ben Mezrich... (For those of you that haven't read it Do So- it is the definition of a "page turner") It was the book that horrible movie "21" with Kevin Spacey was based on but please don't let that deter you from picking it up.. To date it is one of my Top 5 favorite books of all time right behind "Lolita".

I am a proponent of expanding your mind in any way possible, I have a relatively high IQ and I love a mental challenge so after reading that I just had to see if I could learn to count cards. It took maybe a week to get really good/fast at it but I was then and still am WAAAAYYYY to chicken to actually try it and I don't really gamble so it's pretty much only a useful skill as a party trick...

But Seriously anyone looking for a good summer read check out "Bringing Down the House"  

(Book Plug Over)

 
 

Because I just ordered it based on your post.

Thanks.

Concise and on the money.

I'll just say ditto.

I hate that they can do that. Counting ain't cheating. Such bullshit!

You said you're barred JUST ABOUT everywhere. Even spots out in north vegas (aliant, cannery) or on boulder highway?

...at least for a little while.  However, AFAIK, the only casinos that are willing to take action at reasonable limits (let's say ranging from $50-$250 or $100-500 per hand) AND offer two-deck handheld games where they deal down about 75% of the way through the deck are Bellagio, Aria, and (I think) Mirage.

The two-deck games are really the only ones worth playing; single deck only pays 6/5 for a natural, the shoe games are a waste of time, since they usually don't deal far enough to get an edge--and the constant-reshuffle games are clear losers.

Besides, I like entertaining providers in nice Strip hotels, not at North Street Station,  IME, some providers are a little less likely to take the date if it's at an outlying area like that--not always, but I understand their reluctance in those kinds of situations.

Sorry,but that is incorrect. Nothing described is anything remotely like a felony. As mentioned elsewhere, card counting is NOT illegal, but the casinos can decide to not accept your play and if you persist after being backed off, they can read you something generally referred to as 'the trespass act' which, when violated the next time, can allow them to have you arrested. After 30+ years of card counting, I have only been backed off 2 or 3 times and never '86d' as Cindy calls it. Proper variation of play, short sessions, and the ability to keep from getting greedy in one place will allow you to keep playing. The biggest problem in the last few years is the disappearance of decent, winning games, making it difficult to play a large number of hours as I suspect the OP had been doing.

Thank you for the clarification, but the thing that I think is illegal is his "signaling" the provider as to bets to make.

if you use a mechanical or electronic device like the marvelous I Phone card counter app – which is really cool bc it has a stealth mode that blanks the screen – or have a partner uses it who gives  you signals.

          And card counting is tortious – which means the casino can make you give back your winnings - if you engage in common law fraud when you count:

“Excuse me sir, I can’t help but notice that you bet the table minimum when the deck is negative and bet $200 a hand when the deck is positive, and that you are wining a lot of money. Are you card counting?”  
“Who me? No. I’m just lucky.”
“Oh, okay you can keep playing.”

       From that point forward, you are committing fraud.

          Can you misrepresent your identity if you are a known card counter?
Check out the Richard Chen Nevada Supreme Court case to see how that works. That is the one you need to worry about if you have been barred from playing BJ And dragging the lady or anyone into that will get her in as much trouble as you.  

      Now, if you just sit there like Rain Man and count in your mind that’s not called a crime, that’s called “thinking.” Nothing illegal about thinking.

        But before you run off to make some quick money counting, you should know that card counting takes all the fun out of playing because you have  to concentrate like a fiend. To really increase your meager advantage, you have to keep a side count of aces which takes a different kind of mind than most of us have.  

        And you have to spread your bets big time to win – that is the “tell” the pit boss is looking for. If you bet between $25 and $200 a hand he’s going to keep his eye on you and count the deck himself

I once saw a documentary on TV about a man who developed a way to beat the house on a crap table.  He studied the physics of cubic objects rolling and bouncing. Then he got a standard crap table in his garage and practiced throwing technique until he could throw any number about 75 percent of the rolls. Perfecting such a skill must be something like throwing a curve ball in the major leagues.it requires talent ,time,and perseverance.
    When he thought he had it down he took some other guys with him t o Atlatic City and with him rolling and the others betting with him they made about 50K the first weekend.  By being low profile and not winning too much too often they were able to repeat thiseveral times.  
    The casinos finally figured out what he wasdoing and it was not illegal so they could not kick him out. What they did do was place shills around him to distract him while he was rolling. They would yell or slap him on the back saying "good luck"
This broke his needed concentration so the tactic worked. He stopped playing himself and now teaches the skill to others in his garage. Rumor has it he required Tommy John surgery after years of throwing. (LOL)

because you have  to concentrate like a fiend.

not true, some people are so good at it, it becomes second nature, takes years of practicing. One friend of mine made a living going on cruises (playing BJ) and knew 17 different count systems in their head at one time,  what they going to do ? Throw you off the ship???  

casino do other things now a days
like  

change rules , BJ pays 6/5 not 3/2 that is big killer right there
shuffle up in middle of deck
when you place a big bet
make you keep your bet the same

they don't need to make a fuss, they have other tools in arsenal short of calling out security and making a big scene in order to get you to live

and even if you fix the dice by controlling them, in craps, they will also nail you

you see, even if YOU WIN, by not doing ANY of these things, they are so paranoid they think you are cheating. so it's best not to even gamble, either way they will think you are cheating. And worst case ask you to leave , and not come back, escort you out. With security, some times they take your chips, some times they say cash them in and don't ever come back. But you know you will, and they know you will too. (they take your pic and share with other casinos, so beware if you go into another one right after kicked out and they kick you out, you will know why they did it)  

i understand they vegas doesn't make as much off gambling as they used to, that is why rooms and food are no longer cheap, and why when they went corporate they cut out all the comps and changed to the points system.......

i guess it's better than being taken to the back room and getting your thumbs broken, hey Ralphie ?
I should write a book, what do you all think ???

that is what i did

but no surgery req'd

i have played with many a gf and provider, never 86'd and as matter of fact with all the attention my friend(s) were getting it pulled a lot of the heat off of me

we won , alot

better yet if she could count or play craps....because then EVERYONE roots for her, and there is no way the house is going to 86 her with all her new friends around (unless she pulls something sneaky like changes the dice out or is wearing a blackjack computer)

in regard to cell phone app use below
it is illegal to use any device in a nevada casino to help you predict the outcome of a game. you could be subject to a 4 figure fine and up to ten years in your friendly state pen wearing a new pin strip uniform every day. And pick up garbage on some remote mountain pass as your new week end job.

put a team together
get a disguise
flash the bets for them (or just tell them how to play and act like you are drunk)

and keep a low profile (or act like you are drunk, so much for the class act)  

and don't play at the same casino , more than once
in six months

with your team

boy am i ramblin' or what ?! Sorry