Mark Billings: The Ultimate Edge — Beating Blackjack in the 1980s

Mark Billings — author of The Ultimate Edge — joins Bob Dancer and Richard Munchkin to talk about beating blackjack in the 1980s: shuffle tracking, hole-carding, and computers strapped to players' legs. Mark tells the stories behind the plays, from the "slicing and dicing" cut-card move to the shoe computer busted at the Desert Inn — including the gaming agent who went on TV and completely made up how they caught the team. Plus the time Richard's brother Jake had to stand up in a casino and swear he wasn't a card counter. Originally aired April 4, 2013.Show Notes[00:00]  Throwback episode context[02:03]  News about a structuring charge[04:31]  Munchkin’s brother, Jake, was asked if he was a card counter[07:04]  Introduction of Mark Billings, advantage player, and author of The Ultimate Edge[10:03]  Slicing and dicing hand cuts[12:12]  Shuffle tracking with computers[16:49]  The small world of card counting in Las Vegas and Atlantic City[18:25]  Sharing advantage play secrets[21:10]  Shuffle tracking computers in shoes[25:13]  Casino eavesdropping on in-room phone calls[27:45]  Building shoes for the computers[30:00]  Richard’s shoe making story[31:50]  The Ultimate Edge method, computers and video laws[38:34]  Does Mark feel like his teams caused device laws to change?[42:07]  How is blackjack different today?GWAE Episodes Referenced:https://youtu.be/Wj1DTHlkaIAhttps://youtu.be/PrrFP3-XwB0

This week we sit down with Gina Fiore to discuss her new book, "Advantage Player: A Memoir of Blackjack, Backrooms, and Beginnings".Get the book - https://amzn.to/3W7mZyLShow NotesShow Notes[00:00]  Introduction of Gina Fiore, professional gambler and author of Advantage Player[01:05]  Dealing Blackjack in Nevada and California[02:35]  What prompted Gina’s move into advantage play?[03:22]  Learning about card counting[05:21]  Hole carding and signaling[11:08]  The All-Stars and edge sorting[16:07]  Selecting team members and managing a team[18:18]  Work ethic [21:49]  The benefits of having been a dealer[23:14]  A bitter custody battle[26:55]  Inspiration for writing Advantage Player, writing process [29:09]  Player banking strategies in California card rooms[37:26]  Playing in the Party Pit[40:39]  Advantage Player pre-order, release date (10/27), and related events[46:54]  Recommended:  The Invite, Land Man, Lioness, and Risk Takers PodcastBooks Referenced:Advantage Player by Gina Fiore - https://amzn.to/3W7mZyLBlackjack for Blood by Bryce Carlson - https://amzn.to/4z16nrjMillion Dollar Blackjack by Ken Unston - https://amzn.to/4yrGkbrGina Fiore Links:https://linktr.ee/ginafiore

This is an episode that originally aired in 2013. It has been reedited. They were Christians. They counted cards. And they took millions from casinos. Colin Jones co-founded the Church Team — the blackjack team featured in the documentary Holy Rollers — and went on to found BlackjackApprenticeship.com, where he's trained a generation of card counters. In this episode: the disguises (including Hollywood makeup tricks), how the team tested new players, card-counting training and apps, and what life looked like after the documentary.Show Notes[00:00]  Notes on editing[00:45]  Playing in disguise[08:38]  Introduction of Colin Jones from blackjackapprenticeship.com[09:10]  More on playing in disguise, using makeup, accessories, mannerisms, etc[14:14]  Blackjack apprenticeship.com content, training, and forum[19:52]  Does Colin still play blackjack?[21:20]  Can people make a living counting cards?[23:55]  Casino 411, a Yelp for card counters[29:53]  Developing a Google Glass app[34:01]  Blackjack bootcampsLinks:blackjackapprenticeship.comlasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge

Many casinos are resetting slot machines after players have built up free spins or other bonus features.  We speak with Buddy Frank, a former slot director who contacted the Nevada Gaming control Board about this.  In addition we talk about some of the new things Buddy saw at the annual Global Gaming Conference.Show Notes[00:00]  Introduction of Buddy Frank, experienced slot and casino operations executive[00:51]  Are casinos illegally resetting slot machines?[05:57]  Evidence of Money Balls being reset[09:34]  Checking Phoenix Link reset numbers, repeated RAM clearing[12:53]  Lack of consequences for casino corporations that cheat players[16:50]  G2E, facial recognition, eConnect, prediction markets[23:00]  Lack of persistent state slot machines at G2E, new version of Sigma Derby, [26:45]  Roll to Win Craps[29:53]  Marble Run by Interblock, wide area progressive slots[32:02]  New offerings from Zitro and Light and Wonder[33:28]  Buy a bonus features, Buffalo Power Play[35:52]  Higher W2G limit impact on ambiance and Blueberi Gaming's jackpot speaker system[38:42]  Self pay for W2G's, $1999 jackpot machines[42:04]  Ainsworth Playboy theme, popular themes, and copycats[45:00]  Licensing fees for Dragon Link versus Spooky Link[47:20]  Skill-based slot machines[49:32]  Recommended:  Ann Patchett's Bel Canto, Art Manteris' The BookieLinks:http://cdcgaming.com/writers/buddy-frankhttp://willyallison.com/post/white-paperRecommended:Ann Patchett's Bel Canto - https://amzn.to/4yjWGDfArt Manteris' The Bookie - https://amzn.to/4hFHObM

Laurance Scott has been beating roulette for over 30 years.  He was first on our show 13 years ago. (Link below to that episode) He is now retiring, and joins us to talk about his start and how the game has changed.Show Notes[00:00]  Introduction of roulette player, Laurance Scott[00:48]  Getting started in roulette[06:00]  Playing Huxley wheels[07:27]  Roulette teams[09:12]  Device laws outside of the U.S[10:32]  Mistakes made by beginner roulette players[15:40]  Surveillance of wheel watchers[18:24]  Timing back door[23:00]  Playing in France[29:04]  Playing in Macau[36:48]  Playing biased wheels and distracting dealers [41:56]  Contacting surgeons to implant a computer[47:12]  Games and heat in Las VegasLinks:Laurance Scott episode from 2013  https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4082481490083758475/9122198373771667070Interview with Keith and Marty Tafthttps://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/interview-with-keith-and-marty-taft/?srsltid=AfmBOooeWKDCJlJPx-KphISabY621YkT1Qh7Yt_Vth2YZfdnN4j6JxHZhttp://mezzobistro.comCheckmate by Ben Mezrich https://amzn.to/4ce7xq1

Milkshake lost all his money following a tout, and it set him off on a journey to figure out how to win money sports betting.Show Notes[00:00]  Introduction of sports better, Milkshake[00:38]  Milkshake’s path into advantage play[03:09]  Top-down betting and going to BetBash 2[05:25]  Moving for professional bettors[09:38]  Odds screens, arbitrage, limiting, and nuances of top-down[15:42]  Why did $600 move a major market?[16:45]  What percentage of Milkshake’s action today is moving versus modeling?[18:24]  Making in prediction markets[19:10]  Evaluating potential movers[21:57]  Betting at kiosks[24:50]  Source of truth[26:44]  Setting up partnerships[28:22]  Camouflage bets, priming accounts[30:45]  Faking the market[32:28]  Should winning accounts go dormant before being limited?[33:43]  Shifting the closing line to avoid CLV[34:51]  Milkshake's book and podcast recommendations[36:10]  Using sportsbook bonuses[39:29]  How will Milkshake's betting evolve over the next few years?[41:54]  Relevant knowledge of sports when top-down betting[43:09]  In-game betting[44:17]  Can value be found in a team's losing streaks?Links:x.com/BeBetterBettorsx.com/halfkellyLogic of Sports Betting by Ed-Miller https://amzn.to/4x6Wx67

Charles Star is a self-described podcast slut.  He went from lawyer to comedian and is now on a quest to do 53 podcasts in 52 weeks.Show Notes[00:00]  Introduction of Charles Small[00:36]  Podcast appearances bet[03:25]  No Homework and City Saint, Country Saint podcasts[05:57]  Transitioning from law into comedy [14:07]  Leaving standup[15:58]  Podcasting[17:08]  Gambling and sports better stories[20:33]  Legal career after temp jobs[26:07]  Civil asset forfeiture[29:11]  The Moth and strange legal cases[34:16]  OST realistic legal shows and movies[40:22]  Travel stories[46:15]  Favorite Las Vegas restaurant that is not in a casinoLinks:http://nohomework.websitehttp://soundcloud.com/hwpodhttp://davidhill.substack.com/p/introducing-american-gamblerhttp://nakamurayalv.com

Elizabeth Reichelt seems to choose the riskiest professions. I don't mean dangerous, I mean the chance of success is tiny, but the payoff can be huge. She went from dancer, to stand up comic, to television writer.Show Notes[00:00]  Introduction of Elizabeth Reichelt[00:38]  High risk and high reward professions[03:09]  Identity crises[06:10]  Moving to Los Angeles[08:25]  Passion for social work[11:06]  Playwriting[16:53]  Improv, writing sketches, and stand up comedy[21:46]  Assistant writer for Inventing Anna[21:24]  Becoming a writer[26:47]  Research on Bridgerton[27:56]  Cowriting an episode[30:32]  AI effects on writers[31:32]  Writing for networks versus streaming services[34:23]  Working while on hiatus, networking, and agents[39:34]  How can listeners contact Elizabeth?[40:06]  Advice for aspiring writers[40:44]  Favorite restaurant in Las Vegas that is not in a casinoLinks:http://Instagram.com/lizreichelthttp://Mobettahs.comhttp://Doublezeropie.comLife is a Gamble explores those times in life where someone must take a big risk, or when life deals you an unexpected hand. How do we decide how much risk is worth it?Life is a Gamble explores those times in life where someone must take a big risk, or when life deals you an unexpected hand. How do we decide how much risk is worth it?

Our guest today is Jake Jacobs, on to talk about his new book, "Have Bets Will Travel." The book is an autobiography focused on his 40+ years as a professional gambler.Show Notes[00:00] Introduction of Jake Jacobs, author of Have Bets, Will Travel[00:53] How did Jake start gambling? [05:02] Writing about gambling adjacent experiences[07:56] Deciding on the title of Have Bets, Will Travel [09:29] Jake's gambling post-1992 and horseracing stories[14:02] Legally using computers in Atlantic City [17:53] Playing a blackjack memory game with Bill Benter[31:05] Taking a lie detector tie after theft allegations [38:52] Tropicana boss asks Jake if he is a card counter[42:55] Wearing disguises[44:09] A Korean bar girl goes to the wrong room [47:05] Favorite restaurant in Las Vegas that is not in a casino?Links: Get the book - https://amzn.to/4otrFct http://Lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge http://Lotusofsiamlv.com

Our guests today are Ben Rosenthal, author of the new book, "Breaking The Slot Code," and Anthony Curtis, the publisher of the book, and the new website slotslayers.com. The book, and the site teach players how to actually get an edge at some slot machines.Show Notes00:00]  Slotslayers.com and contact info[00:42]  Introduction of Ben Rosenthal, author of Breaking the Slot Code[01:22]  When did Ben start gambling?[02:09]  Why did Ben decide to share advantage slot information?[04:37]  How is Ben’s slot content different than other advantage slot sites?[06:24]  Slotslayers.com pricing[08:16]  Analyzing new games[09:30]  Will the casinos overreact to slot hustlers?[13:14]  Recreational players learning about persistence slots[14:56]  Why slot pros are good for casinos on The Strip[20:03]  Is Ben concerned about being identified by casinos?[17:07]  Slot hustling full time or as a side gig[23:15]  Dealing with machine squatters[24:53]  Casinos’ slot hustling countermeasures in Las Vegas[26:10]  Casinos resetting banked meters[31:31]  Gaming rules for bubble roulette[32:35]  James Grosjean’s new book, The Ultimate Report:  Lockdowm Edition[34:59]  Favorite Las Vegas restaurant not in a casinoLinks:Breaking the Slot Code - https://amzn.to/4vt4v8eLasVegasAdvisor.comSlotslayers.comx.com/RWM21Reddwarflv.comScoundrelspubii.comMadmattys.com