• Dive into advanced Pre-Flop Raise (PFR) strategies to elevate your poker game and gain a competitive edge at the casino table.
• Explore insights from poker statistics and analysis to understand the impact of PFR poker on hand ranges, aggression levels, and overall gameplay dynamics.
• Learn how to adjust your PFR poker range based on position, stack sizes, opponent tendencies, and table dynamics for strategic advantage.
• Implement sophisticated PFR tactics, such as 3-betting and balancing ranges, to exploit opponents and maximize profitability.
• Master the art of PFR poker by combining technical expertise with psychological insights to outplay opponents and achieve consistent success in your games.

Every possible edge in Texas Hold ‘Em can lead to better outcomes and, let’s face it, the fewer opponents you have the better odds you have of winning. One of the advanced strategies in Texas Hold ‘Em is known as the Pre-Flop Raise (PFR).

What is PFR in poker? A PFR Poker strategy is raising the bet before any community cards are revealed (pre-flop). At the beginning, the only money in the pot is from the big blind and small blind. After the hold cards are dealt, the first round of betting begins when players can bet, check, call or raise.

If you’re learning how to play poker and want to consider PFR, this article should prove the basic details to get you started and what to look out for.

Pre-Flop Raise as a Strategy

There are many reasons why PFR can be an important strategy and impacts gameplay in a variety of ways:

• Strong Hole Cards: The community cards can go any number of ways but if you’re holding two strong cards, you can raise before the flop to indicate and scare away potential opponents and/or build the pot.
• Minimize competition: If another player folds, that’s one less person who could potentially find favorable cards in the flop, turn or river. We’ve all been in the position where we fold bad cards only to discover they could have turned into a winning hand.
• Make Them Pay for the Flop: If you have a good hand, don’t let the others see the flop for cheap. Your Pre-Flop Raise indicates your hand is strong and you deserve to play into the next round.
• Collecting Intelligence: If a player folds, they thought their hand was weak. However, if they call or raise, you now have information that they could be holding a strong hand as well.
• Psychological Warfare: If you PFR aggressively, you’re signaling to the others players that you’re not afraid to play and apply some pressure.

What Does the Pre-Flop Raise Percentage Mean?

To determine the PFR percentage, take the number of hands in which a player raises pre-flop versus the number of hands played. If a player raises 15 times out of 100 hands played, the percentage is 15%.

This is used to assess a player’s style and how aggressive or conservative they are and what strategy you can use against it.

Generally, a PFR percentage above 15% indicates they are more aggressive.

Image credit: RomanR/Shutterstock

What is VPIP?

Voluntary Put money In Pot, or VPIP, is a percentage of how often a player bets, calls or raises. This doesn’t include blinds because those bets aren’t voluntary. An example would be if out of 100 hands played, if you voluntarily put money in 50 times, the VPIP would be 50%.

The Relationship Between VPIP and PFR

The way in which VPIP and PFR are related is in regards to poker strategy and how players bet at the beginning of a hand. While VPIP can happen at any time, PFR obviously can only occur before the flop. However, whether you’re the player raising pre-flop or it’s someone else, it is a key indicator on someone’s betting style.

A player willing to raise pre-flop or has a high Volunteer Put money in Pot percentage plays more aggressively. They are willing to gamble more often, re-raise when prompted and pressure their opponents into calling.

On the opposite side of the spectrum is the player with a lower VPIP and someone more likely to call rather than bet. They tend to play hands more conservatively, which means they’ll play when they have a higher likelihood of winning and less likely to bluff.

Raising pre-flop and monitoring the VPIP of other players can provide you with information about opponents’ hands and force them to call, raise or fold in times they would otherwise make a different decision.

Is PFR higher than VPIP? Generally, no. Players are more likely to put money in voluntarily as the game progresses rather than pre-flop.

PFR Values in Different Poker Formats

Depending on the poker format, there are different values that PFR may have.

• PFR in Six-Max Games are tight-knit with only six players vying for the pot (as opposed to a 9-10 player format). Because this is a smaller game, the players tend to be aggressive. There is a tendency for more action and the game moves quicker. Players have a PFR percentage closer to 20-30% with the more conservative players still raising pre-flop around 15% of the time.

• PFR in Full Ring Games are played with more traditional PFR percentages because there are 9-10 players. Unlike in the six-man games, the aggressive players in full ring games have a PFR percentage closer to 15%. The more conservative players will raise pre-flop only about 5-8% of the time.

• PFR in Zoom Poker Games is fast-moving, as the name suggests, which means players who want to stay in will PFR aggressively. In a game in which if you fold, you get moved to a new table, there is a greater incentive to stick around and learn your opponents’ strategies. The most aggressive players can have a PFR percentage close to 30%. The likelihood of moving frequently means you have to change your strategy all the time.

Image credit: RomanR/Shutterstock

Exploiting Opponents Using PFR

If you can identify different player types with PFR while playing Texas Hold ‘Em, you’ll be better prepared to challenge your opponents and have an edge with your hand.

4 Types of PFR Players

Although these percentages will vary depending on whether you’re playing a Six-Man Game, Full-Ring Game or Zoom Game, the types of PFR player remains the same. For context, the below percentages are based on a Full-Ring Game.

1. Aggressive Players play just like that: aggressively. They will have a PFR range between 12-20%, so it’s likely they will raise pre-flop in 1 out of 5 games. An aggressive players’ strategy puts pressure on the others and often forces them to either fold (reducing the number of opponents) or call (which raises the poker equity). Aggressive players tend to play when they have a perceived strong hand.

1. Tight-Aggressive Players tend to PFR selectively. Most of the time they’ll do it because they have a strong hand. They’ll occasionally bluff and hope to make a hand in the community cards, or force the others to fold. ?Tight-aggressive players have a PFR between 8-12%.

1. Tight-Passive Players will typically raise pre-flop if they have a good hand so they have a lower PFR percentage at around 5-8%.

1. Loose Players are similar to aggressive players in that they have a high PFR percentage. The difference is that a loose player’s strategy is about playing more hands and being somewhat unpredictable. Loose players will PFR even if they don’t have a great hand and have a high PFR percentage range of 15-20%, sometimes more.

So, how do you combat these varying PFR players? You can adjust the way you play by reading other players at the table to throw them off-balance. If a player is aggressive and calling or raising, get more selective in when you call or raise and ignore the pressure to raise or call.

If the players are more passive, consider raising with more frequency. This applies pressure on your opponents to call or raise, which increases the pot size, or will make them fold so you can take more blinds.

What is a good VPIP and PFR?

A good VPIP and PFR can be dependent on how a player chooses to play poker.

• High VPIP and Low PFR: This type of player tends to call rather than raise unless they have a big hand. They likely won’t bluff and will play the cards, not their opponent.
• Low VPIP and Low PFR: This type of player only plays big if they have a big hand. They don’t mind folding and rarely play big.
• Medium VPIP and Low PFR: A medium VPIP means putting money in about a quarter of the time. They’re more likely a casual player who calls a lot of raises and won’t bet big unless they have a good hand. When they bet, assume they have a decent hand.
• Medium VPIP and Medium PFR: This is the ideal strategy. If you’re not used to playing this way, ease yourself into it. It’s not easy playing a possible junk hand to outwit your opponents.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Over-raising. With a high PFR percentage, you’re opening yourself to other aggressive players who might have better hands once the community cards are dealt. It’s okay to be aggressive, but consider your PFR percentage.
• Raising to see the cards. If you Pre-Flop Raise or call to see the flop cards, you might be delaying the inevitable. There’s no point in losing chips just to see how things play out in the flop.
• Failure to adjust. Poker is all about reading the other players. If you notice you’re at a table with aggressive players, failing to adjust is setting yourself up to make mistakes.
• Playing based on potential. If you overvalue your hand and PFR on the possibilities, you’re playing with hope and not strategy. Learning the difference between exploitative play and GTO play is important in maintaining balance in your game.

Image credit: Kitreel/Shutterstock

PFR Poker Strategy

• There are many reasons why PFR can be an important strategy and impacts gameplay in a variety of ways. It can help increase the pot, make others fold or be an aggressive move with strong hold cards, to name a few.
• Consider both PFR and VPIP, which is the percentage a player voluntarily puts money in the pot. Both provide insight into a player’s strategy.
• Depending on the poker format, a player may change their strategy.
• There are generally four types of PFR players: Aggressive, Tight Aggressive, Tight Passive and Loose players.

There are many guides that can help players continue their poker education and no shortage of articles like this one that provide insights into overlooked strategies and information to take to the poker table.

One of the best ways to learn is to jump into it. If you’re a regular at a casino, live dealer poker or online poker game, start paying more attention to PFR and VPIP and consider how to take advantage of the players and their preferred methods of play.

With over 3.3M travelers visiting Vegas each month, we’ve gone behind the scenes to uncover the ultimate jackpot – inside secrets to save you serious cash. We spoke with two Vegas veterans, who lives and breathes all-things Vegas and casinos: 

• Scott Roeben, Founder and voice of “Vital Vegas”: Your go-to source for insider news, tips, and secrets about Las Vegas – thanks to his 20 years of experience in entertainment, gaming, and hospitality. He’s accumulated over 205k+ X followers and received multiple brand awards, establishing his reputation as one of the most trusted and influential figures in Vegas media.?

• Kevin Lentz: A seasoned casino management expert with 30+ years of experience, who’s managed table games, slots, poker rooms, and sportsbook from Reno to Las Vegas.??

These pros dished out tips on how to play your (credit) cards right to keep your winnings where they belong: in your pocket. ?

Insider Money Moves?

Craving a cocktail? Skip the bar and head to…the retail area??

Yep, you read that correctly. With the average cocktail costing anywhere from $15-30 (before tip), you might need to rethink where you’re getting them. Besides, you didn’t come all this way just to splurge on a single drink. Vital Vegas’ Scott Roeben dropped this money-saving gem:  

“If you buy a drink outside the Paris (Las Vegas) Resort, it could be $24. If you head inside, the same drink could cost $18. If you go even further into the resort, back into the retail area, the same drink could be $12.” Now that’s a tip worth toasting to!??

Foodie Finds: Ditch the buffets, head to these budget-friendly hotspots instead?

Las Vegas has become a foodie paradise, drawing in 5-star chefs and culinary enthusiasts all over the world. But don’t get sucked into the tourist trap of a mediocre $50 buffet. Instead, head over to the food trucks!   

Vegas insider, Kevin Lentz, dishes out a sizzlin’ tip: food trucks can help you save big without sacrificing taste or quality. “Track down the Hawaiian food at Antidote LV. I highly recommend the Poke nachos. Or get your carb overload at Endless Pastabilities. How often do you get five-star spaghetti and meatballs served in a cone?” Talk about a unique and tasty twist!  

If you’re craving more of a sit-down experience, Letz suggests heading to Ellis Island Casino or Jerry’s Nugget for some tasty deals on a budget. The Village Pub & Cafe inside Ellis Island offers a $9.99 steak and eggs special – locals even swear that their steaks rival any $200 steakhouse in town.  

Over at Jerry’s Nugget Casino, the dining experience is famous for its great food and value. Claiming to have the best prime rib in Vegas, you can savor their English Cut Prime Rib for just $22.99. Now that’s a mouthwatering deal! 

Essentials shopping: Avoid price traps by heading to these locations

We’ve all been there – packing for a big trip just to realize you’ve left a toiletry or two behind. However, this small mistake can quite literally cost you in Vegas. Roeben left a crucial tip for anyone needing last-minute essentials: avoid the casino gift shops. 

“Many (casino gift shops) don’t post prices anymore, which allows them to use surge pricing based on hotel occupancy,” Roeben warns. “You’re better off walking next door to a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, where the same items are half the price.”  

Don’t let a forgotten tube of toothpaste break your bank! Shop smart and stick to pharmacies instead.  

Casino Money Savvy Tips?

Roll the dice, not your eyes: Avoid these rookie Craps traps ?

Craps is one of the most popular dice games in casinos, so make sure you know where to place your bets. Roeben’s piece of advice? Avoid betting on large areas of the table felt, like the big 6/8.  

“Anything you see in the biggest print on the table felt (e.g. a big 6/8) is the worst bet to make. Betting on those 6/8 spaces pay less than “placing” a 6 or 8 bet with e dealer, for the exact same roll result.”??

Don’t let the Strip strip your wallet: Find cheaper Blackjack and Craps?

Blackjack, another very popular and easy-to-learn (card) game, is a staple in Vegas. But if you’re playing on the Strip, be prepared to pay more, as most tables require a $25 minimum bet.  

However, Lentz reveals that you can still enjoy these same games without breaking the bank. Just walk a few blocks off the Strip, and you’ll find cheaper minimums – ultimately allowing you to stretch your gaming budget and still have a great time. Check out The Oyo Casino, where you can score $1 blackjack tables. Or head over to Ellis Island Casino for $5 blackjack and $5 craps games. You’ll find more $5 blackjack tables at other off-strip spots like Station Casinos like Palace Station or Sunset Station. ?

A Roulette trick to keep your chips in check?

When playing roulette, it’s important to remember that roulette chips have no value once you leave the table. Unlike other casino chips with a fixed denomination – the amount of money a chip represents – roulette chips can represent any amount.  

To make the most bang for your buck chips, Roeben suggests always “coloring up” your chips before leaving the table. Exchanging your smaller chips for larger ones ensures you’re not left with a pocket full of worthless chips. 

Casino Etiquette and Maximizing Benefits?

The #1 rule you must remember when handling money??

If you’re new to the Vegas casino scene, it’s important to know some basic protocols. Keep in mind this one crucial tip when exchanging cash for chips: never hand cash directly to the dealer. Instead, place it on the table. 

Why? Dealers aren’t allowed to take cash directly from your hand as all transactions must be visible to the casino’s surveillance cameras. By laying your cash on the table, the cameras can record the amount exchanged, reducing the risk of any disputes or misunderstandings between you and the dealer.  

Once you place your cash on the table, the dealer will spread it out for the cameras to see, announce the amount, then exchange it for chips.?

Play your (loyalty) cards right for free flights, cruises, and more?

If you’re planning to spend some quality time in Sin City, don’t leave your freebies to chance – grab a casino loyalty card as soon as you arrive. Even if it’s your one and only Vegas trip, these cards are your golden ticket to earning perks and tracking your play. Without one, you could end up shelling out cash on what could be a freebie.  

Players card programs aren’t exactly a secret, but according to Roeben, Vegas casinos are quite generous with their rewards. “Players can get free flights, cruises, and often free suites – sometimes so exclusive, you can’t even book them with money, they’re reserved for the big players,” Roeben reveals. “Plus, loyalty club players can get goodies right out of the gate, like complimentary rooms, dining credits, and free slot play.”  

While the exact formula on how to earn these perks is a well-guarded secret, Roeben notes that there are plenty of online resources that give players an idea of how to make the most of their gambling dollars for maximum rewards. There are even conferences where hosts and guests try to crack the system! Play your (loyalty) cards right, and you might just hit the perks jackpot.  

These same cards are also known to give new players free play once they sign up, as revealed by Lentz. While it’s not actual cash, you can convert it into real money after a few rounds– a great way to stretch your budget while enjoying the games!?

How to double-down on perks?

Online casinos are well-known for their eye-catching sign-up bonuses, but Lentz points out that Vegas casinos offer competitive deals too! He suggests comparing the sign-up bonuses and comp perks from Vegas casinos and online platforms to see where you can score the most perks for your buck. 

“If you already belong to, say, BetMGM’s player club, check your offers,” Lentz advises. “You may have free play or other comps available once the app realizes you’re in Las Vegas.”??

Tip, tip, hooray! Get VIP service with this tipping trick?

Tipping isn’t an afterthought in Vegas – it’s a power move. While most wait until the end of their service to tip, Vegas insiders know that a generous tip upfront is the ultimate game-changer. Roeben crowns “the power of tipping” as the #1 money secret in Vegas.???

Get free drinks with this Vegas bar machine trick ?

If you’re gambling at a bar, there’s a sneaky way to earn yourself a drink. Look for the red light/green light monitoring system on the back of the machine. According to Roeben, all you need to do is play at a steady pace. Do that, and you’ll get the green light to your comped drink – which in most cases, would cost $25-$30 otherwise!  

Red light! There is a catch, however. If you get caught in a conversation and stop playing for too long, the system resets, and you’ll have to start all over again. Less yapping, more spinning folks!  

Jackpot! You’re ready to conquer Vegas like a pro?

With insider tips from Vital Vegas’ Scott Roeben and casino expert Kevin Lentz, you’re ready to take on Las Vegas like a true local. From sipping cheaper cocktails, utilizing the best gaming strategies, or unlocking VIP-like perks, you’ve got the winning hand for an epic Vegas trip – without breaking the bank. To really maximize your luck, take these tips to the luckiest casinos in Vegas! ?

Biography: A closer look at Vegas insiders?

Scott Roeben is the founder and primary voice behind Vital Vegas, a popular blog that has become a go-to source for insider news, tips, and updates about Las Vegas. With over 20 years of experience in the Las Vegas scene, Scott combines his deep knowledge of the city’s entertainment, gaming, and hospitality industries to provide readers with valuable insights. His work has earned him a reputation as one of the most trusted and influential figures in Vegas media. 

Kevin Lentz has over 30 years of experience in land-based casino management, where he has overseen table games, slot departments, sportsbooks, and poker rooms. He began his career as an Advantage and Blackjack tournament player but has spent the past three decades on the management side of the industry, working in and managing various departments from Reno to Las Vegas. Today, Kevin writes extensively about casino-related topics, with a particular focus on blackjack, card counting, and game protection. In his free time, he continues to share his insights and expertise through his writing. 

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Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors. 

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org 

From huge opulent poker rooms to thousands of slots, these supersized casinos are mini gambling towns in their own right.

Join us as we take a look at the top 10 largest real money casinos in America.

1. Winstar: Thackerville, Oklahoma (600,000 Square feet)

Words like stupendously large just don’t convey the immenseness that is the Winstar Casino. Located just minutes from the Texas border, Winstar isn’t just the largest casino in America, it’s the largest casino in the world.

With 600,000 square feet of gaming space, almost 9,000 slot machines, and over 150 table games, the Chickasaw Nation has built a phenomenal mousetrap for the 7.5 million people in the Dallas Fort Worth metro area.

Like all of the mega-casinos on our list, they’ve made gambling the star attraction, but you shouldn’t overlook the world-class golf, spa, top-of-the-line concerts, and luxury dining and hotel experiences. If you can’t make it, however, check out our review of the Winstar Online Casino.

2. Mohegan Sun: Uncasville, Connecticut (364,000 square feet)

Huge casinos need a constant stream of players to continue to thrive. When the tribes began negotiating gaming compacts in Connecticut 30 years ago, it was obvious from the outset that, with more than twenty million people within a two-hour drive, these casinos would need to be big.

With 364,000 square feet of gaming, Mohegan Sun did not disappoint.

Mohegan Sun boasts 6,400 slots, over 350 table games, a state-of-the-art sportsbook, and stadium betting on baccarat and roulette.

The tribe didn’t scrimp on amenities, with hiking trails, golf, tennis, pickleball, and lots of other fun outdoor activities on offer. There are also countless restaurants and more than 1,500 hotel rooms to meet your needs.

3. Foxwoods Casino Resort: Ledyard, Connecticut (340,000 square feet)

Foxwoods is sort of the bookend to the Mohegan Sun property in that they are similar in their massive gaming square footage but only 13 miles apart.

The Mashantucket Pequot tribe has about 340,000 square feet of gaming space spread across six casinos within a casino. These are comprised of about 5,500 slots and 260 table games.

Foxwoods is also known for its state-of-the-art shopping experience, with almost 100 high-end luxury shops on the property.

In addition to the 2,500 hotel rooms and the usual amenities like golf, the resort offers premier zip-lining and go-carting experiences that draw risk-takers of all ages.

4. Yaamava Resort and Casino: Highland, California (290,000 square feet)

Run by the San Manual band of Indians, the Yaamava casino story is one of almost constant growth and rebirth in the 40 years since it opened.

The casino currently boasts 290,000 square feet of gaming space, with more than 4,400 slot machines and 150 table games. While it only has 400 hotel rooms on the property, the nearby towns of San Bernadino or even Riverside have many overnight stay options.

Other recent additions include a world-class 3,000-seat concert venue, which draws many LA-based bands when they are not on tour, along with a half dozen restaurants and some high-end retailers.

While this resort doesn’t yet offer the amenities that many other properties with similar-sized gaming spaces on our list of the largest casinos in America do, it is in the heart of the Los Angeles metro area and a whole lot closer than the 4-hour trip to Vegas.

5. Thunder Valley Casino: Lincoln, California (250,000 square feet)

This large American casino is operated in Northern California in a joint effort between the Miwuk and Maidu Indian tribes. It is located near Sacramento, California. The 250,000 square feet of gaming space is jampacked with 3,500 slots and 150 table games. 

The hotel only has 400 rooms, and though there is a spa and entertainment venue that holds over 4,000 guests, the spotlight here is more on local play than driving tourist visits.

That being said, it is a beautiful property with plenty of dining options, and just about any game or slot you might wish to play.

6. Hard Rock Tampa: Tampa, Florida (240,000 square feet)

The Hard Rock Tampa, on the other hand, is a true destination resort in the sun. Three pool areas total over 200,000 gallons of water, and one pool area alone has 60,000 square feet of swimming space. 700 lounge chairs, almost two dozen cabanas, and two DJ booth setups round out the poolside attractions.

You can choose from almost 900 hotel rooms and more than a dozen dining options, as well as hit their award-winning spa or top-tier concert tours. That’s before you try your luck at one of their 6,000 slots and 200 table games spread across a well-thought-out casino space of 240,000 square feet.

The Seminole Tribe bought out Hard Rock International at a bargain basement price in 2007, and now have cafes in more than 70 countries, an exclusive brand name to build on, and casino resorts in almost another dozen locations.

This means that your Unity tier card not only works in Tampa, but Atlantic City, and all the other Hard Rock locations, as well as the Mirage. That’s a big deal to people who like to use their tier points and comp credits at more than just one location, and gives the Seminoles the ability to cross-sell to various locations.

7. River Wind Casino: Norman, Oklahoma (219,000 square feet)

The metro area of Norman, Oklahoma, is home to a surprising 1.4 million people, and the Chickasaw-owned River Winds Casino is there to meet all their gaming needs.

It has 2,700 slots, over 20 table games, and a 17-table poker room. Unlike some of the Tribal Casinos located a bit closer to the Dallas—Fort Worth area, the RiverWinds, despite its still very impressive 219,00 square feet of gaming space, is not a mega-resort. In fact, it only has 100 hotel rooms.

They do have partnerships with Panda Express, Burger King, and perennial favorite IHOP for a quick bite, or a buffet and a British Fish and Chips place for something a bit more upscale. Other amenities include a 1500-seat theater, and a gift shop located conveniently near the exit.

8. Choctaw Casino: Durant, Oklahoma (219,000 square feet)

In its 219,000 square feet of gaming space, Choctaw Casino currently has over 7,000 slots, 120 tables, and a large poker room.

Being several hours from the Dallas-Fort Worth area and less than 30 minutes from the largest casino in the US (Winstar), this resort has taken a different look at amenities, creating not one but two huge nightclub/live concert venues, including a Gilley’s Road House.

You can also find over 20 restaurants, ranging from fine dining at Salt and Stone to Texas barbeque, which you’ll need to eat with your fingers.

You will find more than 1,700 hotel rooms, including Vegas-style suites, as well as amenities seldom seen at big US casinos like horse riding, fishing, bowling, hiking, and, of course, a world-class spa to relax in.

9. River Spirit Casino: Tulsa, Oklahoma (212,000 square feet)

Situated in the northeast corner of Oklahoma, the River Spirit Casino is near Tulsa, which boasts about 1 million people in its metro area. It can also draw people in from Kansas and Missouri who are looking for some casino excitement. 

The Muskogee Tribe has 3,100 slots and about 70 table games in their 212,000 square feet of gaming space. 

The tribe has added 483 luxury hotel rooms so far and is making plans for more. Their concert venue can host 2,500 guests and their restaurant choices number over a dozen. The amenity list includes a pool, and convention center.

10. Encore Casino: Boston, Massachusetts (210,000 square feet)

Strictly speaking, this casino, owned by the Wynn group, is located in Everett, MA, and is the only non-tribal casino to make our list of the 10 biggest casinos in America

At approximately 210,00 square feet of gaming space, it is still a massive space filled with 3,400 slots and over 160 table games. This integrated mega resort cost 2.6 billion to build in 2019.

Developed on just 34 acres, this casino doesn’t feature many outdoor amenities due to space constraints, but it makes up for that in 5-star luxury that one would expect from any Wynn property.

The 671 hotel rooms are all lavishly appointed and designed to meet the needs of very discerning clients. There are thirteen restaurants and the entire property is almost a museum space as it is filled with millions in paintings and sculptures.

A Round Up Of The Largest Casinos In America:

1. Winstar: Thackerville, Oklahoma (600,000 Square feet)
2. Mohegan Sun: Uncasville, Connecticut (364,000 square feet)
3. Foxwoods Casino Resort: Ledyard, Connecticut (340,000 square feet)
4. Yaamava Resort and Casino: Highland, California (290,000 square feet)
5. Thunder Valley Casino: Lincoln, California (250,000 square feet)
6. Hard Rock Tampa: Tampa, Florida (240,000 square feet)
7. River Wind Casino: Norman, Oklahoma (219,000 square feet)
8. Choctaw Casino: Durant, Oklahoma (219,000 square feet)
9. River Spirit Casino: Tulsa, Oklahoma (212,000 square feet)
10. Encore Casino: Boston, Massachusetts (210,000 square feet)

There are more than 1,000 casinos in the US, so it takes a true behemoth to make the biggest casinos in America shortlist.

With all of the casinos constantly expanding, this list may look very different in a few years, especially as new gaming legislation is passed in states like New York, where the population within a few hours’ drive is easily in the tens of millions.

Perhaps, despite the intense competition in Las Vegas, someone will finally build a mega-resort that puts Sin City back on the top ten biggest list again. Combining the Wynn and Encore properties in Las Vegas only gets us to 195,000 square feet of gaming, so still a little room for improvement.

While bigger isn’t always better, these casinos show the true diversity of gambling in America. From slot halls to five-star luxury, they cover the gamut of the American gambling experience and showcase the reach of gaming growth over the past several decades.

From Norman Oklahoma to Boston, from Riverdale California to Tampa, casinos continue to thrive.

Cheapest Blackjack in Vegas: What You Need to Know

• While they aren’t as easy to find as they used to be, there are still $10 blackjack tables in Vegas and even $1 blackjack in Las Vegas, if you know which casino to look in.
• However, the cheapest blackjack in Vegas isn’t always the best value. You need to take into account the blackjack house edge to understand exactly the value of each hand you play.
• The best value blackjack in now found at casinos offer online blackjack and you can use our casino reviews to find the best value casino games online.
• Take advantage of the local, nose to the ground, insight in this guide to help you find the best value and cheapest blackjack tables in Las Vegas.

The days of cheap blackjack even in downtown or local casinos is quickly coming to an end unless you want to play an electronic version of Las Vegas Casino games table games or perhaps a stadium game.

Cheapest Blackjack Tables in Vegas

Now, that is not to say that you can’t still find some $5 blackjack in Vegas or even $1 blackjack in Vegas, downtown, up in North Las Vegas, or just off the Strip, but it does mean that cheap doesn’t always mean you are getting value.

A $1 blackjack in Vegas game where you have to pay 25 cents every hand as a blind isn’t good value. A $1 game where you get even money on blackjacks and can’t double after splits isn’t good value.

Even a $5 game that pays 6/5 on blackjack in Vegas will be much more expensive to your bankroll than a $10 table that offers 3 to 2 blackjack in Vegas in even the very short term. So, while we will tell you where you can find the cheapest blackjack tables in Las Vegas, we will also make sure we discuss whether those tables represent any real value.

Cheapest Blackjack in Las Vegas: How to Scout The Best Tables

Let’s talk a bit about how a casino shift manager decides what blackjack limits to offer. It really comes down to supply and demand. If it is 4:00 a.m. on a Tuesday, I will need a lower limit than if it is a Saturday night with a prize fight in town.

If my casino doesn’t have a hotel, is a little run-down, or is set further away from the action, all of that will also affect how much I can set my blackjack limits and still hope I will get play.

Seasonality Matters When it Comes to the Cheapest Blackjack in Vegas

As does the season. In Las Vegas, even though it will light your hair on fire, the summer is still busier than the winter. We just had seven days in July over 115 degrees Fahrenheit, but hey, come out whenever.

But also, some casinos would rather have no play at times than set the wrong precedent and attract the wrong kind of customer, which is unfortunate but the reason why you might see a $5 game early morning in the off-season at a place like the MGM Excalibur or Circus Circus on Las Vegas Boulevard but never at the Wynn, Caesars Palace, or the Bellagio.

People’s perception matters. Chanel will never sell a $50 purse, and many strip properties would rather be caught dead than offer a “cheap” table limit.

Cheap Blackjack Tables on the Strip

We can narrow down where we might look for $5 and $10 games on the Strip proper by looking at where they have been offered in the past, and then looking at times when we can expect play to be slow, i.e. midweek and early morning.

Some likely spots are Excalibur, Luxor, Circus Circus, and Slots of Fun. By looking at Trip Advisor, other travel forums, and even Reddit, we know that $5 real money blackjack games have been spotted at these places in the past six months or so.

We try to steer away from sites that offer surveys or reviews when we look for cheap blackjack tables in Las Vegas. We don’t know if they go to these casinos more than once a year, whether they go at 4 a.m. on a Wednesday or 7 p.m. on a Friday, and so we don’t know if they are seeing the lowest minimums that that casino offers or just what is offered while they are on the property writing down their findings.

Just Call And Ask

If you don’t feel like making the trek to either end of the Strip, you can call these casinos and ask about current minimums. I actually get calls asking about table limits all the time, but be aware that it wouldn’t be unusual if you called in the early evening for them not to know what the table minimums are going to be early the next morning.

We suspect that you could find these $5 blackjack games in Vegas in the early winter at some of these properties when hotel rates plummet, and no conventions are in town. Still, you are probably looking at at least $10 games during the morning and afternoon, going to $15 by early evening during the rest of the year. At least, that has been our experience.

Take in Account the House Edge and Odds

Knowing the house edge and the blackjack odds of each game in critical to getting the best value for your bet. There are some 6/5 games mixed in with 3/2 blackjack at these levels, so pay attention. Games that pay only 6/5 on blackjack are several orders of magnitude worse because of house advantage.

A good double deck with stand-on soft seventeen and double after splits could be as low as 0.22%, while the same version of the 6/5 game might be 1.5% or 500% worse.

Most games at prestigious casinos in the middle of the Strip will have $15 blackjack on the main floor, yielding to $25 or higher towards evening if demand calls for it. So, if you genuinely have your heart set on playing $5 blackjack in Las Vegas, either be prepared to work the properties at the edge of the Strip or be ready to venture downtown or off the Strip.

Image credit: lucky-photographer/Shutterstock

Cheap Blackjack Tables in Downtown Las Vegas

We’ve personally seen $5 games downtown as well, but even here, they can prove elusive and shifting. The Golden Nugget casino generally has a $5 game, but they require a $2 side bet, or they offer it in games that may have blackjack in the name but aren’t truly blackjack.

There have been sightings of 6/5 $5 blackjack at the Plaza early morning as well. But probably the most reliable place to look for $5 blackjack is at the Downtown Grand Casino, and yes, they still have the $1 blackjack game as well.

$10 blackjack in Las Vegas: Fremont Street

Now, if you are looking for $10 blackjack in Las Vegas, then Fremont Street is a neon gold mine, though again off-peak hours are the best time to be panning for nuggets. We have seen 3/2 blackjack games with ten minimums at El Cortez, which recently had a $20 million remodel, which is probably still our favorite downtown casino, even on a weekend night.

You can also try the California Casino, Main Street Station, the Plaza, and Fremont.

You may notice that many double-deck games don’t allow double-after-split. This increases the house edge on these games to 0.6%, which is almost exactly the same as the house edge on the six-deck games that allow double-after-split.

So, feel free to play either one. As always, stay away from 6/5 blackjack games and give any table that requires a side bet a wide berth.

Cheap Blackjack Tables for Las Vegas Locals

Away from the bright lights and easily walkable gambling halls found along the Las Vegas Strip and Fremont Street, many other casinos exist. These primarily cater to locals, though certainly a certain breed of tourist also seeks them out. You can still find not only some of that old Las Vegas charm but also some of that old Las Vegas value.

The Oyo Casino

Many of these places are not dozens of miles from the tourist epicenters but, in many cases, just a few blocks away. Take Oyo, which also has one of those infamous $1 blackjack in Las Vegas tables you can tell all your friends back home about, as well as $5 3/2 blackjack. Is it in a sketchy area? Yeah. Is there what we will euphemistically call a seedier element? Sure. But did we mention the $3 shots and $10 beer buckets?

Ellis Island Casino

Another casino that offers great value and is strip “adjacent” is Ellis Island. Just a couple-minute walk from the Paris/Horseshoe monorail station, Ellis Island is the epitome of a great value local casino. Here, not only will you find some of the best $5 blackjack in Las Vegas, but fun, friendly dealers and decent free entertainment.

We highly recommend either the prime rib or the $9.99 steak and eggs if you stop in for a bit of gambling. We should probably mention they have $5 craps games as well?

Southpoint Casino

Another great place for gambling value is just a few miles south on I-15. Southpoint Casino offers both $5 and $10 double-deck blackjack with standard rules and 3/2 on blackjack; you should be able to find these table limits regardless of when you visit. Some rooms have a nice view of the strip properties in all their nighttime glory, and they have 64 bowling lanes open until 2 a.m.

Other places to find $5 blackjack in Las Vegas at off-strip properties include any of the Station Casinos, especially Palace Station or potentially the Silverton. However, the last time we were there, it was all $10, except for 6/5 games.

Finding the Best Value Blackjack Tables in Vegas

There is still cheap blackjack on the Strip and downtown, although the cheapest blackjack tables in Las Vegas remain in local-friendly off-strip properties, often only a few minutes’ drive from the tourist action.

The next time you are in Las Vegas, just ask the cab drivers, dealers, or cocktail waitress where they like to play, and you may be rewarded with a little hole-in-the-wall gem even we don’t know about.

Title Image credit: Andrew Angelov/Shutterstock

Becoming a Professional Poker Player: Top Tips from a Pro

• Pick your poker game and stick to it – The best Poker pros specialize in one variation of poker. Most player choose Texas Hold ‘Em, but you can make a career playing Omaha poker or another variation.
• Learn it inside out – Once you choose your game, learn it from back to front, until you can recount pre-flop charts in your street.
• Put money and time into improving continuously, and take care of your soft skills – Don’t rest on your laurels. Always look for ways to improve your game and focus on your poker soft skills (which we’ll cover in this article).
• Don’t just focus on tournaments – Large scale tournaments, such as the WSOP, do attract a lot of pro poker players, but you can make a good living playing poker in an online casino. Online poker, live dealer poker, and video poker are, after all, still poker.

What’s Included in This Guide

• My story and what I learned on the way
• Step 1: Pick Your Poker Game and Be Consistent
• Step 2: Master Your Game & Know Your Odds
• Step 3: Invest in Your Education
• Step 4: Keep Learning
• Step 5: Take Care of Your Soft Skills to Stay on Top of Your Game
• Step 6: Manage Your Money Carefully
• Pros and Cons of Being a Professional Poker Player
• Becoming A Professional Poker Player – Is It For You?

How do You Become a Professional Poker Player

Do not fool yourself: becoming a professional poker player in today’s competitive environment is not easy, but if you take it seriously, it can be well worth the efforts.

I had many ups and downs over the years, but playing online poker professionally was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life, and I never regretted choosing this path. However, if I had to start all over again, I would do many things differently to save years of wasted time and a ton of lost money on the way.

I am sure that you can easily avoid many of the poker mistakes that I made and speed up your progress. So, if you have a couple of minutes to read it through, I will be happy to share how I became a professional player and what I learned on the road.

How to Become a Pro Poker Player: Getting My Start

I started playing poker around 2008 when I was introduced to the game by my friends. At that time, it was hard to imagine how big the poker world really was, and that it offered much more than my home games with buddies.

But even that was enough for me. I fell in love with this game and never looked back.

Of course, there is no need to say that the beginning of my career was far from optimal. I played random sessions of Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs), Progressive Knockout, and Sit-and-Go Tournaments (SNGs) online, plenty of cash games with my friends, and was not studying the game at all.

In the beginning, I loved competing with others and enjoyed the feeling of winning. With all honesty, it was not about the money. However, very soon, I realized that I could easily make much more playing poker than in a part-time job during my study years, and this idea fascinated me a lot.

At the time, I was struggling both financially and mentally because my father has just passed away. Poker helped take my thoughts off my situation, so I started grinding through days.

Starting Become a Pro Poker Player

The more I played, the more I liked the game. Unlike the “real” life, poker gave me control of everything. I could play when I wanted, what I wanted, for as long as I wanted – and I loved it.

When I look back, I think that I was incredibly lucky to discover this game. I am a very competitive person, and the ability to play with different pro poker players, adjust my strategy, and overcome them was very pleasing, probably even more so than money.

However, I have to confess that the beginning of my career was basically a gamble.

I had a very narrow understanding of the game and was not spending much time learning the strategy. Luckily for me, players weren’t that good back in those days, and I was making a very decent living even playing poorly.

And then I got lucky! One day changed my whole career.

In one of the live poker tournaments, I got to meet a professional poker player, and it changed my whole view of the game. He was talking in terms of ranges, breaking down poker math, poker ICM, and other concepts I barely knew existed.

That was the moment when I realized that there is so much more to the game. After that, I started studying like never before and rapidly improved my game.

Travelling the Poker Tournament Circuit

I joined a group of pro poker players, and we started traveling the world playing live cash games and occasional tournaments.

We visited WSOP in Las Vegas, many European Poker Tour stops, and other destinations in poker circuit. Now, I can easily say: meeting that PRO at the tournament was the best thing that ever happened to me in regards to poker.

I started getting coaching from one of the best pro poker players in my country, and my development boosted even more. We touched not only the strategy part, but also topics such as concentration, controlling emotions when bluffing, and other areas of the mental game, which once again made me realize how much I didn’t know.

After a year of traveling around and playing through the night in various local casinos, I decided that I didn’t want to do it anymore. Thus, I left the live games circuit and concentrated on playing at online casinos.

This is my path, but you can make much better decisions with a wide range of information available today.

If you want to play poker professionally, you can avoid a lot of my mistakes and speed this process by years. So what should you do? Let me try to answer this question by listing five steps that can drastically help you on your journey.

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How to Become a Professional Poker Player Step 1: Pick Your Poker Game and Be Consistent

At the beginning of my career, I tried playing different games simultaneously. I was launching MTTs and cash games at the same time, or even playing live cash and a table or two on my laptop.

Obviously, all of this looks ridiculous when I look back, and I believe it was one of the biggest roadblocks for improving as a player.

If you jump from one game to another, most likely, you will never become very good at either of it. Therefore, your primary job is to decide what you want to play and stick with that decision.

That being said, it does not mean that you can’t play cash games with your friends if you chose to play MTTs. Not at all, but you have to stick with one format as your main game and put all your concentration to it.

So how do you choose the game? Well, surely not based on possible income! You should pick the game which suits your situation and one you actually enjoy.

• If you do not want to play extremely long sessions or do not have the luxury to sit in front of your PC for hours without taking a break, MTTs are probably not for you.
• However, if you love the changing environment, different dynamics, and have all the time for playing – tournaments are a great choice.
• If you require the flexibility to manage your time, then you should probably choose cash games.

All of the formats have pros and cons. So do your homework, choose what works for you and most importantly, stick with it.

For example, if you decide to play tournaments and spend time to study ICM strategies, learn optimal approach on the bubble, master different stack depth play and vital adjustments for different situations, jumping to cash games would not be very wise.

Sticking to one game will help you improve much faster because you can concentrate on learning what matters the most and gather your experience at a much better pace.

If you gain an edge in one format, it is much easier to keep it than learn a different game.

This is where I struggled a lot. I was jumping from one format to another for a couple of years, and it was holding me back. Now, I can easily say that the moment I chose my game and put all the effort to improve in that area, my results skyrocketed, and you likely should follow this path as well.

How to Become a Pro Poker Player Step 2: Master Your Game & Know Your Odds

When you know what you’re going to play, concentrate all your efforts into mastering it. Obviously, you should start by learning the rules if it’s is a new game, but soon after that, your next step should be conquering the math.

No matter what you play, poker is a game of math, and if you do not know your numbers it will be very hard to reach any kind of success, maybe even impossible.

How to become a professional poker player – five essentials you need to know about your chosen game:

• Learn the odds of hitting a winning hand when you are behind.
• Figure out how to compare it against pot odds you are getting so you can make an educated decision if you need to continue with your holdings.
• Understand how implied odds work and the extra value they can add to your hand.
• Learn to count combos and frequencies so you can put your opponent on a range.
• And most importantly: learn to think in terms of ranges, not specific hands.

Assigning your opponent a specific hand instead of a range of cards is one of the biggest mistakes you can make, and one that almost everyone makes at the beginning.

When you understand frequencies and know how likely your opponent is to have one holding or another, you will be able to assign them a realistic range of cards and avoid the most common mistake.

You can easily do that if you observe all the action.

Start by analyzing the preflop situation and assign your opponent a specific range based on their position, the action they took, and bet sizing. Don’t worry if you struggle at the beginning, the more you play, the better you get at figuring out the exact holdings each of your opponents are likely to have.

After that, narrow down that range based on every action they take on following streets. If you do that correctly, at the end of the hand, you will always know where you stand.

You either have to call or raise their bet if your hand is ahead of their range, or fold if you are behind. As simple as that. This is where I made my second mistake, which wasted a lot of time and money.

I was simply playing and sticking with my assumptions without analyzing other professional poker players, or trying to put them on a range. So please, do not repeat my mistakes.

Never underestimate the value of fundamental knowledge, since it will always be your bread and butter when making decisions ?– and the most reliable source of information.

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How to Become a Professional Poker Player Step 3: Invest in Your Education

When you know your odds and the game inside-out, you should easily be winning in lower stakes games and can practice a lot without burning your bankroll.

However, if you’re looking for how to become a professional player, I guess you have much higher goals than that. This is great because your ambitions and goals will help you reach long-term success.

To boost this process, you have to invest in your education. I mean it literally. Obviously, you can get a lot of resources for free, but it will never be as good and most likely without any structure.

If you stick to reading random articles, watching Twitch streams or YouTube videos, it will probably never help you reach anything meaningful. I am not saying this just because I have a training site myself, but this proven to be true for many professional poker players, including myself.

Investing in Poker Coaching

My real progress started when I invested in my first coach, and big results came soon after that. I know plenty of such examples.

All top professional athletes and high performers require coaching and constant training. So, just like with anything else in life, you should not expect to reach exceptional results without investing in yourself at the beginning, and maybe even more so in poker.

A good course can help you save a lot of trials and errors time, and even money on the way. So I would recommend gathering as much information as possible, even if that means investing in several paid programs at the beginning.

How to Become a Professional Poker Player Step 4: Keep Learning

When you start playing and winning in serious games, do not make the mistake of thinking you know it all. It will never be the case.

There is no such thing as “happily ever after” in poker. It is a very challenging and dynamic game, meaning that the moment you stop improving, you will be falling back – and others will be quick to catch up.

You have to understand that if you are beating the games today, it definitely does not mean you’ll be beating same games tomorrow if you stop where you are.

Poker changes all the time. With many learning resources becoming available every day, pro poker players are getting better and better, new ones are joining the action, and they are hungry for the win.

How to become a professional poker player by keeping your skills sharp:

• Always analyze your game.
• Observe other players when playing.
• Mark hands that you are uncertain of how to play and discuss them with your friends or a coach.
• Join a training site or get a coach if you want to take it seriously.
• On top of that, work with poker solvers to learn game theory optimal (GTO) strategies.
• Use trackers and take poker notes to fine tune your play and identify population tendencies.
• Figure out the most profitable adjustments versus different professional poker players.

This list goes on and on. Basically, just try to become the best version of yourself every single day, and you will become excellent.

How to Become a Pro Poker Player Step 5: Take Care of Your Soft Skills

Many professional poker players lose a lot of money due to tilting, emotional decisions, or simply lack of concentration during the games. I like to call these “soft skills”.

You’re only human, so while it’s not possible to completely stop these issues from affecting your games, you have to make sure you do everything you can to reduce them.

If you end up spewing one buy-in every session because of sub-optimal play, the results at the end of the month will not be something you want to see. Most of the time, this part could be a deciding factor between crushing the games and barely surviving.

Most professional poker players think that it is enough to prevent tilting or avoid playing when they’re feeling bad. While this is important, it is just a very small part of the whole picture.

How to be a Good Poker Player Through Soft Skills

To perform at your best, you need to have a lot of energy and concentration. Be sure to:

• Get enough sleep.
• Exercise regularly.
• Eat a healthy and well-balanced diet.
• Prepare for your poker sessions.
• Remove distractions when playing.
• Observe all available information.
• Know when it’s time to quit playing.
• Stop chasing loses.

On top of that, never rush to make a decision.

Take your time and evaluate all available information, put your opponent on the range, and think through all the hand before making your final decision.

Remember that every time you make a sub-optimal play for any reason, you are simply leaving money at the table. And to be honest, I was struggling with this part long after I started playing poker.

The thing that helped me the most was realizing that I need to build structure into my life and grow habits that would help me along the way.

If you have to fight with yourself every time you need to study or play, your efforts will not last very long. So, do yourself a favor and think about how you can introduce some systems that will prevent you from playing when you shouldn’t, and help you perform at your best when you play.

Playing poker professionally is a long-term journey.

If you are better than your opponents, you will win in the end. Mastering the soft side of the game will help you do exactly that – become a better player than most of your opponents.

Image credit: Natallia Boroda/Shutterstock

How to Become a Professional Poker Player Step 6: Manage Your Money Carefully

It’s quite a self-explanatory topic, and everyone knows how vital it is to manage finances well. Yet MANY pro poker player fall short because of a lack of discipline in this area.

There are a few things I highly recommend for anyone looking play poker professionally:

• Separate your poker bankroll from everyday cash.
• Have enough buy-ins to outlive variance (based on the game that you play).
• Do not withdraw money too often.
• Have savings to cover living expenses for at least six months.
• Be ready to move down the stakes if needed.

I know many good pro poker players who busted all their money just because they weren’t able to follow these simple tips – do not become one of them.

Also, never think that you can outsmart the variance or that it will not hit you. Based on your win rate, the variance can be huge, probably bigger than you ever imagined.

This graph is based on calculations of possible variance over 100,000 cash game hands where you have 2.5bb/100 win rate. Each of these lines represents a possible outcome, with different probabilities of happening.

You can see that after 100,000 hands you can be down a couple of hundred or thousands of big blinds, even if you should be winning. At the worst-case scenario, you can be down as many as 80 buy-ins.

The same can be said about tournaments, SNGs and other formats. If you’re a winning player, it doesn’t mean that you’re guaranteed to win over a short period, so it’s better to be ready than sorry.

This is why it is vital to have funds to cover your living expenses and big bankroll to outlive the swings. Do not cut corners in this area.

Pros and Cons of Being a Professional Poker Player

We already covered how to become a professional poker player and avoid many mistakes on the road, but before making your final decision, you should understand what life in this line of work is really like.

Depending on your experience, you may think that winning in poker isn’t that hard. But to reach a high level of success, you need to devote a lot of time to playing and studying the game. As the saying goes:

“Poker is a hard way to make an easy living.”

I couldn’t agree with it more. From a distance, the life of a poker player may look like a dream, but no one sees how much effort goes into reaching that level.

Playing poker professionally is completely different from playing poker for fun, and you need to understand those differences.

The game is not about huge scores that you see on TV or in the movies, but much more about showing up every day and putting the grind on the tables.

Let me list what I consider to be the pros and cons of being a professional poker player:

PROS

• Freedom – You can do what you love for a living, without anyone bossing you around. On top of that, you can be flexible with your schedule and build it around your life to fully enjoy it.
• Competition – The game is very challenging and hugely exciting. You’ll be able to compete with other professional poker players and constantly improve, which is a good recipe for an interesting career.
• Traveling – If you reach higher levels, you will have the opportunity to travel the world and enjoy all of the experiences without spending any of your money. How cool is that?
• Money – Last but not least! Poker can give you the resources to live a wonderful life and offer almost unlimited earning potential. Moreover, you get to keep all the rewards to yourself, which is very unlikely to happen in other areas.

CONS

• Mentally draining – Even though this game is really fun, it can quickly become emotionally taxing if you are not fully prepared in all parts of your game. Variance can be brutal, and it will likely hit you very hard at some point in your career.
• Exhausting – It’s not as easy to consistently put long hours into playing and studying as it it may seem. Most likely, you will need to put in much more work than you think to succeed. On top of that, when you find yourself a longer downswing with breakeven stretch or even loosing for a couple of months, it can become very tiring. You need a lot of discipline to stay at the tables.
• Social stigma – Poker can be seen as pure gambling by anyone outside the game, which is why it may not be accepted well by your friends and family. I had this problem at the beginning of my career, and it took years for my family to realize that it was a serious job – just like anything else.

So before making any decisions, be sure to weigh up all the pros and cons and see if it suits who you are, or who you want to become.

How do I Become a Professional Poker Player – Is It For You?

Now you can decide for yourself if this is something you want to do for a living. Poker is not for everyone, and there is no shame to admit it. But if you choose to go down this path and commit yourself to the game, it can be very rewarding.

Obviously, you need to be very honest with yourself and understand why you want to pursue it. Do you want to play just because you are tired of what you’re doing, or because you have a genuine passion for the game and want to become the best?

These are two completely different answers. If your only goal is to make money, you will have a very hard time finding motivation when things don’t go your way.

I believe that it is close to impossible to reach long-term success in poker if you do not have the passion and commitment for the game. Either take it very seriously or look for other options.

But as long as you have the passion, are willing to put hard work and understand realistic expectations for the game, you will be fine!

If you love poker – just go for it, and you will learn everything else along the way.

If you’re new to poker and don’t know where to play, we suggest checking out Casino.org’s list of recommended online poker sites. We have tons of reviews you can read to find the one that’s most suitable for you.

To me, poker was never taboo — definitely not something I associated with “GAMBLING.”

But back when I first published my book A Girl’s Guide to Poker, people would always ask me if I was a big gambler. My standard response? “I don’t gamble — I just play poker.”

Wisecracks aside, it’s important to explain why I don’t categorize poker as typical gambling.

What Makes Poker Different From Other Casino Games?

Poker is extremely unique because it is the only casino game where you don’t play against ‘the House.’ This is a huge distinction. In any other selection – roulette, blackjack, slots, etc. – you are trying to win money from the casino (aka ‘the House’).

Obviously the natural problem here is that the casino needs to keep the lights on… you’re playing on their turf. These games are purposely designed for the casino to always have an edge.

What makes these games gambling is that the odds are not in your favor. If you win, it’s largely through luck. There is no way you can ‘beat’ a roulette wheel for example by placing your bets on different colors or numbers. If you win, it’s in spite of the mathematical probabilities, not because of it. Unlike poker, where you can invest money when the math is in your favor.

When you play poker, you are trying to win money from your opponents. You are not battling against the Bellagio, Caesar’s Palace, the Wynn or whatever establishment you’re playing at. You compete against other players, not the casino. Your goal is to win money from the other people at the table. The casino just hosts the game.

Key concept: poker players compete against each other. Not the House.

So How Does The Casino Make Money?

The casino takes a small amount of money from each pot, called the rake. For example, if the pot is $100, the casino might take $5, leaving the winner with $95. This way, the casino makes money no matter who wins the hand.

This structure means that the casino has no vested interest in the outcome between players.

Certain places will not take a rake and instead charge a flat fee to play at their venue.

For example, everyone at the table might need to pay a certain dollar amount per hour. This also prevents the establishment from being invested in who wins —- the cardroom is simply serving as a host. There is no reason for the hosting venue to want players to win or lose big. They simply want them to keep coming back.

So, if someone wins huge, it’s not coming from the casino’s pocket. The casino makes its money from the rake or the fees, not from the players’ losses. Already, this is what makes poker different from other casino games.

The Element Of Chance In Poker

Yes, poker does involve some luck. That doesn’t mean it’s purely a game of chance.

Let’s break down how luck and skill work in poker. Imagine an experienced professional poker player competing against an absolute beginner.

What do you think their chances are of winning a hand against one of the top professional poker players in the world?

1. 20%
2. 30%
3. 50%

Surprisingly, the correct answer is close to 50%! How can this be?

A key point of understanding is that the outcome of any INDIVIDUAL hand is largely influenced by luck.

For example, you might be dealt significantly stronger cards than your opponent—it’s essentially a coin toss with a 50/50 chance. The dealer might give you a powerful pair of aces while your opponent receives weaker cards, or the reverse could happen. The likelihood of winning any single hand does come down to the luck of the draw.

How does this not sway us? Is poker considered gambling — didn’t I just prove that it is?

Not quite.

Think of the lottery. If I buy a lottery ticket and win, am I a skilled lottery player? Or did I just get lucky?

Of course the answer is I just got lucky. But how would we determine this?

If I were to play the lottery every day, would I be able to replicate the same result? Would I be able to keep winning? No — chances are you would see me repeatedly lose. There is no strategy here. This becomes apparent only after a high frequency. You cannot test luck or skill in any one particular event. It’s only over time that advantages can be revealed.

Still not convinced? Let’s try roulette.

We all recognize roulette as a game of chance. How do we know this? While there are mathematical proofs showing that no strategy can beat the casino’s advantage, it’s also clear on a simpler level.

If you kept betting on the same number — like, say, 11 —over and over again, you would lose all your money eventually. Winning or losing one time by betting on #11 doesn’t prove anything. What tells us it’s gambling is the inability to skew success.

The Element Of Skill In Poker

Let’s go back to our example of the beginner versus the professional poker player. We’ve already established that luck mostly determines who wins any single hand.

But what if they played 100 hands? How about 1,000 hands? Or even 10,000 hands? Almost certainly the pro will win over time. The more hands they play, the greater their advantage.

This shows the importance of skill in poker. While luck is important in each individual hand, skill is what matters in the long run. Experienced players use their joint understanding of math and psychology to win over the course of their careers.

Is poker considered gambling is a topic I’ve touched on similarly before, including in my book, A Girl’s Guide to Poker. Here are some highlights:

When does luck in poker become eclipsed by skill? At just under 1,500 hands—1,471, to be exact.

• 1,471 hands is usually between 19 and 25 hours in live poker.
• 1,471 hands is around 16 hours of online poker if you’re playing one table.

A beginner can rarely survive a full day of playing poker. They will pretty much inevitably go broke. You need expertise in order to even maintain your chip stack, let alone win.

I like to point to a 2015 paper, Study: Beyond Chance? The Persistence of Performance in Online Poker: The researchers found that skilled poker players consistently perform better over time.

• Poker players who ranked in the top 10% in the first six months of the year were more than twice as likely to do similarly well in the next six months.
• Poker players who finished in the best-performing 1% in the first half of the year were 12 times more likely than others to do so in the second half.
• Players who fared poorly from the start continued to lose.

What do these numbers tell us? Basically, there are top performers in poker. Some players are better than other players. This would be impossible however in pure gambling, like slots. You would never be able to classify skilled versus unskilled slot machine players.

Meet The Professional Poker Player

Professional poker players are real people who earn their main income through poker. I’ve met many professional poker players… including my husband.

When we met, he’d been supporting himself financially through poker for more than a decade.

Is poker gambling? No — countless people have made a reliable income tested over many years fully by playing poker as their profession. They do not rely on the roll of the dice or luck of the draw. Winning poker players study and master proven strategies.

Most professional poker players have a rigorous understanding of the mathematics in poker. They invest their chips in situations where the math favors them — impossible in other casino games. There is no scenario in roulette where you can bet all your money as a favorite. Unlike in poker, the odds are always against you.

Success in poker is largely based on putting yourself in better mathematical situations than your opponents.

In my coaching sessions for beginners, I advise them to only play high-value face cards — meaning both cards are ten or higher. Why? This strategy increases their chances of winning significantly.

For example, if they have Ace-King and their opponent has Ace-Three, their likelihood of winning is around 75%. Conversely, by folding weaker hands like Ace-Three, King-Seven, or Queen-Eight, they avoid situations where they are ‘outkicked’ and their chances of winning are much lower, around 25%.

Think about this: professional poker players typically fold about 80% of their hands.

This disciplined approach stems from their strategy of only entering hands where they have a statistical advantage over their opponents. By understanding the mathematics of poker, players can strategically invest their money in situations that statistically favor them.

You can find more on this in my poker cheat sheets article which will give you a mathematical edge on the competition.

Is Poker Without Money Gambling?

Sometimes, people prefer to play cautiously. Is playing poker without money considered gambling? No, because poker is fundamentally a game of skill. However, practicing poker with play chips or for free is still valuable.

Without a solid grasp of the mathematics involved, poker can easily and unintentionally turn into a game of chance, failing to invest chips wisely and committing to pots when the odds are against you.

When you don’t know the math, poker can easily become gambling. It is only by implementing sound strategies that skill can be realized and luck falls to the wayside.

Is Poker Considered Gambling By Law?

Countries differ on whether they legally classify poker as gambling, with the debate often hinging on whether poker is viewed as a game of luck or skill.

In the United States, online poker faced a major setback on April 15, 2011, a day known in the poker community as “Black Friday,” when the federal government shut down major online poker sites. Fortunately this situation is gradually changing as several states are now taking steps to legalize online poker.

There is hope that more jurisdictions will come to recognize poker as a game of skill, distinguishing it from other casino games. As this shift occurs, poker may see broader acceptance and different regulatory treatment worldwide.

In this article, you will see what the odds of winning the lottery are, why they are so low, whether you can increase them (and how), as well as why people continue to play.

What Are The Odds Of Winning The Lottery?

The odds of winning the lottery depend on each lottery design, but are usually one in millions, tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions.

The probability of winning a prize in a given lottery is the ratio between the number of combinations eligible for that prize, and the total number of possible combinations from all of the lottery numbers.

In most of the lotteries, winning the highest prize or the jackpot assumes hitting all the numbers in the draw, which forms one single combination. Therefore, the probability of winning the top prize is usually the easiest to work out: it is one in the total number of possible combinations.

In math terms, the odds of winning a prize in a lottery is a “combinatorial probability”.

Almost all state lotteries actually display odds charts on their sites. But for now, let’s see what the odds of winning three of the most popular lotteries are: 6 from 49, Mega Millions, and Powerball.

Odds Of Winning The 6 From 49 Lottery: 1 in 13,983,816

In this lottery, 6 numbers are drawn from 49, and a line to play consists of six numbers. To win the top prize, a player must hit all the six numbers in their line.

Since the number of all possible number combinations is 13,983,816, the probability of winning the top prize with one played line is 1 in 13,983,816. This latter number is nearly the population of Rwanda. Winning the top prize is like picking one given person in this population blind-folded. 

For the second category of prizes (five numbers hit out of six) the probability changes to 1 in 54,201, which is still very low. This is the equivalent to being randomly picked from the crowd of a full and large stadium.

For the third category of prizes (four numbers hit out of six), the probability is 1 in 1,032. Comparing to the previous ones, it may seem a decent probability, but it’s actually still low – it’s like someone opening the Miriam-Webster dictionary for you, and you correctly guessing the page they opened it to, without seeing the action.

Odds Of Winning The Mega Millions Lottery: 1 in 302,575,350

In the Mega Millions lottery, the numbers are drawn from two separate pools – five numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 25 (the gold Mega Ball). You win the jackpot if you hit all six numbers drawn.

The white numbers can be combined in 12,103,014 different ways. Multiplying this number with 25 (the number of possibilities for the gold ball), we get 302,575,350 possible number combinations for the entire draw – an astronomical number! In kilometers, this is almost twice the distance from the Earth to the Sun.

The probability of winning the jackpot is very close to zero: 1 in 302,575,350. If we write this fraction as a decimal number, we can see eight zeroes after the decimal point: 0.000000003304961.

The odds for the next categories of prizes are much higher than for the jackpot, but still very low:

• 1 in 12,607,306 for the second category (hitting five white numbers)
• 1 in 931,001 for the third category (hitting four white numbers and the gold ball)
• 1 in 38,792 for the fourth category (hitting four white numbers)

Odds Of Winning The Powerball Lottery Jackpot: 1 in 292,201,338

The Powerball lottery is very similar to the Mega Millions lottery in terms of structure, rules, prize categories, and the odds of winning. There are five white numbers to be drawn from 1 to 69 and one (red) Powerball number from 1 to 26.

The Grand Prize (for hitting all six numbers) has a probability of winning of 1 in 292,201,338.

• The second-category prize (for all five white balls hit) has a 1 in 11,688,053 probability.
• The third-category prize (four white numbers and the red number) has 1 in 913,129.
• The fourth-category prize has 1 in 36,525 probability.

The Odds Of Winning The Lottery Visualized

Those with a sense of numbers may qualify the odds of winning the lottery (either the jackpot or even the near-winning categories) as very low or close enough to zero. But for most people, understanding the probability of winning the lottery is a matter of perception.

The best way to form an objective perception is by comparing the odds of winning a lottery to the odds of other rare events or phenomena in daily life.

The Odds Of Getting Struck By Lightning vs Winning The Lottery

According to the US National Weather Service, the odds of someone being struck by lightning in an 80-year lifetime are 1 in 15,300.

That’s about 19,100 times higher (more likely) than the odds of winning the Powerball’s Grand Prize, with one played line in a given draw.

The Odds Of Being Hit By A Meteorite vs Winning The Lottery

Or take the event of being hit by cosmic objects: According to earth sciences Professor Stephen A. Nelson from Tulane University, the odds of someone being hit by a meteorite, asteroid, or comet during their lifetime are 1 in 1,600,000.

That’s about 20 times higher than the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot.

The Odds Of A Shark Attack vs Winning The Lottery

Perhaps one of the most unwanted deadly events, a shark attack during one’s lifetime is estimated by the International Shark Attack File to have 1 in 11.5 millions odds.

The Odds Of A Plane Crash vs Winning The Lottery

Or, take a more domestic example such as a flight. A Harvard University study cited by The New York Times estimated the odds that your airplane will crash are 1 in 1.2 million.

This is about 12 times higher than the odds of winning the 6 from 49 lottery with a one-line ticket.

Note: These odds estimations are “statistical-average extrapolations” rather than accurate probabilities – such events or phenomena cannot be accurately quantified given the multitude of physical factors involved. However, these figures are very relevant when it comes to perceiving the mathematical probability of winning the lottery, as they can be interpreted in terms of “real happenings” and physical possibilities.

Why Are The Odds Of Winning The Lottery So Low?

The odds of winning the lottery are so low because of the multiplication power of combinations.

For instance, the number of permutations (possible ways in which a number of things can be arranged) of 4 objects is 1×2×3×4 = 24. With 5 objects, it jumps to 120 (1×2×3×4×5). Then for 10 numbers, it reaches 3,628,800.

These types of multiplications (called factorials) are how we work out the number of combinations of a given number of objects (numbers/balls, in our case). They then get multiplied by other factors and increase the value of the final result. What is important to remember is that the higher the number of possible combinations, the lower the probability of hitting one in a draw.

The parameters of lottery designs as numbers are not that big: 40, 50, 60, or 70 numbers to draw from and 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 numbers drawn. When someone sees these small numbers and doesn’t know about the power of combinations, it can be difficult for them to understand how to get to that huge number of 1 in millions, tens of millions, or hundreds of millions.

The Odds Of Winning The Lottery Twice

You may fairly ask: If the odds of winning the lottery at a given draw are so low, how low are the odds of winning it twice?

Of course, the answer depends on a variety of factors, such as the kind of win and the number of draws that take place.

If we take the probability of two wins in two draws, it is simply the square of the probability of a win in a draw. For instance, winning the fourth-category prize in the Powerball lottery (having the probability 1 in 36,525) twice in two given draws has the probability 1 in 1,334,076,859.

If the number of draws or of wins is larger than two, the probability changes. Let’s take a few examples:

• Winning it twice over 1,000 draws gets a probability of about 1 in 2,778
• Winning it twice over 5,000 draws gets a probability of about 1 in 122
• Winning it three times over 5,000 draws gets a probability of about 1 in 2,702

Despite the low odds, there are players who have won the lottery more than once, and this was not always down to pure luck, as we will see in a next section…

Can You Increase Your Chances Of Winning A Lottery?

The straight answer is ‘yes’, but the only way to increase your odds of winning the lottery is to play as many lines as possible per draw.

That’s because any two combinations of numbers have the same chance of winning, even if they share some numbers. For example, [2, 5, 27, 32, 45, 46] has the same probability as [1, 5, 27, 35, 40, 41].

This is the reason why any elaborate playing strategy (including those based on number selection) is not worth the analysis. Their effectiveness simply comes down to the number of lines played.

Is It Worth Investing?

The downside of such a strategy (if we can call it a strategy at all) is that you would need to play such a large number of lines to increase the probability of winning by a decent amount. It would turn into a serious investment with a high risk. You could end up in winning in one or several categories of prizes that would make your overall prize lower than your investment.

For instance, say you buy 1,000 lines on your tickets at the 6 from 49 lottery, which would cost around $1,000 or more. By doing so, you are increasing your odds to 1 in 13,984 for the top prize, 1 in 54 for the second-category prize and to almost 1 (that is, a sure event) for the third-category prize.

The first two probabilities remain low, and you are likely to win one or more prizes in the third category, which may not cover your investment.

But It Has Been Done

And yet, several players have won the lottery more than once. For a few of them, it was a matter of pure luck, but for most, it was due to an elaborate plan.

The unbeaten record is that of the Romanian mathematician Stefan Mandel, who won 14 different lotteries.

His plan was not based on any scheme of choosing numbers or combinations, but to cover as many combinations of numbers as possible. The only feasible way to do that was to work in a team. This way, the investment and the risk was shared, even though the win would be split between the players.

With this plan, the toughest task is to convince enough investors to join. But even then, it’s a logistical nightmare. It requires identifying the lotteries with the best odds, using algorithms to generate the combinations, checking the jackpots regularly, getting in on the action at the right time etc.

But Mandel succeeded and became a millionaire. He was subsequently investigated by the FBI, who found him clean.

Playing in a team is the only reasonable way to increase your chances of winning with the lowest risk. However, the risk still exists. The lottery will always be a game of chance where the house always wins.

Lucky Numbers And Curious Lottery Draws

Many people who play the lottery use “lucky” numbers that have significance in their lives. For example, numbers representing birthdays of their family members. They may also avoid certain numbers or combinations, such as lines with consecutive numbers, thinking that these combinations are very unlikely to be drawn.

Would you play the line 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 in a lottery? If not, why?

If you were to play a particular line that the majority of players avoid, and that line ends up winning, you would receive a larger prize, because the prize fund would be divided among fewer winners. That’s an objective reason for playing that line, not avoiding it!

In June 2022, seven consecutive numbers occurred at a Virginia Lottery draw in the US (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19). The odds of that particular combination being drawn are about 1 in 3.8 million, but the same odds apply to any other combination.

The event exploded in the news as a “crazy draw”. I was interviewed by The Washington Post about this draw and told them that such event is not amazing from a probabilistic perspective, but rather from a regular lottery player’s perspective. Players can see that any outcome is possible. Such a draw will perhaps occur again in the next one hundreds of years or more.

The lottery is the simplest game of chance. As long as any combination has the same probability of being drawn, there is no real strategy for choosing numbers.

Why Do People Still Play The Lottery?

A player playing one line in the 6 from 49 lottery regularly, will have to play 13,983,816 times to expect a big win. This would mean playing for about 291,392 years (with one draw weekly).

Even assuming the player plays 100 independent lines each time to enhance the probability of winning (which would be costly), they would still have to wait about 2,914 years for a win.

Of course, this estimation is made in terms of statistical averages and not actual possibility, but it is a relevant model of objectively perceiving the odds of winning the lottery. So, why do people still play the lottery against the minute odds of winning? Or, why don’t people try other forms of gambling games with better odds?

Most psychologists explain this behavior like they would for a general case of problem gambling – overestimation and misperception of odds, the availability bias, the gambler’s fallacy, the sunk-cost fallacy, the illusion of control, and the near-miss effect.

Among these factors, the availability bias is particularly relevant for the lottery.

The Availability Bias

Lottery winners with “mind-blowing” wins are heavily publicized, which may cause you to overestimate your own likelihood of winning (“If they succeeded, so can I”).

However, the existence of a winner does not indicate any good odds, but just that the game is so popular that people usually buy enough tickets together to cover the winning combination, whatever that will be, or at least a big share of the possible combinations.

However, our mind is biologically setup to rely on sure facts; having a winner is a sure fact, while probability is something unsure.

Other Psychological Factors

Another factor is hope and positive expectation – emotional states that influence the perception of the real odds. An unrealistic hope and desire may lead to misperceiving the real mathematical probability for the desired event to happen.

Other psychological factors specific to lottery are the social-trap (regular players argue that they cannot give up at some point before recouping previous investment) and the easy-to-justify factor (players think that the cost of a play is low enough and shares of the profit of the lottery companies go to good causes).

There are also views that fun and entertainment play an equally important part. They argue that most lottery players seek the thrill of the possibility of winning, fantasizing about excessive wealth. It’s easy to spend happy time imagining “what if”. 

These views were supported by a study whose authors found that participation increased the happiness of participants before the draw.

The Odds Of Winning The Lottery: Final Thoughts

The phenomenon of playing the lottery against the minute odds of winning is complex, with mathematical, psychological, and social dimensions.

The fact that the joy of playing is one of the factors is both rewarding and moralizing. One of the main responsible gambling norms says that when you no longer have fun with gambling, you should quit. This also applies to lottery: If you no longer find the lottery entertaining, all that is left are its “almost impossible” odds.

For similar articles, check out our article on what to do when you win the lottery.

Lead image credit: Vic/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

That edge is usually achieved in either of two ways.

1. The Casino Can Win More Decisions

The first way is that the casino can win more decisions, such as the pass line and come bets in craps, where the house wins 251 decisions and the player wins 244 decisions, a 1.41% house edge.

Or the casino offers you the game of blackjack where the house wins approximately 48 decisions and the casino wins approximately 44 decisions, with approximately 8 decisions a push (tie).

To keep the game somewhat close, the casino offers special hands (such as doubling down, splitting pairs, and paying more on a winning blackjack than just one-to-one), which gives the house about a 0.5% edge.

2. The Casino Can Short-Change Payoffs

Another way is that the casino can short-change the payoffs it gives for a bet. In American roulette, hitting a number occurs once every 38 times and should pay 37-1 on a winner, but the casino only pays 35-1. Bingo! A 5.26% edge has just been created for the house.

You can see with those manipulations of the betting results, the player is behind the eight ball. Even with perfect strategies, the player cannot become a long term (or maybe short-term or medium-term) winner. So, it seems the player cannot beat the casino.

Slot machines are a little different but they win more decisions and they do not give out the same amount of money as is put in by the player. That short fall of money gives the casino rather large edges over the payer … oops, I mean, the player. Once again, the player cannot beat the casino at slots.

And there you have it – the casino always wins. Maybe not today or tonight, but yes, the games are structured for the casinos to be the favorites and so it goes, right?

Right? Right? Nope.

How Can You Beat The Casino?

You see, even with the casinos’ manipulation, some players can still win. Yes, they can beat the house.

The first way is truly simple. The players get lucky today or tonight and they retire, thereby joining a very, very small club of quick quitters, who now can call themselves long-term winners. I know one of those, my mother! I don’t know any others.

Or, and here comes the BIG bomb my friends, they learn one or more of the advantage-play methods that can actually give the player the edge over the house and that means the long-term edge.

Let me go from bottom to top here:

Pai Gow Poker

You can get a tiny itsy-bitsy edge by over-betting in some cases against everyone at the table when you play as the bank. In some games you can play the bank enough times to reduce the house edge to almost nothing. Pai Gow Poker is a great game in my estimation. Give it a try.

Advantage Play Slot Machines

Don’t get too excited about these. They may not exist anymore. My good friend Jerry “Stickman” did the computer analysis on them and whamo! We made some money on them. I wrote about them in my book Slots Conquest and it appears most have gone the way of the Dodo Bird. You could, at times, get a decent edge over the house on what were known as banking machines. I think the book is still a fun read but I can’t really promise you any loot.

Advantage-Play Video Poker

There was a time when you could find many of these machines all over the country, but not today. There are still some but you must know the exact strategies to play them. The video-poker masters and mavens may know where they are. They aren’t really in my current purview.

Card Counting at Blackjack

Most casino players have heard of this method of play and a small percentage of players have tried their hand at it. Some of these players have become good, some have become really good, and some have become experts in figuring out when they have the edge and when the casino has the edge – and what to do about those edges.

Obviously, these players are not applauded by the casinos; they are like world championship eaters coming to your Sunday buffet in order to eat the restaurant out of house and home. You will not be on the top comping list if you show the casinos what you can do – to them!

Card counting was introduced to the casinos by Edward O. Thorp in the mid-1960s when he published his revolutionary blackjack book Beat the Dealer. After that book, blackjack zoomed to the top as the favorite table-game in the casino, replacing craps and roulette.

It is still the number one table game.

Dice Control (Dice Influence) at Craps

Craps dice control has existed in many forms for many decades. The individual that brought it to the fore in today’s casino world was the late Captain of craps, an Atlantic City legend. I’ve written several books about him and his ideas about craps and casino playing in general.

The Captain, the Arm and Jimmy P. were the three dice controllers that I met in the early 1990s. The Arm was the most amazing dice controller I ever saw.

The Captain’s group was 22 high rollers who played Atlantic City for all it was worth. None are alive today. I miss them.

The Captain taught me everything I know about the casinos. He was my mentor and I hope he is playing craps in heaven with the Arm and Jimmy P. and his full Crew of high rollers.

A Final Thought

Okay, the casinos do have some players who are long-term winners, not a lot, but enough that they are out there as symbols to the rest of us casino players that some people can do the almost impossible – beat the almost unbeatable casinos!

All the best in and out of the casinos!

For similar articles, check out How Casinos Make Money On Poker and What Games Have The Best (And Worst) Odds?

Frank Scoblete’s books are available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Kindle, e-books, libraries, and bookstores.

How many people played casino games at online casinos? A lot. I got that statistic from a friend of mine after his blackjack session in his living room. He’s a decent source too.

But why do people gamble when the casino has the edge at every game they offer?

Is it really the desire to win money? Maybe. Maybe not. After all, a good job or a good parttime job or both will bring in definite money, whereas casino playing will certainly not.

Is it really the beauty and/or gaudiness of casinos? Uh, maybe.

Maybe it was stepping into another world where you and your money are appreciated for being there? Could be.

Perhaps it is the joy of losing money? Nah, I doubt it. Nobody likes to lose, do they?

Okay, okay, so what the heck is it? Why do so many people become casino players?

Why Do People Gamble At Casinos?

1. The Fun

A few years ago, I was in Las Vegas at one of the premier casinos and I was heading into the high-roller room after a huge sale of one of my latest books.

There was a blackjack table across the room filled with (can you believe this?) NBA players! Five of them. Laughing and moaning and slapping each other “five!” and torturing the one player who seemed to be losing every hand.

I knew I didn’t want to sit next to them, but sitting across the room gave me the advantage of being able to watch them and enjoy their shenanigans. They were the center of attention of everyone playing in the high-roller room and those curious who were passing by it on the outside.

These guys were well-known players, a couple of them were big stars (actually, they were all pretty big), and they were playing and whooping and hollering throughout their contest with the casino. They didn’t need any of the money they won and they didn’t sweat the money they lost.

They just had a ton of fun playing. A ton of fun.

2. The Competition

I used to like to play games too. I played basketball (I was on a team that beat Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s team in 8^th grade) and baseball (I tried out for a major league team – and failed miserably) and I even boxed for a few years until someone convinced me by beating in my head in to “stop that you idiot! You aren’t the white Muhammad Ali.”

I loved playing games. I really did. Competition was thrilling. The casino is thrilling too. It’s a great contest between me and a powerful opponent. I pit myself against…wait a second. Hmmm, could that be it?

Could that be it, I wondered, could it? Could that explain why my Big Aunt Mary and my Little Uncle Jim loved going to the casinos? They enjoyed the competition? They enjoyed putting themselves on the line? It was them or the casinos. A battle to the finish. Was that it? Competition? You versus me. Me versus you.

Muhammad Ali versus Smoking Joe Frazier.

Sure, Big Aunt Mary enjoyed the comped meals but she could eat at home (and boy did she ever eat at home); no, it was the competition of playing the slots. Those machines were her opponents. The machine was the opponent.

Little Uncle Jim played craps and loved it. Just loved it. I’m guessing he got comped meals too. However, I doubt if he was allowed to eat much of them as Big Aunt Mary always seemed ravenous. (Marriage can be weirder than casinos, can’t it?) Still, he loved going to the casinos. Just loved it.

Those NBA players were having a ball, win or lose; it was the game that mattered. Playing the game. The game mattered.

Okay, I think that my thesis is correct. I do.

Yes, I think all the attendant stuff involved with casinos is helpful, even joyful, and also somewhat disappointing at times, but the competition is the key to it all.

Indeed, I love the shows, the restaurants, the gyms, and pools in which to exercise. I enjoy nice hotel rooms. I even enjoy naps in nice hotel rooms.

But I love the games. I truly love to compete against the games. I love to beat the games. I love to watch other people playing the games too. What excitement is going through their bodies? Their minds? If you actually win some money, well, that’s like winning a trophy. I think those NBA players knew that. I think they did.

If I am correct, casino gambling will be around for a long, long time. You might even say that it is a form of “athletics” for non-athletes too.

And that’s why people play those games…competition.

Frank Scoblete’s books are available from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Kindle, e-books, libraries and bookstores.

For similar articles from Frank, check out his post on how casinos make money.

Key summary:

• Investments should have a fair anticipation of reward over time, while gambling is seen as random and shorter term.
• Being able to research and act on a risk is something more applicable to investments.
• In an investment, both sides prosper, as opposed to a ‘winner takes all’ result in gambling.

What Is Gambling vs Investing?

Investing

Investing has been defined as “putting resources into something with the anticipation of future returns.”  Whether buying real estate, stock, or bonds, the hope is that they will be worth more in the future, or that you could earn an income stream on these acquisitions.

This month’s house prices or the next tick of a stock symbol, either up or down, may seem arbitrary. But studies show that aggregate home and stock prices increase over time.

So in time, with research, asset allocation (not putting too much of your total investment in one place), and keeping investment fees to a minimum, we expect to see investments grow. This is the “anticipation of future returns” outlined above.

Gambling

Gambling is a bit harder to narrow down. The Merriam-Webster dictionary says it’s the “practice of risking money or other stakes in a game or bet.”  But for our purposes, the best definition is provided by Wikipedia. “Gambling is the wagering of something of value, on a RANDOM event, to win something else of value.”

While you anticipate investments to increase in value over time, the bet on red or black on roulette is genuinely random and will always trend towards the built-in house advantage the longer the time frame.

When wagering on truly random events like a roulette spin, we expect to see our nest egg decline.

Can Investments Be Seen As A Gamble?

So, is investing in dogecoin, which has no intrinsic value, gambling? While pooling your resources with a well-heeled blackjack count team, with a clear long-term advantage over the house, investing?

Certainly, we have seen the gamification of many investment types. The debate over whether buying gold is the same as purchasing bitcoin is ongoing. And day trading and options markets, once reserved for the very experienced and well-financed, are now open to college students with nothing more to invest than a paycheck.

This can be seen when taking a look at the number of users of Robinhood – the commission-free trading platform said to appeal to younger and less wealthy investors. Users have spiked across the past 10 years, from 500,000 in 2014 to 23.5 million in 2024.

Meme stocks (shares in companies that have cultivated a dedicated fanbase on social media, which can sway their value) and cryptocurrency with very little actual value, if any, have exploded across the investment community. And many early investors have gotten filthy rich. But is this a random event or the anticipation of future returns?

To gauge whether we will see future returns, we need to consider short-term and long-term risks. An investment strategy is, at its heart, about managing risk. Gambling is about ignoring the risk for outsized short-term returns.

Risk vs Reward

The differences between investment and gambling relating to risk can be summarized by looking at how we research it and manage it.

Researching The Risk

Comparing how the markets have evaluated and priced the asset or bet before agreeing to it is a crucial aspect that distinguishes investing from gambling.

In reference to the meme cryptocurrency above, it might be possible to know which crypto coins will become a fad and take off based on the folks currently speculating on them and their past success.

That said, just as the penny stocks of decades earlier primarily benefited those pushing/manipulating the stock, the pump and dump of meme cryptocurrency is no different. Research shows that most people will lose money over time. Hype and social media exposure is not in and of itself valuable.

Proper risk assessment can show that things that might appear to be investing are just wagers dressed up in Wall Street clothes. And conversely, things that appear to be gambling can, sometimes, be investing despite their Sin City origins. Its the knowledge of risks and the ability to use it to address the current investment that helps us separate the two.

Managing The Risk

Because investing means buying an actual stake in something, whether it’s stock in a business or the yield of interest on some bond, we are often presented with the ability to monitor the ongoing risk of an investment over time. This allows us to modify our risk or even end it if we choose.

While a twelve-team NFL parlay may stretch over a few days, or a $100 futures ticket on the Packers to win the Super Bowl may stretch over a few months, but once these wagers are placed, our ability to modify or end these wagers is severely limited.

Investment vs Gambling: What Has Better Return Potential?

Research on the S&P 500 will show that it has returned over 12% a year over the past ten years and that an investor could double their investment in less than seven years with that kind of return. And while investors have lost money on individual stocks or even saw their stock investments lose money in the short term, a well-diversified portfolio rarely loses value over periods of a decade or more.

A well-placed bet on black can double your money in just one spin, of course. But even a quick bit of research will show that each spin of the wheel costs you 5.27% in American casinos. That means you will lose one average bet in less than twenty spins. That means if you are wagering $25 a spin, you’ll be down $50 to $75 an hour.

Interestingly though, a well-funded and well-trained blackjack counting team, with a bankroll of $100k, favorable house blackjack rules, and the ability to spread up to eight bet units, can earn over $300 an hour for each team member they can get into action while only having a 2% risk of going broke throughout their play. And as their bankroll grows, this number goes down.

The Final Difference Between Investing And Gambling: Who Benefits?

Another distinction between investing and gambling comes when looking at who benefits. Betting is usually two sides at cross purposes with a winner-takes-all outcome. Investing is more of a desire to reach a mutually desired outcome.

If I buy T-bills, I’m loaning the Government money to pay their obligations. Both I and the Government get something we want. If I sell a futures contract on soybeans through the CME group, I’ve gotten a price I wanted for my commodity, and someone else has locked in that price for future delivery. We are both happy with the outcome.

Yet, if I bet you $100 on this next golf shot or pickleball match, one of us wins, and the other loses. It’s this relationship, along with many people’s inability to properly weigh risk, that has often seen gambling restricted or made illegal. While Western society has welcomed investing as a way of creating generational wealth while helping to build strong national economies.

Can Day Trading Be An Addiction?

As with anything that involves ‘winning’ and can make you feel good, the thrill of day trading, of seeing investments pay off, can be an addictive element for some people.

The issues surrounding gambling addiction, such as the chance of making a large profit, the fast pace of games, combinations of highs and lows, and taking risks to regain that good buzz from successes, can also be present in the trading of stocks and shares.

While being engrossed in a game or market can seem harmless, it’s been well-covered by numerous studies that any kind of addiction has the potential for ‘players’ to spiral, lose their focus on everyday life, and risk financial ruin.

Investment vs Gambling Conclusion

It can often be challenging to distinguish between a bet and an investment. And today’s Wall Street and crypto markets and stock trading apps posing as brokerages, and brokerages advertising themselves as fail-safe ways to make money, only muddy the water further.

But suppose we remember that investments should have a fair anticipation of reward, that risk is in our favor, that our money will help fund not only our desired outcome but someone else’s, and that we have done our research to ensure that all of this is so. Then we can safely call it an investment. But remember, that doesn’t mean it’s without its dangers.

To stay ahead of the game, take a look at our article on investment scams.

Lead image credit: Javier Esteban/Unsplash

Of course, it’s much easier to access these stats in online games, as you can use various trackers and software which display key online poker player statistics. But even in a live setting, you can get a very solid understanding of your opponent’s play by observing them in action.

Let’s talk about what you should look out for in your games.

Skip to:

1. VPIP (Voluntarily Put $ In Pot)
2. RFI (Raise First In)
3. 3bet
4. Fold to 3bet
5. Fold to steal
6. C-bet
7. Fold to c-bet
8. Went to showdown
9. Aggression % by street
10. River call

1. VPIP (Voluntarily Put $ In Pot)

VPIP stands for “Voluntarily Put Money ($) In Pot” and helps you understand how often your opponent is choosing to play.

If a player performs any voluntary action like raising, calling, or even limping, and chooses to play the hand, his VPIP stat increases.

Of course, if he’s sitting in the big blind and was forced to post it because of the game structure, but then folded to a raise, this does not count as an action and does not influence this stat.

While it only gives basic information, you can profile your opponents by how often they choose to play, since many recreational players opt to get involved with way too many hands making their range too weak.

If you notice these tendencies, it can help influence your final decisions.

2. RFI (Raise First In)

Preflop raise or raise first in (RFI) shows how often the player decides to enter the pot by raising when everyone before them folds.

While good players have similar VPIP and RFI stats, since they often enter the pot by raising if they decide to play, you will find opponents who have a wide gap between these numbers.

This is a huge indication of weaker players because they usually decide to limp or call a raise instead of raising, and take passive lines post-flop most of the time.

You should look to play as many hands as possible against these players, because they will usually call your bets and rarely bluff, so you will always know where you stand.

3. 3bet

This poker statistic shows how often a player decided to re-raise instead of calling or folding when someone already entered the pot by raising.

The higher the 3bet stat, the more aggressive your opponent is.

As a rule of thumb, you should be looking to play fewer hands against players with a high 3-bet percent because you will be forced to fold a lot when facing aggression.

It is better to avoid these situations with the weakest part of your range, and only play reasonable hands or add more 4-bet bluffs in the mix.

4. Fold to 3bet

Knowing how often your opponent folds to 3-bet after raising is one of the most important online poker statistics.

If you find opponents who are opening too many hands, they are also likely folding to 3-bet too often. If that’s the case, you can add many weak hands to your 3-betting range and exploit their mistakes.

Contrary to this, if these players choose to call many 3-bets after raising with a wide range, you can exploit it by 3-betting only a strong part of your range.

No matter what, knowing this stat will help you adjust against various opponents and put them in some tough spots.

5. Fold to steal

Fold to steal shows how often a player in the blinds folds when facing a raise, and is something you should evaluate when choosing which hands to play from later positions.

The player sitting in the big blind is especially important because they get the best odds and close the action, so will likely be your main competition.

If you find an opponent who is folding a lot, you can raise with more hands than you usually would, or even open every single one of them if the big blind is particularly weak and you find yourself on the button.

Of course, if you’re up against a tough opponent who’s not so keen on folding and chooses to 3-bet a lot, the best adjustment would be to fold your weaker hands and choose a tighter approach.

Knowing how often people fold to steal can be very valuable when choosing what hands you opt to play, so always consider your opponents and how they react to your raise.

6. C-bet

Continuation betting (known as c-bet) is a situation where the preflop raiser opts to continue his aggression and bet after the flop.

If you notice how often a specific player is c-betting, you can adjust your play against them and even build your entire strategy based on this information.

Even though c-betting is a very wide and complex topic, people rarely change their strategy and mostly keep doing the same things over and over again. If you caught someone c-betting too much or way less than they should, you could make simple adjustments and exploit irregularities in their play.

Thinking about your own strategy, one thing that you should avoid is c-betting too often and then being forced to fold almost your entire range after checking.

Instead, put some medium-strength hands in the checking range to protect it, and you will be a much tougher opponent to play.

7. Fold to c-bet

The name is self-explanatory. This poker statistic shows how often your opponent folds when facing a continuation bet.

Often players chose to play too many hands and then fold to any bet if they miss the flop, which is probably one of the worst strategies to have.

Against these players, you should forget about balancing and c-bet every single time you miss yourself to take advantage of their mistakes.

However, if you’re up against a player who’s not very keen on folding, the previous strategy would cost you a lot of money. Instead of betting all your bluffs, you should choose to continue with hands that have some equity and give up with complete air.

Of course, it’s not as simple as that, but knowing how often other players are folding on the flop can help you make superior decisions, so always observe your opponents.

8. Went to showdown

Went to showdown stat lets you see how often your opponent goes to showdown after seeing the flop.

If your opponent has high “went to showdown” stats of more than 35%, it means you should not try to bluff them. Instead, you should be value betting more medium-strength hands, because they are not going to fold if they have any piece of the board.

Contrary to this, if your opponents rarely go to showdown, it means they are only playing very strong hands after the flop, and you should be looking to punish them every time you get a chance to bluff.

Of course, it’s way easier to observe this in online games, where you can quickly see the difference. But even in a live setting, you will notice who is calling down no matter what and who is opting to check/fold most of the hands on the flop, so make adjustments based on that information.

9. Aggression % by street

I am referring to Flop Aggression %, Turn Aggression %, and the same stat for the river.

These numbers show how aggressive players are in any given street, and how often they perform an aggressive line by betting or raising, instead of calling or checking. It’s quite a good indication of how aggressive the player is in general.

While many have reasonably high aggression stats on the flop because of an automatic c-bet, you will find plenty of opponents who play later streets passively, and this is where you can take advantage.

You can categorize various players to see when you should be barreling multiple streets or when you should check your strong hands and let your opponent dictate the action.

Many aggressive players love to bluff, so give them a chance to lose their money.

10. River call

River call efficiently shows how often your opponent is calling with weak hands.

So, whenever you see a player with river call efficiency lower than 1, you know they’re losing money when calling on the river, which is quite hard to do because of all the strong hands players have in these situations.

When you notice something like that, you can be sure they are calling way too wide, thus can value bet more often.

A final word on poker statistics

All of these poker statistics should be in your HUD (heads-up display) when playing online. When playing live, the theory behind these poker statistics should still be observed to help you make better adjustments.  

Be sure to check out some more poker articles by Tadas, such as the 10 most common mistakes in Texas Hold’em or the most common poker cheats.

After a beginner’s guide? Check out this article on poker cheat sheets.

Lead image credit: PokerTracker

1. Donald Trump 2.1 (Bet365, BetMGM)

Despite having being written off so many times before, during and after his term as President, Donald Trump stands clear at the head of the betting for November. One year ago, expert opinion held that Ron DeSantis would usurp him as the GOP nominee. Now, DeSantis is a busted flush and Trump appears to be just a few days away from securing that nomination and expected to win every primary.

That record stands as a stark reminder to underestimate the Trump phenomenon at your peril, but there is a strong counter-argument when it comes to the general election. Besides that initial, extremely narrow victory over Hillary Clinton, (despite losing the popular vote by nearly 3M votes), Trump lost every nationwide election, whether that be to Joe Biden in 2020 or Republicans in the 2018 and 2020 House of Representatives elections. In 2022, Trump-endorsed candidates made in his image flopped badly, amid favorable conditions.

There is also the considerable problem of 91 pending criminal indictments. An entrance poll at the Iowa Caucus – consisting of active ultra-Conservatives in a very favorable state – showed that one third said conviction would disqualify him. He cannot win if those numbers stand up. Likewise, this week’s Reuters/Ipsos poll shows just 20% willingness to vote for Trump if convicted, compared to 58% against.

Nevertheless, polls against Biden generally favour him, given the Republican’s advantage in the electoral college. This is a vastly better position than at this stage in the last two elections and he is entitled to favorite status.

2. Joe Biden (3.0 BetMGM)

Roughly a year ago, my recommended bet was Biden at 4.0. He’s now 3.0 so we’ve beaten the odds and the Democrat nomination looks very likely, but it’s hard to feel confident. Around 60% don’t want him to run, including 40% of those who voted for him in 2020. His approvals are absolutely dire, stuck below 40%.?

Winning in 2020 required an extraordinary coalition of 81M voters, whose principle motive was beating Trump. Repeating that, with the burden of incumbency and at 81 years of age, seems a very tall order. Polls show him shedding voters among key groups – young and minority voters. On the other hand, he’s doing very well with seniors, and those other groups are not generally well disposed to Trump.

In his favor is his record on legislation and jobs, but those approvals don’t indicate recognition. Foreign affairs is looking ever more disastrous for him, with aid to Ukraine stalled and the Israel/Hamas war splitting his coalition. Fairly or not, Republicans are sure to portray him as a weak, senile old man, incapable of leading in a time of crisis. Biden is extremely vulnerable to meme warfare.

Finally, the current strong showing of third party candidates is a massive worry. They were absent in 2020 but undermined Hillary Clinton in 2016. There are strong parallels with that year, when Democrats ignored the signals that their candidate was unpopular.

3. Michelle Obama (13.0 Bet365, BetMGM)

With Trump and Biden likely to be the candidates, most others in betting contention are Democrats thought to have a chance if Biden withdraws later for any reason. New Hampshire will tell us a lot. Biden isn’t on that unsanctioned ballot, but his supporters are urging a write-up campaign. If getting less than 50% or even just above, speculation would mount.

That speculation has recently centered on the former First Lady. Don’t buy it. Obama has consistently said she has no interest in running and there is no reason to disbelieve her. Many of the rumors were spread by Republicans such as Vivek Ramaswamy, in order to undermine Biden. Plus, to get the nomination, she would have to usurp better-qualified Kamala Harris. Such a move might go down very badly with the Democrat base. Terrible value at these odds.

4. Nikki Haley (15.0 BetMGM)

We will know within days whether Haley is a serious candidate or whether her campaign will fold. She absolutely must beat Trump in the New Hampshire Primary. The former South Carolina Governor has emerged as the non-Trump choice, but all the signals are that position is ruinous among a majority of GOP voters. New Hampshire is not representative of the states to come, including her own on February 13th. 

The case for backing her is twofold, but weak. Haley is vastly more electable than Trump and would likely beat Biden by a big margin. If she stays in the race and accumulates delegates, she could end up well positioned if the courts ruin Trump. Even then, though, I’m inclined to think the Republicans would look elsewhere, for somebody more in line with Trump’s thinking. Particularly on foreign policy, such as Ukraine.

5. Gavin Newsom (21.0 BetMGM)

Prior to Obama, bettors latched onto Newsom as the default alternative to Biden. A few weeks ago, he was trading at single-figure election betting odds on Betfair. This despite him fully endorsing Biden.

No doubt, the California Governor has a big future at national level. He’s proven to be a strong TV performer when going into the lion’s den for Democrats – Fox News. Last year he sparred with Sean Hannity and debated Ron DeSantis, to positive reviews among liberal audiences.

Consequently, he is very well placed for 2028 and could make a good surrogate for Biden in November. If Biden were to shock everyone by withdrawing, fall ill or suffer an unforeseen disaster, Newsom would very much enter the conversation. He is an old ally of Harris in California so, theoretically, some kind of deal might be possible.

6. Robert F Kennedy Jr. (29.0 BetMGM)

Son of Bobby Kennedy, RFK first entered the Democrat primary, but after gaining no traction, opted to run as an Independent. He’s polling respectably for a third party but I strongly suspect that is down to the surname and hostility to the two main candidates. His profile rose dramatically as an anti-vaxxer during the Covid pandemic. Not only is that position a loser nationwide, but he’ll lack any sort of party machine and is highly unlikely to win a single state. If staying in though and winning a few percent, he could seriously damage one of Trump or Biden. Probably the latter.

7. Dean Phillips (34.0 Bet365, BetMGM)

This little-known Minnesota Congressman has entered the Democrat primary to try and force Biden out. He is swamping the New Hampshire airwaves and his bid revolves around that performance next week. Current election betting odds represent terrible value. Phillips isn’t a serious candidate, and even if he were to hurt or finish Biden, others would step in and usurp him. Democrats are highly suspicious of his motives and ties to Republican donors.

8. Kamala Harris (41.0 Bet365, BetMGM)

When 2024 betting opened, Harris was favorite, based on the theory that Biden would retire. She hasn’t cut through as VP though and doesn’t poll well.?

Nevertheless, if you think Biden will ultimately be removed from the ballot for whatever reason, her current odds represent an obvious bet. As VP, she would be in pole position to inherit the nomination and always leads hypothetical Democrat polls without Biden.

Plus, assuming the obvious nomination ticket is confirmed in August, her name will be on the ballot. Were Biden to fall ill, or merely a conspiracy theory about his health gains traction, her odds would crash. Veterans of US presidential election betting will confirm such conspiracy theories are a staple. See Clinton’s collapse in the Manhattan heat in 2016 as the prime example, or Trump getting Covid during the 2020 campaign.

9. Ron DeSantis (51.0 BetMGM)

From red-hot favourite, trading below 2/1 after the 2022 mid-terms, DeSantis is proving a spectacular flop. He campaigned in all 99 Iowa counties, earned the endorsement of the state Governor and evangelical leaders, yet came in almost 30% behind Trump. 

The problem? Well, many point to personal weaknesses and awkwardness, but the main issue was DeSantis pursuing the exact same segment of GOP voters that is emotionally committed to Trump. He hasn’t a prayer of winning either New Hampshire or South Carolina, leaving a difficult decision to make in the following weeks. Either get out, or endorse Trump and try again later.

DeSantis is certainly young enough to come again. Or stay in, pick up some delegates here and there and hope Trump is convicted and somehow disqualified later. Polls consistently show he would pick up many more Trump voters than Haley in that scenario. My money, however, is on the Florida Governor cutting his losses.

10. Elizabeth Warren (151.0 BetMGM)

In the event of a Biden withdrawal, Warren is entitled to enter the conversation. At one stage of the 2020 race, she was odds-on favorite to win the Democrat nomination. Her problem then was Bernie Sanders dominating her natural base on the progressive wing of the party. That wouldn’t be the case this time and she remains one of the party’s biggest hitters in the Senate. Nobody would be better positioned to unite progressives and moderates, and Warren would be sure to run a passionate, competent campaign.

Recommended Bet:?Back Joe Biden at 3.0 (BetMGM)

Check out our article on political betting in 2024 for more election betting odds and guidance.

Lead image: Emma Kaden/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0

My Recommended Political Bet

• Nikki Haley to win New Hampshire Primary @ 8/5

1. Bet On The Presidential Nominee For Each Party

The political betting action begins with the primaries, which determine the presidential nominees for each party. Odds will be available on the primaries for all 50 states and later for how each votes in the presidential election. Some firms will also offer odds on who finishes second, or the winning margin.

Here are my insights for Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Iowa

The action begins with the Iowa Republican Caucus.

• Trump is an overwhelming favorite to win Iowa, rated almost certain to win the popular vote at 1-100. BetMGM offer a more competitive market involving the race without him.
• Ron DeSantis is favorite at 1.57…
• …compared to Nikki Haley at 2.5.

If the Iowa results go as expected, it will strengthen Trump’s dominant position at the head of the odds list for Republican Nominee. The highest odds available with Sportsbooks is 1-7 with Bet365, but if you can access an exchange the political betting odds are more generous. For example, 2-11 with Betfair or buying at 82c via PredictIt.

New Hampshire

States do not behave uniformly, and the second leg of the schedule could be the one which sets the race on fire. The New Hampshire Republican Primary is on January 23rd.

New Hampshire has a much higher share of Independent voters than Iowa, and Trump’s polling performance here is notably inferior. While he still leads the polls, the margin has shrunk markedly, with Haley emerging as the main challenger. A recent survey had her within 4%, and Trump on just 37%.

Since then, Chris Christie (polling around 12%) has withdrawn, and almost all of his supporters are expected to transfer to Haley.

BetMGM‘s odds about Haley have collapsed from 5.0 to just 2.6 in recent days, compared to 1.45 for Trump. She remains my preferred bets at these odds. Primary voters famously decide and swing late.

If Trump isn’t getting close to 50%, despite his massive, unique advantage in name recognition and being a former President, I’m skeptical he’ll win. I’d expect anti-Trump voters to unite around the only candidate running him close.

New Hampshire’s primary attracts vast numbers of Independent voters (perhaps more than half the total turnout). These are the types I believe can swing it for Haley.

Whether a Haley win in New Hampshire transforms the wider race is doubtful, because Trump remains will probably dominate the Southern states. Notably, he enjoys a big poll lead in the third race, South Carolina, despite Haley being the former Governor there. Betfair are first up with political betting odds, rating Trump a 1.08 chance to win the popular vote.

South Carolina

In a change from previous cycles, the Democratic Primary officially starts later, in South Carolina, on February 3rd. The party’s decision to usurp New Hampshire did not play well in that state, who chose to keep their primary on the same day as the Republican race. It is unsanctioned by the party and Joe Biden’s name will not be on the ballot. Party activists are organizing a write-in campaign for him.

While Biden is expected to win in the absence of a serious challenger (his opponents are led by little-known Congressman Dean Phillips, Oprah Winfrey’s former spiritual advisor Marianne Williamson and TYT host Cenk Uygur), how this pans out is unclear. Were Biden to fail to win, or reach 50%, via these write-ins, it could spark very serious doubts about his candidacy.

Despite the absence of a strong challenger, Biden is available at bigger odds to win his party’s nomination than Trump. Bet365 offer odds of 1.25.

His closest rivals in this year’s political betting are not currently in the race – Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris and Michelle Obama. All have strongly endorsed Biden. Bettors supporting them are hoping that, at a later stage, Biden will withdraw due to retirement, ill health or another factor such as impeachment.

2. Bet On The Likelihood Of A Biden v Trump Rematch

A Biden v Trump rematch is very likely. The Betfair odds about this are 1.47.

Yet in both cases, critical known unknowns remain. In Biden’s case, polls show 40% of those who voted for him in 2020 don’t want him to run again, amongst 60% of the population.

Trump’s stranglehold on the nomination could plausibly be threatened by his legal peril. The timeline of his court cases remains unclear but, were he convicted before the nomination is determined, that might alter the calculations of Republican primary voters. Polls indicate a conviction would badly damage his chances at the general election. There is also the ongoing question of whether he could be removed from state ballots via the 14th amendment. Whilst unlikely, in theory the Republican Party could choose to ditch him at their convention in July.

There has never been a campaign anything like it and we take such short political betting odds at our peril. However, assuming we do ultimately see a rematch of 2020, the current odds imply Trump starts as favorite. He’s available at 2.3 with BetMGM, compared to 3.25 about Biden.

3. Bet On The Republican Vice Presidential Nominee

Another competitive market to consider is Republican Vice Presidential Nominee. Whereas Kamala Harris is assumed certain to be Biden’s running mate and trading at the same as his main nomination odds, this is wide-open. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is the early favorite at 5.0, ahead of Vivek Ramaswamy at 7.5 and Elise Stefanik at 8.0.

4. Bet On Congress

There is also Congress to consider. Control of both the US Senate and House of Representatives will be on the November ballot and betting will become widely available on both, along with all the key states and congressional districts.

5. Bet On Individual Races

In the nearer term, there is a special election in New York’s third district, following the expulsion of Republican George Santos. Betfair have just opened their market and others will follow. This should be a close contest.

6. Bet On When The UK General Election Will Happen

Regarding the UK election, we still don’t know the date or even party leaders for sure. Rishi Sunak is the third Conservative Prime Minister since the last election and, given abysmal approval ratings, his future is far from secure.

A general election in the UK will almost certainly take place in 2024. The latest possible date is January 25th 2025, but that is extremely unlikely for logistical reasons.

The latest Betfair political betting odds rate October-December as 4-9 favorite to be the election date, ahead of April-June at 5.7 and July-September at 7.8.

7. Bet On Who Will Be Conservative Party Leader

Sunak is rated a 1.2 chance to be Conservative leader at the election.

The recent and long-term history of the Conservative Party suggests the latter is a risky short-odds bet. They are famous for removing unpopular leaders and have the mechanism to do so, via a vote of confidence.

Prior to Christmas 2023, with the party bitterly divided over it’s immigration policy, the odds about Sunak exiting early and/or facing a confidence vote spiked. This could well happen again within the next few weeks when Parliament considers the legislation.

8. Bet On The UK’s By-Elections

Before the general election, we will also have at least one and perhaps three by-elections to bet on. These are, like US special elections, local contests in particular districts where the representative has stood down. Again, these have the potential to destabilize Sunak.

The Conservatives have fared terribly in these and the very early betting for Wellingborough has them as big outsiders. However upsets do happen in these affairs – they won a similar race in Uxbridge last year at odds of 8.0.

9. Bet On The UK General Election

Regarding the main event, Labour are strong favorites to regain power.

Labour are rated 1-10 chances at best to win Most Seats at the general election with Bet365 and 1.25 to win an Overall Majority. On current polling, they should achieve both with ease but we are still very early in the process. Recent elections saw dramatic changes during the final months and the Conservatives can hope for a repeat.

10. Bet On How Many Seats Each Party Will Win

At a general election, there are also hundreds of interesting side markets, such as each party’s seat total. For example, Betfair offer “How many seats will the Conservatives lose”. Here the favorite is 201 seats or more at 2.7.

By seats, we mean ‘constituencies’. There are 650 of them, each returning a Member of Parliament (MP), who takes up a seat. In due course, sportsbooks and exchanges will offer odds on which party will win each of those 650 constituencies. Hundreds of markets among thousands in what promises to be an unforgettable year. Truly, a betting bonanza!

FAQs About Political Betting

My Recommended Political Bet

• Nikki Haley to win New Hampshire Primary @ 8/5

For more on the 2024 presidential election, read my article on election betting odds.

There are many types of malware in circulation at any one time but ransomware – where your entire hard drive (or drives) is encrypted – has become a common, profitable weapon for online scammers.

The Good Old Days

In the early days of The Real Hustle, we decided to feature ransomware as it was beginning to feature in more and more reports of online crime; But it was still incredibly rare and in some cases, possible to defeat without paying up.

Our problem was how to demonstrate this form of fraud since the show was based on seeing how human beings interact with cons and scams and any computer scams were hardly thrilling to watch.

Our solution was flawed to say the least.

We entrusted a valuable laptop to someone who believed they were hired to do a simple job and in the process of doing that job (in a hotel business center) they had to use a USB stick that apparently locked all the laptop files then issued a warning to send/give money before the end of a countdown when it would all be deleted.

While the laptop, the USB and all the other elements were a setup, the on-screen victim believed all of it and their reaction was perfect for the show’s audience and overall, it helped illustrate what could happen under the right/wrong circumstances.

At that time, the scam was unusual but years later, it has become a much bigger problem.

Blissfully Unaware

One aspect of computer fraud that makes it both easy and profitable – even for less skilful hackers – is the fact that most people have no real idea how the internet (or the computer they use to access it) works and often feel perfectly safe because they installed anti-virus software six years ago.

An interesting illustration of this was the “shredder” scam we pulled on The Real Hustle.

Again, it was a difficult scam to illustrate since the “real world” goal would be to install the shredder into an office then sit back and collect as valuable data until the gaff is discovered or (more likely) the shredder was replaced.

In our version we had to complete the scam in one day then get reactions from people who had no idea they had been scammed!

It was a very clever device but in order to demonstrate it we had to deliver it to people as part of a “shredding service” complete with secret cameras (also inside the shredder).

Unlike most Real Hustle scams, there was no “sting” moment so instead we asked people how secure they felt after using the shredders before showing duplicate copies of the documents they destroyed.

All of our victims were baffled because to their mind the only way we could now have copies is if we reconstructed the papers with scotch tape!

The very idea that the act of shredding was also the way their information was captured didn’t occur to anyone.

The secret was a document scanner hidden inside the shredder that lit up as if to accompany the shredding paper but actually scanned both sides of any piece of paper before it was shredded.

This data was then transmitted via a cellular phone inside the device (constantly charged since the shredder was always plugged in).

This scam illustrated something that’s true to all forms of security that interact with technology: There will always be more precautions you could/should take and there always be new ways of defeating those precautions. 

Just like our scanning shredder, common steps that should protect users will eventually become corrupted or exposed to new methods.

Current Affairs

Ransomware is now a huge problem with thousands of new victims every day whose files are locked out by a bespoke cypher used to encrypt everything on a target drive.

On accessing their device, malware will notify the victim that their files have been captured and give details of how much they must pay to unlock their files and how/where to pay it.

Some criminals aim for smaller amounts from low-profile targets like private individuals or small companies but attacking higher-profile targets can earn a lot more money but with a much greater risk of being pursued.

Some ransomware attackers have targeted public services and even hospitals, locking out access to critical infrastructure and thereby getting the attention of multiple international agencies concerned that the tools of ransomware might also be used by nation states as a form of online warfare.

In fact, the methods created by these online blackmailers are powerful weapons that might open entire countries to life-threatening scenarios such as a nationwide shutdown of a power grid or essential communications.

Like many scams, the tools being used and created by the scammers can be re-applied with much more serious consequences.

An Expanding Toolkit

Many people still believe you need to open an executable file or start a program or app in order to activate a virus but these days there are many seemingly innocuous actions that can expose us to malware.

Just clicking a link in a rogue email can open the door to all sorts of problems*.

What’s more concerning is that ransomware criminals don’t even need to defeat whatever security you may have because there are other criminals who specialize in collecting passwords and existing vulnerabilities that are then sold to the hackers.

These access brokers might trawl thousands of exposed passwords, identify potentially lucrative victims and price that data accordingly or even take a share in potential ransomware attacks.

It’s like a little industry of symbiotic crooks, creating a functioning and effective network to steal more money.

Another tactic is to gain direct access via insiders who might be blackmailed but are most likely paid (sometimes as much as $1,000,000) to hand over the keys to their employer’s data.

Another “way in” is to gain access via network hardware (such as servers and storage devices) that are shipped with generic admin IDs and passwords.

Once found online, the malware can be easily applied and if the victim does not have up-to-date backups the ransom might be cheaper than any alternative measure.

And with modern encryption (a “feature” on most operating systems) there’s no need for a countdown or threat to delete – the data is just locked out (and useless) until you pay for the key.

No One Is Safe

One of the frustrating truths about modern computers that access the internet is that being online opens up thousands of potential different attacks from many different sources.

In fact, any type of connectivity exposes a device to problems and even cables bought from seemingly trustworthy sources can have tiny hardware hidden inside that will inject malware, reveal your identity/location or capture every keystroke.

It’s a game of technological whack-a-mole and no matter how many precautions you take or how clever you think you are, if targeted there’s almost no way to prevent being hacked or surveilled or having all of your data stolen or encrypted.

Seriously, if they want to get you, they’ll get you but for the most part, these crooks are fishing with wide nets and taking a few simple precautions (stronger passwords, two-factor authentication etc.) will keep you safe from lighting up as a potential target.

* For example, since the Covid pandemic, thousands of restaurants have switched from paper menus to online version accessible through a QR code. This is an enormous risk since I can think of several methods that could leverage this new habit and score millions of pounds, euros, and dollars with ease.

Lead image: Pete Linforth/Pixabay

Hoyle’s famous book of rules for many card games is far from comprehensive and there are games developed and played in scenarios most of us would rather not find ourselves.

One such game is “Tonk” (or “Tunk”), a fast-moving game for gamblers that deserves your consideration.

How Does It Play?

The secret to a good game is not in the rules but in the way it plays and how it engages the player.

The more addicting and fun a game is – and the easier it is to learn – the more it will be played and when played for money, the more opportunities will exist for cheating or advantage play.

Rummy 500 and its variations is a good example of games that – once learned – can be quite addicting whether played for money or not.

Tonk is similar in how it plays (without the running count across multiple rounds) but is played faster and has been fine-tuned as a gambling game.

Rounds of play can be surprisingly quick with outcomes that can be expensive when doubling or even quadrupling opponents’ initial stakes based on house rules and circumstances.

Tonk Basics

Some rules vary and change according to location so consider this a very basic description of how to play.

The game is mostly played for money with each player putting an initial stake into the pot, but certain situations require players to add to that stake.

The game is a variation on Gin with each player receiving five cards (seven card and nine card variations also exist) with melds and runs being laid down (“spread’) until a player is out of cards.

Alternatively, a player can lay down their remaining cards whenever they believe they have the lowest number of points.

The goal is to get rid of all your cards or lay down the lowest total value.

When cards are spread by players, other players can “hit” those spreads with their own cards so if one player spreads three kings and another player has the fourth king, they can hit the other player’s spread, often with a financial or tactical penalty to the player being hit.

During play, cards are taken from the top of the discards or the unseen stock as each player takes their turn. Players can only spread cards of identical value or a run of cards (in order) of the same suit.

If a player lays down six cards (their five-card hand plus a card they picked) that’s a “Tonk” or “Tonking Out” and will cost their opponents a multiple of their initial stake.

If a player spreads only five cards and throws away the discard, they still win the hand but in most variations, this does not score double from the other players.

Variations Of Tonk

Tonk is a fast game that is open to many variations and house rules.

“Hitting” another player’s spread can result in that player having to sit out for a round of play or for multiple rounds if they are hit several times.

Getting hit could increase a player’s stake or cost an agreed amount each time the player is hit and, in some cases, the player being hit has the option to pay to play and avoid missing the next round!

Sounds complicated? It gets worse.

In some places, you can only hit a run and not three of a kind but the penalty for getting hit can be more severe.

Another house rule might be that if a player Tonks out (demanding double the stake from each of the other players) but their spread cards allow another player to also Tonk out, then both players (or just the second player to Tonk) win a “double-double” meaning players have to pay four times their initial stake!

Additionally, if your initial hand totals 50 points you can immediately “drop” and claim double stake from the other players and if someone else also has 50 you either share the pot or the second player can claim it instead!

As you can see, even if you know the game it can take a few rounds to understand what variations apply.

It’s all about where you play and with whom.

Big House Rules

Tonk (often pronounced “Tunk”) may be played in many scenarios, but it is particularly popular in the North American penal system where players spend many hours playing the game for whatever passes as money in that “establishment.”

It is from this backdrop that I first heard of the game from my late friend, Lew Brooks, and it was my assumption he either learned it from a friend who spent some time “away” or that Lew himself had spent a little time at the government’s pleasure.

Truthfully, I don’t know which for sure and would not presume to say Lew had ever been caught doing anything illegal.

Lew was a dealer in Las Vegas amongst other things and a well-known member of the local magic community who he regularly baffled with brilliant pieces of card magic and a few mathematical miracles, including a truly ingenious keno prediction that I can’t resist performing to this day if I find tickets at a Vegas restaurant table.

Lew was a big man, gruff on the outside but an absolute teddy bear underneath.

His demeanor belied a wealth of knowledge and a razor-sharp intellect that paid close attention to any situation and could recognize a weakness or advantage in a heartbeat.

Lew’s friend Frank Zak told me Lew also worked in Casino Security and that Tonk was often played in the break room by casino staff so I prefer to think that’s where he picked up the game, though given Lew’s personal history (he told me he once roomed with William S Burroughs) anything might be possible.

Like many of my friends from that period, his knowledge of the gaming industry, the games being played and the ways they could be beaten dwarfed my own.

Lew lived in the very heart of the gambling world with a foot on both sides of the table but his eyes really lit up when he talked about how a game could be beaten.

Lew was a wealth of information but getting that information sometimes meant running a minefield of questions and challenges; Lew liked to toy with people a little and make them work for the knowledge that took him decades to obtain.

Yet to a few, he was generous with his ideas and eager to share his findings – especially with the game of Tonk.

The Brooks Advantage

Wherever it was that Lew stumbled onto the game, he quickly recognized it as susceptible to a mathematical strategy and set about analyzing the game, quickly realizing Tonk was rich pickings for smart players.

For example, “dropping” your hand at the beginning of play was a strong move if your hand had a certain number of points (or less) and Lew found he could clean up by dropping as soon as he received a low value hand and had a few ways to “encourage” that situation that were more sleight than strategy.

Lew wrote tables of possible outcomes and situations based on multiple versions of the game, each dictating the best decision or action and the best way to avoid penalties to give Lew – or anyone who had his method – the best chance of a win.

Lew was convinced he had the game beat and over time would always come out on top, but the problem was: What to do with this system?

The game is hardly common and getting sentenced to five years just so you can be the greatest Tonk player in cell block B is hardly a good strategic move.

Lew worked on a book but it was never published and may be in the hands of friends or family who received his library and notebooks after he passed away.

But would Lew’s book have killed the game of Tonk before it could become popular enough to be worthwhile?

Who would want to play a game that can be beaten with a little knowledge and absolutely destroyed with a modicum of (crooked) skill?

The answer is no, Lew’s book would not have had any impact on the game itself unless his system became so widely used that it dictated changes to the rules or made the game too easy to win (or lose).

Buried Treasures

Many games have been “beaten” to some degree or other and whether they need a Quantum Computer to play perfect strategy or for players to memorize a few statistics, there are plenty of people who will never consider or care about systems or methods that might give them an advantage.

Gamblers like to play and love to gamble and they are the vast majority of players.

If this game ever did take off (and I hope it does), Lew’s work may become a lost treasure worth thousands to those who can obtain a copy.

I always wonder how many other Lew Brooks are out there and how many other games have been beaten in theory and are only waiting for someone to put that theory into practice.

One important lesson is to realize that while you may play any kind of game for fun, if money is on the table there’s always a chance you might one day be swimming with a shark.

Lead image: Crystal Berdion/Unsplash

This is far from a comprehensive list of cons associated with ride share providers but as always, whenever traveling, pay special attention to how much you are being charged and be aware you might fall into a well-practiced, inescapable trap without doing anything wrong.

The Taxi Tax

A friend once told me he expected to be ripped off at least once in any foreign city by crooked taxi drivers.

Perhaps he took a lot more taxis than I did but my experience is that it only happens from time to time and usually when I have failed to take precautions or pay attention to what’s happening around me.

Take Atocha railway station in Madrid for example.

A taxi from there to Plaza Mayor is not an enormous amount but one Sunday, with family, I got into a cab and on arrival was overcharged by more than double!

The driver used a technique I had experienced before, where he stopped traffic behind him to apply more pressure to me to act quickly.

The last time this happened was over 20 years ago and the scenario was identical but on that occasion, I was on my own and happy to put up a fight until local police intervened.

Thankfully, they sent the driver on his way once the police officer learned what he was trying to charge me.

This time, there were no helpful officers of the law, and I was with my kids who didn’t need to see me get into another argument with a scamming taxi driver (I once faced off with an aggressive New York driver who made a blatant attempt to take us on a tour of Manhattan instead of going directly to our hotel) so I paid up and spent the rest of the afternoon fuming.

That’s the problem with this type of con: It’s a trap that takes full advantage of your situation and offers almost no way out unless you are willing to cause a traffic jam, start a fight or in some cases, get arrested (local gendarmes are not always so helpful to out-of-towners).

Scams such as overcharging or taking tourists for a longer ride are not very sexy but are commonplace in many locations and we can all fall foul of a dishonest driver.

Sadly, there’s not a lot one can do unless you can prove the driver is scamming you.

? R. Paul Wilson On: How To Avoid Getting Scammed On Vacation

The Lisbon Switch

A more sophisticated cash scam in Lisbon took advantage of a well-engineered misunderstanding where the driver would receive a 20, passed from the back seat by unwary passengers.

The driver would then switch the 20 (unseen by his passengers) and hold up a 10 while saying something in Portuguese.

This caused tourists to either assume they handed over a 10 instead of a 20 and correct that “mistake” OR challenge the driver by asserting they gave him a 20 not a 10.

And here was the genius of this ploy: If the passenger corrected their “mistake” and handed over a 20, the driver made an extra 10 euros but if his passengers were certain they gave 20 from the outset, the driver (in broken English or French or German) would say “I only have this – no change!” as if he had been holding up the 10 to illustrate he only had large bills and no coins to make change with!

The result of this cleverly-engineered confusion was that people would often be embarrassed for suspecting the driver and let them keep the change!

Rideshare Risks

Personally, I use ride share services like Uber and Lyft all over the world and while I believe they are an excellent modern convenience for travelers, users must exercise caution whenever they use them in unfamiliar places.

Rideshare problems range from questionable (and annoying) practices to outright fraud and on rare occasions, real danger to passengers.

These are not the norm but from place to place, problems can be more or less common depending on multiple factors such as local laws and enforcement of ride share rules.

Removing cash from the equation and paying a large company through trusted payment portals would seem to protect us from many types of fraud but some drivers have found ways to add unwarranted fees or penalty payments that can be difficult to challenge.

Wet Seats And Dented Doors

Passengers in multiple countries have encountered the “damage scam” where they are sent a claim from the driver shortly after their ride with a photograph that claims the customer accidentally or willfully caused some damage to upholstery or bodywork.

I find this scam interesting since users who complain about it often seem credible and even report receiving photos of damage taken during the daytime when the ride happened at night and the claim was sent immediately after, while it was STILL dark!

I’ve seen enough of these to be sure some drivers may be taking advantage but how many times can one driver claim passenger damage or cleaning fees before the ride-share company flags them as suspicious?

Certainly if a driver’s door is dented, he or she could get away with charging a customer for the repair even if they had nothing to do with it and it is not easy to claim back funds deducted as the result of such a claim.

Multiple ride-share customers have reported being charged large sums for damage they didn’t do with scant or suspicious evidence provided by the driver and typically the ride-share company sides with the driver meaning claims are rarely refunded.

One victim was able to prove that a photograph of “vomit” used to deduct $150 from his credit card was taken at an entirely different time and location thanks to the geotag on the image file BUT the company still refused to respond until he took his story to the local news and the driver was suspended.

Some people recommend taking a photo of the seats before you leave a car to prove they weren’t soiled in any way OR to take a picture of any stains you might notice when getting into the car (after the ride, it’s already too late).

I’m not sure either of these precautions are practical or effective but any local authority that permits ride share companies to operate should ensure they police their own drivers to weed out any bad apples.

Rule Breakers

Less costly but no less annoying are the drivers who flaunt company rules with regard to cleanliness, speed, safety and pickup or drop-off of passengers.

For example, drivers can’t see their destination until the last minute and can only cancel a couple of times before being penalized but it seems to happen a lot in certain cities whenever I book a short ride.

If you’ve ever been to the impromptu nightclub known as the ride-share pickup zone at Las Vegas airport on a busy night, you can expect to have several of your booked rides cancel at the very last minute if your journey isn’t far enough.

In these cases, the driver would rather cancel and go around again in the hope of picking up a more lucrative fare.

There also seems to be a way that drivers can beat the system once they realize the ride isn’t worth their time.

I assume that on some apps the destination is revealed as the driver gets close to their pickup and at that moment they can veer in a different direction and cause the pickup time to jump on the passenger’s app.

If you’ve ever watched a driver get close and then turn off in another direction (increasing their arrival time) then perhaps they’re trying to dump your ride or force a cancellation.

In some cases this can incur a charge meaning the driver gets paid without having to give anyone a ride.

In other words, a rogue driver can make money purely by driving in circles AWAY from the pickup location!

The Other Side

There’s another side to this issue and it’s with you, the passenger.

Many drivers wisely employ dash cams that also record inside the vehicle and YouTube is littered with videos of nasty, petulant, entitled, and violent passengers who damage cars, attack drivers and act like assholes as if the driver isn’t another human being who deserves respect.

Driver’s scams do happen but if you suspect something or have a concern or a request (such as a particular route) for goodness sake, be polite, kind and patient.

An issue of real concern is driver behavior and driving style.

Always issue a complaint if the driver is needlessly aggressive to you or other drivers on the road and definitely complain if they drive like maniacs!

Even if the driver is rude or nasty or causes other problems, wait until you are safely out of the car and deal only with the ride share company when you have a genuine complaint.

Travel safe.

? R. Paul Wilson On: Street Scams

Lead image: Lexi Anderson/Unsplash

Some are for playing from “the outside” but others were designed to cheat the players by giving the house complete control over who wins or loses.

But there was more to these devices than the ability to win every time.

Back To The Sting

Fans of George Roy Hill’s perfect con-artist movie The Sting will remember the scene where Robert Redford’s “Hooker,” who was flush with cash from a recent scam, bets it all on a spin of the roulette wheel.

After a large wager is approved and the ball released, the dealer reaches under the table to press a hidden button forcing the ball into a losing slot.

Hooker knew immediately he’d been had but had no recourse thanks to the “family” nature of that illegal gambling establishment.

I loved that scene as a kid and was fascinated to learn – later in life – that such “gaffed wheels” actually exist and were once used all over the world by all kinds of establishments from back-alley gaming rooms to large-scale casinos that needed a fallback option in case some whale took them to the cleaners.

A Different Kind Of Juice

Early versions of gaffed wheels benefited from “Drop In” style wheels that fit into a large hole cut into the table.

These allowed for a ring of electromagnets to be hidden inside the wheel (behind the ball track), which could influence a special ball containing a steel core.

Once the ball passed a number the house wanted to avoid, the magnets could be flashed on and off, stopping the ball in its tracks, forcing fall immediately into the rotor where it would be almost impossible for it to land in the number that just passed by.

These “juice tables” (where the ball was manipulated by “turning on the juice”) were so well built that players and dealers could spend years playing without ever suspecting there was a large electronic device hidden inside that could blow up someone’s pacemaker if they stood too close.

I had a friend who traded in both honest and gaffed collectable gambling devices.

About 20 years ago, he bought what he believed to be a completely legitimate wheel from a casino company but when he stripped the wheel for repair, noticed a “tell” inside the wooden interior.

Suspecting there might be more to this wheel than meets the eye, he had it completely deconstructed and discovered a ring of crusty, leaking batteries behind a continuous loop of coiled wires!

It had long since expired as a working device but was so well made, not even its most recent owner knew it had been a crooked wheel!

Dropping A Pin

Another variation that didn’t need batteries (or to be plugged into a wall socket) was the ingenious “kickoff wheel.”

This type of gaff was used in conjunction with a “dead ball” that bounced a lot less than ordinary roulette balls so would tend to drop straight into the nearest slot once it fell (or was pushed) out of the ball track.

The secret was a couple of invisible holes in the ball track, under the rim on the player’s side and impossible to see from that position.

When the wheel was “operated” a thin, stiff wire would push out of the hole to intercept the ball, sending it downward into the rotor.

As with the “juiced” wheel, this simply stopped the ball after a particular number had passed but gave the house an unbeatable advantage against the players.

Hiding The Switch

Unlike the dealer in The Sting, most staff were never required to activate these devices but simply played on the level until excused and replaced with a crooked dealer, or in some cases the mechanism could be activated by a manager or pit boss.

Early gaffed wheels had switches in the leg or far side of the table, but modern versions were activated by a remote-control garage door opener!

Operating these types of crooked tables took a little skill, not just in reaching the operating button or lever but in how and when to use that unbeatable advantage.

You can’t just beat every spin or the house would soon go broke; no one wants to play at the joint where nobody ever wins!

A gaffed table or wheel must be reserved for extreme situations where the house cannot afford to lose.

Sometimes all it takes is one bad spin to interrupt a player’s winning momentum and put them back on the right (losing) track and crooked dealers must learn to bide their time for the right series of bets by the target player to inflict maximum monetary and psychological damage.

That’s not to say every crooked gambling room operated that way.

A few needed to keep their gaffed tables well oiled because they used them so much, but in those cases, the clientele was either changing constantly or had no other place to exercise their gambling needs.

There’s an old joke about a gambler who is playing a bunch of notorious cheaters in the corner of a quiet saloon when a friend arrives and gestures for the gambler to join him at the bar.

The friend says to the gambler, “Don’t you know those guys are all cheaters? They’ll rob you blind!”

The gambler shrugs, swallows his whisky and says, “I know. But it’s the only game in town.” Then returns to the card table.

Do Modern Casinos Rig Roulette Wheels?

It’s very unusual to find a modern gambling establishment foolish enough to have a gaffed game on the premises.

Apart from being a 400-pound piece of evidence, it’s just not necessary when players keep coming and playing no matter how bad the odds are against them.

Unusual doesn’t mean impossible.

Some casinos have fallen victim to staff interfering with the ball track, changing materials in the wheel, or switching the ball for one that is easier to manipulate or predict.

Crooked maintenance staff have even been known to use pliers on older wheels to narrow the pocket on some numbers, or deepening or adjusting slots to make reds more likely than blacks.

A few years ago, I heard of an Asian casino that was caught dropping a wire frame into numbers on a wheel if those numbers were being over-bet or were popular with big money players.

You’d never think that a wire frame would be deceptive since it’s visible to the naked eye, even when placed in the slot.

When the wheel is spun, however, that wire frame is rendered completely invisible!

So, yes, gaffed wheels are extremely rare but like an ageing rock band, they’re always poised for a comeback.

? R. Paul Wilson On: How To Cheat At Roulette With Past Posting

We’re going to set the record straight once and for all by explaining the most commonly believed gambling myths – and why they’re not true.

MYTH 1: Casinos Pump Oxygen Into The Air

Some gamblers believe that casinos secretly add more oxygen to the AC on casino floors to make customers more energetic and therefore more likely to gamble, and some believe they even add pheromones.

This is false and there is a logical reason why.

Oxygen is not pumped into casinos since it would increase the flammability of the air and make it a fire risk. And no casino wants to burn itself to the ground. Think about it.

Oh, and it’s also illegal to tamper with air supplies in many countries. So if you’re playing in a legal, licensed casino, you should be good.

MYTH 2: Casino Games Are Rigged

Let’s make one thing absolutely clear: Casino games are not rigged.

Are casino games designed to give the house the edge? Of course, that’s how casinos make money.

But this edge plays out over a long period across thousands of players. It doesn’t mean you can’t win.

Many people accept that table games are fair, as they can see what the dealer is doing at all times.

But what about slots? How can you really know what’s going on inside a slot machine?

Every slot game uses a random number generator (RNG) to determine what symbols will land and guarantee random results. You have the same chance of hitting a payout on every spin.

Now you don’t just have to take our word on RNGs. You know when a legal casino describes itself as licensed and regulated? Part of that regulation involves third parties coming and testing the RNGs on slot games.

There is a pinch of salt in this myth, as games are built so the casino will win over time.

But games aren’t rigged, and you have as much a chance as anyone of walking away with a big win.

? No, Slot Machines Aren’t Rigged. A Casino Worker Explains Why

MYTH 3: Card Counting Is Illegal

There is nothing illegal about card counting, and you can’t be thrown in jail if you’re caught.

However, most casinos don’t want you to count cards because it reduces the house edge, so won’t take kindly to players doing it.

? How Casinos Catch Card Counters And Why You Should Avoid Trying It

The most likely punishment if you get caught is you’ll be asked to leave the casino. At worst, they may also notify other casinos about who you are.

You’re not suddenly going to find a court summons in your mailbox one day if you count cards.

This is a myth supported by casinos because it benefits them if you think there are severe repercussions for card counting.

MYTH 4: Gambling Isn’t Addictive

This one is crucial, as recognizing that gambling is addictive is a significant step towards preventing problem gambling.

You feel good when you hit a win while playing casino games because your brain releases chemicals like dopamine. The more you trigger this reaction, the more you need to activate that same feeling.

As gamblers chase down that buzz, they feel they need to risk and win more and more money, which can result in bad gambling habits.

There is no problem with enjoying gambling, but it’s essential to know when to stop.

Setting limits on how much to spend before you reach a casino, or enforcing time limits on how you play, can protect you from developing a problem.

? Top Tips For Responsible Gambling

MYTH 5: There Are Hot And Cold Slot Machines

The idea with this myth is that once a machine starts paying out, you’re more likely to hit wins frequently. This is known as a ‘hot’ slot.

Likewise, slots can go through long periods of not paying out, and they’re known as ‘cold’ slots.

Remember RNGs? Well, they put an end to this myth.

Every spin is equal, and you have just as high as chance of a win on one spin as on another.

Sometimes, slot machines will provide several payouts in quick succession. Other times, slots will go on for long periods without paying out.

It’s 100% random – don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise.

? Top 10 Biggest Slot Machine Wins Of All Time

MYTH 6: You’re Due A Win If You Haven’t Had One In A While

Many gamblers believe that if you stick with the same game, eventually, you’ll get a big payout because you’ll be “due” a win.

This is sometimes called the Gambler’s Fallacy.

For example, if a roulette wheel hasn’t hit any wins on the previous 10 spins, a player might believe that on its 11^th spin that a win will occur because it’s time.  

However, this is a myth because each spin should be considered independent – its previous results have zero impact on the future.

Or if a slot has just paid out a big jackpot, players might avoid that machine as they believe it won’t pay out again soon – when really it could pay out an hour later!

It’s important to remember that past events do not have any impact on the present or future.

MYTH 7: Dealers Adjust Games If You’re Winning Too Much

Some gamblers have a lot of suspicions in casinos, and one of the most popular is that dealers will adjust games if you are winning too much.

Again, remember that casino games are designed to give the house the edge.

Dealers don’t need to rig games because they know that eventually the casino will make a profit across all players.

In addition, land-based casinos are regulated by independent bodies which are looking to protect player safety. Along with testing the RNGs of slot machines, regulators will also review the processes that dealers use.

If you don’t want to trust casino regulators, think about it another way.

It would probably cost the casinos far too much money to have to train dealers to rig games without people noticing. It takes years to perfect sleight of hand or other moves.

This training would cost the casino a lot more than just letting the occasional player hit big wins. And if no one ever won big at the casino, they’d soon get a reputation and be out of business.

MYTH 8: Casino Games Are Pure Luck

This myth is kind of true.

There are some games that are based on luck, like slots or roulette, however, there are a number of casino games that require skill and strategy to win, like poker or blackjack.

To use an example we’ve already talked about, if you know how to card count, you’ve theoretically got a better chance of winning in blackjack than someone who doesn’t.

Of course, luck still plays a huge part in the game, but there are ways you can give yourself marginal edges.

MYTH 9: You’re More Likely To Win Slots In A Busy Casino

Many gamblers believe if you visit a busier casino, you’re more likely to win when playing slot machines because more money is being pumped into them.

This is categorically untrue, as the winnings spins on slots are determined by RNGs.

No matter if you’re the only one on the casino floor or you’re struggling to find an available slot machine, the chances of winning are the same.

However, there are benefits to playing in busy casinos, especially if you’re a fan of progressive jackpot games.

Progressive jackpots increase as more players stake on that game. If there are more players in a casino, that prize total will rise faster, so you can hit a bigger jackpot if you land the right spin.

Likewise, land-based casinos often run tournaments on slots for players to enjoy. Busier casinos will have larger prize pools for these competitions. 

MYTH 10: Online Casinos Don’t Pay Out

Many people believe that online casinos are scam sites that won’t pay out. If a casino is licensed and regulated, then you will get your winnings (providing you follow the wagering requirements).

One of the reasons that the myth that online casinos don’t pay out is so popular is that many players claim welcome bonuses without understanding what they are.

However, these promotions have terms and conditions to prevent bonus abuse, like wagering requirements, which tell you how many times you need to use your bonuses before withdrawing.

You won’t be able to cash out if you make a transaction request without completing your wagering requirements. Many players don’t understand this and see it as the casino site scamming them.

So let’s make it as simple as possible. If you are using an online casino licensed by a respected regulatory body, accepting players from where you are, you will receive your payouts.

Sure, there are scam online casinos out there, but if you use a regulated platform, your payouts should be safe.

In games like high/low a strong, undetectable peek is like having a marked deck anywhere, anytime but in casino table games, the peek can be much more profitable.

I spoke previously about how cheaters can glimpse their own cards as they deal but in table games, a crooked dealer can “send” the top card or even multiple cards from known locations deeper down to players who use that information to have an unbeatable edge.

How “Flashing” Works

Hand dealt games have always been vulnerable to “flashing” where the dealer allows an outside agent to get a peek of what’s coming and act/bet accordingly.

Imagine playing blackjack for hours and often knowing the first card you will be dealt, or potential hit cards in the middle of a hand?

Such information would allow you to increase and decrease your bets based on the predicted value of your hand plus make some seemingly risky hits that are certain to make your hand.

The mechanics of this kind of player/agent scam are not difficult to learn but timing is a factor that can only be learned in practice.

Many scammers have played for years without detection by mastering how and when to flash cards to multiple “takeoff men.”

Perhaps the most powerful “flash” was accomplished by pushing the top card very slightly off the deck so part of the index of the top card would be revealed between the fingers of the right hand.

As the dealer picked up a completed round of cards or peeked at their hole card (or any typical dealing action) they could easily expose the next card.

The entire index was not necessary to show; Just a hair on the edge of the index would be enough to know if it was a 10-value or an Ace.

And if you spend a few minutes trying this yourself, you’ll quickly realize that any value can be recognized by a slither of its left-most edge.

This move may sound pretty blatant, but it can work for months or years without ever being detected, and several crews of dealers and players were caught only after years of skimming cream from the house.

Most likely, countless more have never been suspected because the move is incredibly hard to see unless you are being the flashed the card and the eye in the sky has almost no chance unless the card is moved too much and without a covering action.

Method Variations

The method used to flash often dictates where the takeoff man (or woman) would sit but clever cheaters bounced the flash around the table to further conceal their actions.

Pit bosses, security and the eye in the sky might try to see how a winning player might get cards flashed by the dealer and fail to see any possible glimpse because the flash was being sent to another player on the opposite side of the table who then signaled the information to the takeoff man making the big bets.

One such flash is accomplished by raising the top card just enough so a player to the dealer’s right can catch a peek as cards are dealt or guarded (some casinos teach dealers to hold the deck against their chest between deals, making several flashes possible).

In some places, dealers would deal the deck from a position almost at eye level so players could catch a glimpse of cards beneath those being dealt if the dealer had mastered a method to push one card out very slightly under another in the action of dealing.

All of these methods are relatively simple but when mastered and used carefully, they could steal hundreds of thousands from a casino without anyone being the wiser.

Unfortunately (for the cheaters) one of the smartest ways to use this is for a dishonest dealer to use multiple takeoff players so their bosses never see a pattern of player/dealer winning streaks.

But this strategy has a fatal flaw: The more people who know about your scam, the more chances someone will talk or trade that information to beat some other charges.

Another powerful strategy employed by these cheaters was to steer high cards to the dealer’s hand in order to bust the dealer and pay off the entire table.

This can be an easy way to make a lot of money if the cheaters have the table “locked” (every player is in on the scam) but it further exposes the crew when so many players are needed.

Before The Machines

Hand shuffling (without a shuffling machine) offered crooked dealers and their partners many opportunities to create memorized slugs of cards that could be dropped into play at a known point then used to fleece the house for one or two rounds of play.

I know of several shuffling procedures that were vulnerable to dealer/player scams where one player would sit on third base as six or eight decks were being shuffled, carefully watching the top of each stack as they were being interlaced with other cards.

From this position, the player could see a small number of cards that were dropped onto the top of the shuffled stack and memorize those cards.

Thanks to the prescribed shuffling procedure, the dealer would shuffle cards together from two larges stacks, each made up of half the decks being played.

By grabbing cards from each of the initial stacks, the dealer created a third stack that would grow until it consisted of all eight (now shuffled) decks.

What made the flash possible (and incredibly profitable) was that the dealer had to carry back a deck from the shuffled stack and then shuffle that with cards from either of the two initial halves of the eight-deck stack.

This carry-back rule seemed to shuffle the cards even more, but it allowed a crooked dealer to keep cards on top of the shuffled stack throughout the entire shuffle!

Initially, this might have been a good way to keep a memorized slug but there’s always a chance that playback (recordings from security upstairs) might reveal that a sequence of cards was repeated after a shuffle so instead, the cheaters simply flashed cards that went to the top of the shuffled stack and kept them there.

The player on third base would memorize the cards then calculate which hands to bet on for a surefire win or, more practically how to make sure the dealer busted.

With a locked table, crews could clean out the chip tray but too much and too soon will get the attention of the eye in the sky so smart teams balanced their surefire rounds with multiple rounds of honest play between shuffles.

There’s a lot more to this than I can share here and in fact, a crooked dealer capable of executing some clever shuffle strategies can reap a lot more with another scam I’ll discuss in the future.

Many of these methods are long dead in places that use shuffle machines but those devices are far from perfect and there are other ways of beating a machine either with technology or something surprisingly simple.

What’s for sure is that scams that seem to be killed off by modern technology often evolve and return with a new angle that beats whatever precautions the casino thinks it has.

If The Shoe Fits

Flashing or peeking doesn’t always happen when the cards are being shuffled or dealt from a dealer’s hand.

Special dealing shoes have been made to allow a glimpse of the next card to either dealers or players depending on the construction of a secret device that transmits that information without any electronics or moving parts!

We’ll talk about gaffed shoes another time but let me leave you with this: Some entirely legitimate dealing shoes could allow dealers to peek or flash the next card and completely crush the game of blackjack.

This is not a dealing shoe that has been tampered with in any way but an entirely legitimate piece of gaming equipment found in hundreds of casinos yet vulnerable to one of the simplest and most devastating scams in the casino industry.

More on that in a later article.

2023 sees you celebrate 17 years in business – what keeps Betsoft delivering?

The first answer is that we love what we do. We are a team of committed and imaginative professionals across all departments.

Betsoft’s ethos is for an open forum for discussion. This creates a sense of mutual trust between management and the team to keep communications clear and ideas free flowing.

The iGaming market and industry has also changed immensely since we began designing slots. The dynamism and constant innovation make it one of the most exciting industries to work in.

As a renowned brand, we are constantly engaged both in growing new and emerging markets and reinforcing our position in existing ones. That is an exciting challenge for us and one we relish across the business.

However, you are only as successful as your last release and so our focus is always on content. Quality not quantity is our driving force.

Based on a mixture of research, feedback, skill and imagination, our releases continue to create significant engagement with players and generate brand loyalty across the portfolio.

As award-winners for innovation and RNG in slots over the years, we were delighted to be recognised as Starlet RNG Casino Supplier of the Year 2022 and Wilds of Fortune as 2022 Starlet Game of the Year.

In addition, Alkemor’s Elements was voted Most Popular Slot 2022, plus Book of Helios – nominated for Most Electric Slot and Gemini Joker – nominated for ‘Wow’ Slot of the Year with each success built on the previous one; so 2023 has a lot to live up to but we are confident we will keep delivering.

What can we expect from your Roadmap in 2023?

We are well in to our Q1 Roadmap of fantastic new releases with highly innovative features and mechanics; plus Q2 is also now available to our clients.

January release Bounding Luck brought Multiplicative Multipliers for both big and frequent wins alongside a beautiful theme and mellow soundtrack.

We re-designed our jackpot mechanic for smoother play – as shown in the Halloween themed Rags to Witches and Christmas special Sleighin’ It – and February’s release Hearts Desire offered a progressive linked jackpot for some spectacular win potential from just one spin.

Although the Hearts Desire theme is hearts and champagne, this is a slot that gives year-round appeal in a visually beautiful take on a classic fruit slot.

Through linking themes to globally recognized dates and events, we add to our clients’ delivery of memorable campaigns.

However, the range of quality features and win potential ensure that the releases have longevity with players.

Other new feature designs include the Hold & Win Bonus, as shown in Golden Dragon Inferno, which gives a fantastically generous opportunity for unlimited winning combinations and will be used in future releases across 2023.

Another February release is Expansion – a truly mind-bending slot with a revolutionary Directional Wilds mechanic.

March will see Mr. Vegas 2 – Big Money Tower, a feature-rich sequel to 2012’s Mr. Vegas, which will take the Vegas Strip to a new level before our Q2 Roadmap slots are released. So a lot to look forward to!

You launched two player engagement tools last year: what does this mean for both Betsoft and for players?

‘Continuously giving a new experience’ was the working title we gave to engagement tool development for Take the Prize and Tournament as that was exactly what we wanted to achieve.

Differentiation in a crowded market enables both the slot and the slot provider to stand out.

Through building these network promotions and bespoke retention tools – with more in development – we have delivered tournaments, leaderboards and prize wheels.

Rewarding players both financially and emotionally creates extra connections to the game and the brands. This helps to solidify player trust.

From extended play sessions to increased wagers for bigger payouts, both players and operators benefit from these tools. Promotions can be designed and personalized for players to create the most experiential gaming available.

We are also working on a new engagement tool. We anticipate a positive response to this latest product as it will further reinforce the gamification of our slots, leading to even more immersive experiences for players.

“Follow us on social media to find out more!” is all we can say currently.

Betsoft launched two network promotions in 2022. What’s planned for this year?

The network promotions across 2022 saw bets up by 25%+ and player participation by 30%+ for the first promotion.

The second followed with an even larger prize pool and wider choice of Betsoft titles creating a staggering 50%+ and 60%+ uplift in the numbers for participation and bets wagered.

This success was reinforced through Take the Prize which offers a random cash drop on a fortune wheel, thus bringing in-game experiences with real-time notifications, instant rewards, and a highly inventive UI to players, alongside a constantly growing choice of game.

Subsequently we launched Tournament which enables participants to track their own and other players’ progress throughout the promotion via a real-time updated Leaderboard.

Our new ‘Cash Race’ Network Promotion will showcase both tools in a combined application.

Scheduled for February 23 – March 6, 2023, ‘Cash Race’ will give all players a chance to win a share of over €80,000 in cash prizes throughout a 12-day network promotion with a real-time updated leader board and Take the Prize daily cash prizes across 45+ games.

One lucky spin could be all it takes!

The ‘Cash Race’ details:

• Promo dates: Daily between 10.00am February 23 and 10.00am March 6, 2023
• Bigger prize pool: €80,000.00+ cash giveaway
• Better prizes:
  • Tournament: €50,000 cash across 200 prizes
  • Take the Prize: over €30,000 across 1,100 prizes
• More games: 49 award-winning slots to choose from
• In game tools: Take the Prize and Tournament run in parallel on the same games

NOTE: Italy, Sweden and Denmark are excluded from the Network Promotion.

What are you most excited about delivering next for your customers?

After the promotion, the key focus is on continued and continuous innovation.

All our slots and products come from that mindset of how to build better every time.

Our features support and enhance our narratives and, with quality as the key driver, we know that our players will be as excited as we are.

We are delighted that our current releases showcase these new innovations and offer more personalization within the games to create a bespoke feel.

As we work six months ahead, we know just what treats our players can expect over Q2. And there are some great themes and mechanics with big win potential coming up.

Our Mini Games are well under way and we believe our clients will be delighted by their impact on player sign up and retention.

Social tournaments are also part of the Betsoft calendar for 2023, so a lot of very good things coming.

What markets are you currently targeting and why?

Our focus is on regulated markets. Belgium, Holland, Italy, and Spain, in addition to Sweden and Romania are all very important to us.

A number of new operators as well as the extension of existing relationships opening in many European countries has seen significant reinforcement of the Betsoft brand over the last eighteen months.

Belgium and Holland’s tighter regulations have improved the gaming experience for players, and we were one of the first providers to be licensed by both official regulators.

We are equally well known in the Italian and Spanish markets. These are still growth areas and we have seen very satisfactory development across each country in which we are licensed, certified and accredited.

Working with new and existing operators, we will continue to grow our brand. We have long term partners in Sweden and newer clients in Romania, but each separate jurisdiction is equally important to us.

Certified releases are regularly delivered to all our clients. The latest high impact titles enjoying global success will shortly be available to players – translated and localized for maximum connectivity – beginning with Alkemor’s Elements and followed by Captain’s Quest Treasure Island, the Hold & Win Bonus Golden Dragon Inferno and Woodlanders.

What are you anticipating as the next trend in the industry?

Greater innovation in features and mechanics are always in demand, but more personalization and customization in slot design will be the big driver for 2023.

Our most detailed feedback came from two releases. The award-winning 2022 release Wilds of Fortune puts the player literally center action.

The reception of this game from release was astounding – and we have 17 years of slots to benchmark our releases!

Plus Golden Dragon Inferno. This was our first release to showcase the Hold & Win Bonus feature which created stratospheric levels of engagement.

Players want an experience that involves them directly; one that speaks to them. We aim always to fulfil that desire.

We have built the Betsoft brand on quality.

Knowing just a single card can provide an unbeatable advantage; there are dozens of methods to get a glimpse of a card and in the hands of expert players, a simple peek can reap enormous rewards.

Secret Knowledge

I’m always suspicious when casinos use technology to know the order of a deck they’re about to deal and past systems that used cameras and computers in conjunction with automatic shufflers were subject to all kinds of shenanigans if the casino or developers were so inclined to make adjustments to how those machines worked.

I’ll get into the problems and possibilities of this kind of scenario another time but just having information that could lead to an unfair advantage is dangerous if it can inform or change game procedure.

The way I like to put it to my friends on the other side of table is: If players are not permitted to know what cards are about to be dealt, why should the house have that information?

Knowing what card is about to be dealt could make an enormous difference to a player sitting at first base on a blackjack table who knows for certain that the first card out of the shoe will be an ace.

Equally, if a machine were to change its procedure according to the order of the deck, this could give the house an unfair advantage against the players.

Shuffling and dealing procedures are so important to protect everybody from everybody else and one of the key considerations when shuffling or dealing cards in a gambling situation is to ensure none of cards are accidentally or deliberately revealed.

Imagine sitting at a table while a dealer shuffles eight decks by hand, then knowing exactly what the first 10 or 12 cards are going to be. Or playing Texas Hold ‘Em and knowing whether or not you’re about to hit the flop.

How big an advantage would you have if you could deal a good card to yourself and a bad card to your opponent?

All of this without the aid of a marked deck.

The following examples presume a crooked dealer (a mechanic) working with one or more players against the balance of the table but these same moves can be used in many situations including when a cheater is working “single-o”.

From Bubbles To Greeks

The following dealer peeks are used to either gain information that could be used against other players or in conjunction with a second deal to manipulate cards into the perfect position; here we’ll look at some of the most common (and most effective) methods to get that glimpse.

The heel or “Greek Peek” is used as the dealer gestures with the left hand, which is holding the deck.

The top card is lifted at the inner left side by pressure exerted from the base of the left thumb.

There is a distinct knack to this that takes a while to accomplish but once the muscle is trained and the action reduced to a minimum, it’s possible to make multiple peeks as cards are dealt from the top of the deck.

Continuous glimpses while dealing is truly limited to a handful of experts who both know the secret and have dedicated hundreds of hours to perfecting it.

Yet the easier, single peek has proven more dangerous to players and casinos, whether used by crooked dealers to avoid busting a partner’s hand or by bust-out dealers (in the bad old days) to make sure they killed a player’s hand!

The “Bubble Peek” is more appropriate for games where the dealer is required to necktie or guard their hand when not dealing, which both protects cards from some moves but makes them more vulnerable to others.

The Bubble is so called because the left thumb pushes the top card to the right against the tips of the left finger, which prevents the card from moving and forcing the card to buckle at the outer right corner, exposing the card’s index if the deck is held at the right angle (perfectly aided by many casinos’ dealing procedure).

This is an excellent way to peek a card, but care must be taken not to leave a distinct bend in the card and the peek happens in an instant, the “Bubble” popping up and down in just a fraction of a second.

Variations on the Bubble Peek bend the cards in different directions depending on game procedure and a particularly subtle version only bends the back of the card just enough to see if the dealer has a “paint” on top (a court card), which can be more than enough information.

Left-handed dealers have their own methods for these peeks since they tend to deal from the right hand and the techniques just described would only reveal a blank corner!

Down Into The Deck

Similar moves exist to peek the bottom of the deck with the cards being slightly buckled as they’re picked up, allowing a glimpse of the bottom inside index.

Another glimpse requires the bottom card to be squeezed backwards, buckling it until the dealer can see the index; this may seem crude but performed correctly it is completely invisible to everyone but the crooked dealer.

More advanced sleights allow the dealer to catch a glimpse of any card near the top or even a card in the middle.

Players can also glimpse cards during common table procedures with a particularly devious glimpse happening under cover of a cut.

In a loose game (in terms of procedure), when the dealer passes the deck, the cheating player cuts with two hands, estimating enough cards from the bottom for all the players plus one or two more.

If the bottom card is glimpsed before the cut, the player now knows a card that’s sure to hit the flop!

The danger with such a move is the bottom glimpse (which is hard to take when other players may be watching the cut), but there’s a little-known secret called the “Shutter Peek” where the top card is lifted at the inner end as the bottom half of the deck is being slapped on top of it.

Performed correctly, the previous top card is lifted at the very instant it becomes buried under the bottom half and is only exposed for a fraction of a second.

So long as the number of cards placed on top allow for all the players plus a burn card, the glimpsed card is sure to reappear with the community cards.

The “shutter” is a fantastic move and knowing one card that’s coming in the flop is a powerful advantage but games that allow players to cut – especially with two hands – are much rarer these days.

Deeper Deceptions

These are just a handful of the most powerful and common ways to peek cards before they are dealt but when a crooked dealer is working in cahoots with players there are many more sophisticated strategies that can beat almost any game.

These methods have stolen millions from casino table games and even more from players in private games.

In my next article, “How Dealers And Players Can Work Together To Steal From The House” I’ll discuss how these simple peeks evolved to create an unbeatable advantage.

Lead image: Shutterstock

A few of these characters crossed between the world of gambling and cheating and magic.

Martin Nash was a legend in the conjuring world, and I was fortunate to spend many hours in his company.

In that time, Martin taught me a great deal and fooled me countless times with sleights and subtleties but on two occasions, I had the opportunity to the turn the tables on the old master.

It Was A Dark And Stormy Night…

It rarely rains in Los Angeles but when it does, many people choose to remain inside, especially at night.

On such a wet and windy evening at the Magic Castle in Hollywood – a private club for magicians, celebrities and wealthy supporters of the art – the showrooms were only half full and the (many) bars and corridors were mostly empty.

I found myself alone at the end of the Palace Bar, sitting at a green baize-covered table where members could perform for guests or trade secrets and ideas.

I took advantage of the quiet time to practice a move I had recently learned from a professional card cheat and was busy shuffling and dealing when Martin Nash pulled up a chair to sit down and chat.

Meet Mr. Nash

For most of you, Martin’s name will be unfamiliar but for magicians and sleight of hand enthusiasts, Martin was a legend – and deservedly so.

He was a magician and entertainer who performed under the name “The Charming Cheat” and could bring an audience to its feet with astonishing demonstrations of skill and expertise.

Martin himself was something of a mystery: In the world of magic and magicians he was a legendary figure, but he often hinted towards a shadowy other life that he rarely discussed, even with friends.

It’s possible he was nothing more than a performer who had adopted the methods of cardsharps but there was a note of guilt in his voice whenever he talked about making moves for real.

The Real Deal

I used to spend a lot of time with a gaggle of crotchety curmudgeons at the Farmer’s Market on Third and Fairfax, long before the modern Disney-like “Grove” carbuncle was built next door and the market filled with wannabes, posers, and fakers.

In the good old days, it was filled with a rogues gallery from all walks of life, including old crews from the bad old days of the Gardena Card Rooms.

Those guys thought Martin was just a pretender but when I asked if they’d even seen him in action, none of those retired railbirds had even seen a show.

Except one.

“Phil H” – a well-known former cheater (and illegal bookie) – would sometimes visit the Magic Castle to see friends and quietly enjoyed Martin’s Hollywood version of the crooked gambler and Phil once told me that Martin had “one shot” that would definitely get the money!

Sadly, I never got the skinny on what the move was or how and where (or if) Martin had ever played it.

One thing was for sure: After a career performing thousands of live shows and countless television appearances, Martin Nash’s playing days – real or imagined – were long in the past but his performing life continued until his death in 2009.

Shortly after Martin passed, magician Bob Farmer learned – while researching another project – that Martin had helped the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to catch card cheats who had been working the lumber camps in British Columbia.

Doctor Theatre

In his later years, Martin suffered multiple ailments including arthritis but whenever he stepped into the spotlight, he seemed rejuvenated and transformed and could perform expert moves effortlessly for a live audience despite being in pain.

At a convention in Sacramento, I snuck into the back of a showroom where I knew Martin would be closing the show and was surprised to find the Charming Cheat at the back of the theatre, watching the other acts.

He was clearly nervous about performing as he rubbed “Golden Touch” lotion into his hands to combat chronic dry skin and as I watched him prepare, I grew concerned that he wasn’t in any shape to execute expert sleight of hand under hot theatre lights for a room full of cynical magicians.

I needn’t have feared.

When introduced, Martin transformed before my eyes as he walked from the back of the room to the stage, smiling brighter than the light that followed him, eyes glistening and mind as sharp as a switchblade.

The show was fantastic and as always, ended with a prolonged standing ovation as Martin soaked every ounce of love from his audience.

Martin’s Challenge

There’s an enormous amount we can learn from old-school card men like Martin Nash, and the smart guys know when to stop and listen.

I was lucky to be very friendly with Martin and he would often share secrets learned over a lifetime of study.

As he joined me on that rainy night at the Castle, I was delighted to have him all to myself, but our privacy was short lived when a couple of young members – wisely spotting an opportunity to spend time with Martin Nash – joined us.

As we chatted, I continued to shuffle the deck in the hope Martin would take it and show us something but instead, he asked me to shuffle and deal a hand of five card stud to every player.

Unfortunately for Martin, I knew what was coming as I had seen him pull this trick before.

It was a few years earlier at some hotel, at some convention late at night when Martin asked someone to deal a round of stud before asking them to name the unseen hole cards.

When his victim admitted he had no idea what those cards were, Martin slammed his fist on the table and shouted, “Then what are you doing in the game?” before breaking the tense moment with that famous smile of his.

I knew I was Martin’s next victim but unfortunately for him, he couldn’t have chosen a worse time.

I did as I was asked, pitching a face down card followed by a face up card to each of the people around the table.

Martin asked me to name the cards and I immediately did so, calling all five hole cards, catching the old master completely by surprise!

He looked me dead in the eye and knew I had the jump on him – and he loved it.

He spent the next two hours sharing ideas generously but when the others were gone, he had to know how I knew those cards.

As it turned out, the move I had been practicing before he sat down was a way to peek cards as they’re being dealt; Martin literally couldn’t have chosen a worse time to “get me” with his favorite challenge and I’m glad he took it well.

This wasn’t the only time I managed to fool Martin Nash but the second time I wasn’t even in the room.

All Change

While making the film Shade where I was second unit director and expert consultant, I had developed a way to change a 5 Card Poker hand visibly while the cards were face up.

You can see the effect if you watch the opening titles of the movie, which I directed.

The method I invented allowed the performer to immediately hand the cards out for examination – a new development – and I shared it with a few friends at the Magic Castle.

Word of this effect reached Martin Nash who bumped into card expert Jason England sitting at “The Vernon Table” contemplating a terrible 5 Card Poker hand.

Martin joined him and after a few pleasantries, asked Jason if he’d seen my new effect.

Jason instantly transformed the five cards in his hand to a Royal Flush before passing the cards to Martin.

I had taught Jason the sleight earlier that week and he was practicing just as Martin arrived and asked about it!

Martin Nash was more than just a great card technician, a performer, or an expert in his field. Martin was a true gentleman cut from classic cloth.

Whether or not he was ever a cheat is moot, but he was charming to the end.

Lead image: Shutterstock

And the answer is, “Well, yes, but actually no.”

All slot machines will have a house advantage. This number is normally best defined as return to player (RTP). As the name suggests, it shows how much of each dollar wagered is returned to the player on average.

So perhaps the better question is how rigged are they?

Of course, the player is really asking if the machines are set to pay back some egregious amount on every dollar – or perhaps not pay back at all.

And the answer there is of course a resounding “no”.

Why Casinos Don’t Rig Their Machines

Casinos already basically have a license to print money issued either from the state or country they’re operating in.

Many of these licensing agencies will have a minimum RTP or payback amount that casinos will not be allowed to go under.

Not only would a casino with machines set below state minimum paybacks face huge fines or even losing their license, but they would face a huge reputational risk with the gambling public.

No one is going to want to play with a casino that has been cheating its players.

All the revenue in casinos is closely monitored by state or tribal agencies to make sure that they get their fair share in taxes; any odd variations in revenue outside what is expected will have regulators inspecting slot machines and their CPUs for irregularities.

Most of these jurisdictions publish a monthly breakdown of RTP, often by region and in some cases by the individual casino.

In these cases, a savvy slot player can get a glimpse of not only the variations in payout by different properties but even the different RTPs by bet denomination inside those properties.

While not every state or tribal venue will have a minimum RTP amount, two other factors also keep operators in these locations from setting their machines too tight.

The first is the psychology of gambling.

Players expect a certain amount of time on a machine, they expect entertainment for their gambling dollar.

A casino that doesn’t let its players win sometimes is a casino that won’t be open for long.

A good casino operator – whether limited by the law or not – will know that the longer they keep slot players in those chairs the more money they will make and the happier the customers will be.

And this goes hand in hand with the other limiting factor which is free market competition.

If a player feels they’re not getting the best value for their slot machine budget, they will vote with their feet and move to a venue that provides a better RTP.

Even casinos with little competition in their local market may lose player spend to Las Vegas or larger regional markets if they price their payback too tight.  

Nevada, which has fierce competition, has RTP rates between 90% and 94%.

Maine, which is somewhat isolated and only has two casinos, with long drives to other casino markets, has RTP rates of 89% to 94%.

This shows that even somewhat isolated markets still must price accordingly.

Why All Those Slot Myths You’ve Heard Are Really Just Myths

The other rigged slot machine question I often hear revolves around a sort of urban myth.

It’s long been believed in the slot machine community that machines in certain areas are set at a much different payback than in others.

For example, many slot players swear that machines by the front entrance or the casino cage pay better because the casino wants gamblers to see and hear people winning.

And the corollary is that machines by table games or the buffet line will have worse RTP numbers because the casino expects to be able to attract more casual players who are just playing for a few minutes.

In fact, if you talk to a dozen different serious slot players, you’re going to get 12 different PhD theses on slot machine placement and payback percentages.

But what’s the truth?

While there is not a lot of historical detail, there is no doubt that casino managers from 50 years ago placed slot machines at various payout levels, in different locations, depending on their own beliefs in what would lead to higher volume and higher hold percentage play.

But these early slots prognosticators were often dealing with only 100 machines or so; now even an average-sized casino has over 1,000. And, in some cases, as many as 4,000.

Most of these machines are ordered in large quantities, and while they may offer various pay tables, most will simply be set by the casino at the same payout as all the rest.

Not 1% higher for the end cap games and 1% lower for those in the middle of the aisle.

In speaking with slot directors today, most are far too busy to worry about individual machine placement based on even a few percent difference in RTP.

They may place certain banks of slots in certain high-visibility areas, but this is much more likely to be based on the volume of play rather than house advantage.

They will have a target RTP number for let’s say, all penny slots, and will order the machines with those pay tables that will help them meet that number.

Regulation also plays a role here. In some of the jurisdictions where I talked with slot managers, their penny games were already set at state minimum, in this case, 86% return to player.

They literally didn’t have a penny denomination game in the house that paid very much more than that.

They couldn’t very well alter machine location based on payback when almost all of them were within a percent or two of the rest.

Also, most casinos keep the difference in payouts between their highest denomination games and their lowest value denomination games in a reasonably tight spread.

5% is roughly the average between the average payback on a high denomination game vs. a penny slot, though some ultra-high denomination slots fall outside this range.

In Nevada, penny slots have an RTP of around 90%, while $5 dollar machines are around 94.5%.

This tight grouping of average payback percentages also indicates that there is little need to place machines in locations based solely on the house advantage.

All that being said, there are hundreds of slot directors just in the US. Every one of them will take a different approach to their slot floor.

Certainly, there are some that will feel placing dollar slots with higher payback, or even more likely high, high hit rates but lower jackpots near the front door makes economic sense.

But for the average gambler, the odds of there being enough of a percent difference in machines at different locations for them to even notice is a long shot bet.

It’s probably best to worry more about whether the ticket redemption machine is going to force you to wait in line for 30 minutes to get your change.

That truly does seem rigged.

The real danger from modern impostors is not someone claiming to be Sidney Poitier’s son or a lost Russian princess – it’s from scammers pretending to be your boss, your bank manager, or even your own flesh and blood.

The Communication Factor

I’ve talked about impostors before but every year, new scams appear thanks to changes in social dynamics, new technology, and new ways of working.

How we communicate often defines how an impostor operates since the ability to verify their claims should be either limited or controlled to ensure the success of a lie.

In the past, the speed of global, national, or local communications was decided by the means of conveying the mail, it might take months to find out that someone is not the brother of Wyatt Earp or a missing Romanov princess.

This meant impostors could claim almost anything without fear of being proved a liar for weeks, months or years.

As technology improved from the telegraph to the internet, impostors became more sophisticated and used increasingly clever techniques to discourage interrogation of their claims.

Social compliance, politeness and deterrence all play a factor in this kind of con game, as does the con artist’s greatest technique, which is to offer people what they really want.

The play Six Degrees of Separation illustrates this perfectly with high-society suckers all too happy to be rubbing shoulders with the son of the great actor and director, Sidney Poitier, and all too self-satisfied to properly verify the impostor’s story.

This was based on real-life serial impostor, David Hampton, who would mingle with students from Columbia University and to gain immediate credibility, he would claim that his father was the legendary movie star.

This worked so well that he was soon able to mix with the great and the good of New York where his story gained him greater access to that world and he wasn’t discovered until the dean of Columbia’s school of journalism caught Hampton in his home with another man and the Poitier story (amongst others) quickly unraveled.

This all happened in a time when people could feasibly have investigated this young man’s story and quickly learned that he was not who he claimed to be, but such was the allure of that story and the sheer audacity of his claim, few questioned it at all.

Amazingly, he even mingled with other movie stars who promptly fell under the notion that only the real son of a fellow celebrity would make such claims to them since they were essentially part of the same “community.”

Investigating further might have taken a little more effort but today any search engine could inform anyone, regardless of their celebrity status, about a person’s real family or whether they have an estranged offspring bouncing around the Big Apple.

Or maybe not.

As the internet became more accessible, smart scammers found countless ways to take advantage of its flaws.

Smart impostors made websites or updated online open-source encyclopedias in order to provide quick and easily found proof of their spurious claims.

But for the emerging criminal industry of pretenders, the key to a great impostor scam became anonymity.

The Rise Of Remote Impostor Scams

Once technology made it easier to search facts and harder to make false claims, impostor scams retreated into another, long-proven method of pretending to be who they’re not: Remote scams.

Just as letters from afar could convince a wealthy family that their long-lost son had been found on the island of Fiji 200 years ago, texts and emails became a favorite method for modern-day pretenders around the world.

Thanks to this new form of communication, scammers could target elderly relatives claiming to be their grandchildren, nephews or nieces allegedly in a situation that required money to be sent urgently.

The rise of social media made it even easier for scammers to find perfect candidates bragging about their skiing holidays with enough information in their profiles to find a victim who might pay non-existent hospital bills after falling off a non-existent cliff.

This ability to hide behind technology created a booming criminal industry of impostors pretending to be our banks or internet suppliers or computer services in order to con people out of their hard-earned cash (I’ll talk about the mechanisms used for this type of scam in another article).

Spoofing phone numbers gave immediate proof that a scammer was who they pretended to be since that number would appear on their victims’ phones as the name of someone they knew.

This has been used to fool millions of people and is still used today by bogus businesses to make incoming calls (to you) appear to be from a local number when it’s actually from a criminal call center thousands of miles away.

All of this is just the tip of the iceberg for existing impostor scams, but things are about to get a lot worse.

The Real Dangers Of Deepfakes

In movies like Face/Off and Mission: Impossible, characters can wear amazing silicone masks with miraculous voice changers taped to their neck that make them sound exactly like who they are impersonating.

In real life, this type of technology is not exactly practical in-person but used remotely, it could be devastating and thanks to modern times we are all communicating across video or voice calls that are about to become all-too-easy to fake.

Deepfake technology, where a video can be manipulated to change one person into another – even a familiar movie star or politician – has improved greatly in a short time, as has Deepfake voice software that can change anyone’s voice to sound exactly like someone else whose voice pattern and cadence has been previously analyzed.

This form of vocal impersonation is incredibly convincing and can already be transmitted live so that a con artist could contact the employee of a bank pretending to be a client or a manager that the target knows well enough to recognize their voice.

In concert with a few emails and other convincers, the scammer could then order that bank’s employee to transfer millions of dollars into the scammer’s accounts.

This sounds like it came right out of a movie but it’s already happened at least twice, with international authorities still trying to hunt down both the money and the pretenders at the other end of one such phone call.

Soon, the video version of this type of scam will happen as Deepfakes become even more sophisticated and computer processing power catches up with the idea of a live deep fake and while this will certainly be used by con artists (if it hasn’t already), the real danger to society is much greater than that.

Imagine suddenly not being able to trust your own eyes and not knowing whether who or what you see on screen is real.

Suddenly all news can be manipulated even more than it is today, video evidence will cease to be effective, and the world we’ve learned to see through the windows of our machines will cease to exist.

In the end, only the reality we experience directly might be trusted and as any magician will tell you, even reality can be distorted.

Lead image: Shutterstock

Sadly, these tend to either require a lot of work or are nothing more than fantasies based on bad math and wishful thinking.

How The Martingale Works

If you’re reading this, I’m sure you’re already familiar with the system we’re about to discuss and chances are you have an inner gambler who is convinced the system has merit for reasons I’m about to get into but first, let’s define the difference – for this article – between a gambler and a player.

A gambler relies on luck while a player relies on knowledge of the game.

Gamblers love systems like the Martingale because, frankly, they can be fun. Players, on the other hand, recognize the obvious (to them) flaws in this kind of strategy.

So here are the basics to the Martingale System:

You choose a 50/50 proposition such as red or black on a roulette table and place your initial stake on red, and if you win, you collect your winnings and repeat the bet.

That’s the easy part.

If you lose, you simply double your bet for the next spin so that if you win, you recoup your losses and have a profit equal to your initial stake.

Let’s say that again because we’ll be coming back to it in a moment:

If you lose your initial stake, you double that bet and if you win, you get back everything that you lost PLUS a profit equal to your initial bet.

If you keep losing, you keep doubling and doubling and doubling your bets until eventually red comes up and you get back all of the money you lost, plus a profit equal to your initial bet.

A “profit” equal to your “initial bet.”

That’s it.

That’s what you win no matter how many times you double your bet to chase your losses, all you will ever win is equal to that first (lowest) bet.

An Example To Demonstrate

So let’s play this out.

You bet $1 on red and you lose, so you bet $2 on the next spin and lose again.

In fact, thanks to the fickle hand of fate, you are going to lose the next 21 spins BUT you are going to win the 22nd spin, so I guarantee that if you keep playing you will eventually see the ball land in red.

So let’s keep doubling until we hit that red.

Our initial stake is $1, then we double to $2, then 4$ – $8 – $16 – $32 – $64 – $128 – $256 – $512 – $1,024 – $2,048 – $4,096 – $8,192 – $16,384 – $32,768 – $65,536 – $131,072 – $262,144 – $524,288 – $1,048,576…

So we just bet $1,048,576 and all we need to bet on that guaranteed 22^nd spin is a little less than $2.1 million dollars and we win back everything we just lost PLUS we will be ONE DOLLAR in profit.

One dollar.

One buck.

That’s what we just won for risking around $4.2 million dollars of our own money (roughly the sum of everything we lost plus our last bet, which we won).

Another Gambler’s Fallacy

Gamblers will no doubt state the chances of 21 spins without a single red appearing is extremely unlikely and I agree that it doesn’t happen often but it really does happen.

And when it does it might keep happening until you either run out of money or you run into the table limit which forbids you from doubling any more bets.

In fact, players are probably already screaming this at their screen.

No one has a limitless bankroll and if they did, no casino will let them play without a table limit to protect the house but even in the above scenario, the house only loses one dollar whenever your lucky red number finally comes up.

So why is it such a compelling idea for a system and why do people still play it?

I guess it’s fun, especially if the spread of reds and blacks is relatively “normal” since most players will win in a couple of spins and return to their initial bet.

In these scenarios, the Martingale brings seemingly guaranteed rewards until a string of losing results ultimately breaks the player’s bankroll.

And that will always happen eventually because – and I know this is going to be hard for many gamblers to believe – roulette wheels do not have a memory.

Every spin is independent of every other spin and the chances of a red or a black number coming up remains the same for each individual spin no matter how many reds or blacks preceded that spin.

The gambler can’t accept this and simply points to the long list of blacks and zeros (more about those in a moment) and believes that a red number must eventually appear and the more non-red numbers that preceded a spin must greatly improve the chances that the next number will be red.

Except – maddeningly – this is false, but the gambler’s brain often refuses to accept that.

A Stupid Way To Win

I once sat in a casino in Europe where we could monitor all the LED number displays waiting for a run of six red or black numbers before signaling players to hit the table and bet on the opposite color.

Amazingly, this tactic paid a healthy profit until we hit a period of persistent losses that would have deleted our profits had we not pulled back our bets in time.

For months afterward I would watch those same LED displays from the poker room and record how many times a run of six became a run of seven and the answer was about half the time, immediately recognizing how stupid that entire strategy would have been in the long run.

Of course, that red/black bet was never a 50/50 proposition since there is a green zero on the wheel that keeps the odds against the player; and in the US there are two zeros, making their wheels even less attractive over time.

Sure, we won a little, but the method was flawed and had we been overly distracted by our initial success we might have followed subsequent losses into an inevitable black hole.

We made a lot more (though small beans compared to well-funded teams) by identifying biased wheels, which I’ll discuss another time.

Variations

There are of course variations on the Martingale strategy that seek to improve chances and returns while supposedly addressing the weaknesses just described, but all of these are failing to defeat the casino’s mathematical advantage.

One such variation is the “Split Martingale” also known as “Labouchere,” or the now infamous “Reverse Labouchere.”

If you want to know more about the Reverse Labouchere system, it’s accompanied by a fantastic story of a little guy breaking the bank in Monte Carlo that I covered in one of my previous articles.

I don’t mean the raw numbers governing the true count, or the edge when you’re at +4 and doubling a 10 against a 6.

I mean that a good card counter will need to avoid detection for hundreds of hours in order to be profitable, but I only need to catch them once.

In today’s technological world, I can have a description, name, and facial scan sent to a dozen surrounding properties before a good card counter can even be escorted from the building.

Make a mistake once in some Indian casino in Oklahoma and the odds are good you won’t even make it to a table without being escorted out the next time you arrive in Las Vegas.

This ups the stakes because once you’re flagged for the first time, you will have a much harder time going unnoticed in the future. It may even bring your playing days to an end.

Casinos around the country subscribe to various databases and programs that help them manage counters and other advantage players.

That shared information means one misstep for a card counter can be extremely costly.

How Casinos Catch Counters

BOLOs (Be On The Look Out) or info sheets on players will not only have pictures, often from multiple angles, but also known associates and aliases.

It will have a detailed description and other identifying info like tattoos.

Many casinos use Car Tag Readers to let them know when certain VIP guests arrive or just to keep track of who enters and exits the garage or parking area, so don’t be surprised if some of that data is also on file.

Typically, these are sent out regionally, or to casinos that have information-sharing agreements between their surveillance departments, but the info is still widely available to be searched by name, description, or the like by any casino that subscribes to the databases.

All of this is often combined with facial recognition software which means many known counters are unlikely to even make it to a table before management intervenes and asks them to leave.

Most casinos will simply not take a chance on letting someone identified by another casino as a card counter play on their tables, though some will allow a player a little leeway so that they can make their own determination.

In the medium to large casinos I’ve worked, it’s not unusual to walk three or four counters a week off the property.

I’m sure the number is much, much higher at certain Las Vegas properties known for their advantageous rules, and deck penetration.

Literally four out of five of those I walk off the casino floor will have been identified off a BOLO. They messed up once and now we have got them again.

But the fact of the matter is, counting cards is a mathematical game. You can only change your play so much before it erodes all your profit.

Some ways of playing are unavoidable.

And that’s what we look for.

The Math That Gives Counters An Edge Is Also Used To Catch Them

Card counting is at its heart a very simple proposition.

Bet more when the remaining cards are in your favor and bet less, or sometimes don’t bet at all, when they are not.

The trick of course is that the casino also knows when the remaining cards are in your favor.

My personal favorite tell is the insurance/16 against a 10 rule. These two play deviations make up almost 40% of the advantage one can achieve through basic strategy deviation.

You can’t escape the math. If you want to make money, these are the two plays you can’t fudge.

Basic strategy says you must hit a 16 against a 10, but the index count for changing that strategy is basically zero.

If the deck is even slightly positive in 10 cards you need to stand. If you stand on 10 against a 16 with big bets out there (a high positive count), you will have my attention.

If you also then sit on 16 when you have table minimums bets out there, I’ll be reaching for the phone.

The same is true of insurance.

While most average players have learned their lesson about insurance being a terrible bet, all counters know that they must insure their hand at a +3 true count.

This leaves them in the unenviable spot of having to sometimes take insurance with a 12 and skip even money when they have a blackjack.

Both are must-make bets for a counter to be successful long term.

And both leave a counter extremely noticeable to anyone trained to look, but there are just as many other tells that will give a counter up.

The following all draw quick attention:

• Reducing your bet to your minimum bet size after the shuffle
• Pulling back all of a blackjack payoff or a tie bet
• Never tipping
• Leaving the table to take a phone call or use the bathroom when the count goes very negative.

Demeanor can also be a giveaway and get you noticed, such as:

• Watching the cards too closely
• Not drinking
• Not conversing with dealers or guests
• Nervous or furtive behavior
• Very precise with chips and/or cards.

But of course, the biggest hurdle is getting more money in the betting circle without bringing down the house.

To be truly effective, you will need to bet somewhere between 12x to 16x your lowest wager when the count goes higher in a shoe game.

That means a player who starts off betting a $100 a hand, and who will stay betting that same $100 a hand for more than 70% of their play, must sometimes be able to get a $1,000 or even $1,500 bet out on the layout.

And ideally more.

Players have come up with many ingenious methods to try and disguise this bet spread.

But no matter the story, no matter the reason, this kind of bet spread will draw attention.

And then we will have someone counting down the shoe and rating their play, whether it’s another trained counter or, more and more often, a computer program.

If players do get away with it for an extended period, it’s because the dealer or the floor didn’t do their job.

Ideally, when a dealer sees that kind of bet spread, they will say something like “checks play,” which usually means something like “this person just suddenly started betting a lot more than they were.”

That is to alert the floor to large bet spreads so that they can relay that on up the chain.

As you can see, there are many, many ways a card counter can be tripped up. They are literally constrained by the math that makes all of this work.

And as soon as they’re outed once, it becomes incrementally harder to get away unnoticed the next time.

It was exactly these constraints that made for the team play that was immortalized by Hollywood in movies like 21.

The Old Bait And Switch

The premise of the “big player” attack was simple. Skilled counters could watch games, and continue to flat bet, but call big players in when the count was high enough.

These players would bounce from table to table, only playing when the count was high.

This meant it was hard for casinos to spot the real counters; they remained camouflaged on their games, and since the big player was only betting large amounts of money each hand, it didn’t call into question the bet spread.

Often the big player would assume a theatrical role to lend some credence to their often odd and erratic behavior to lessen suspicion even more.

While it seems unlikely 30 years later, these teams would take Las Vegas and other casino jurisdictions for millions.

? How The MIT Blackjack Card Counting Team Beat The House

The solution was simple yet costly.

Casinos would only allow new players on a table to bet a maximum of $100 until the new shoe.

It stopped this attack in its tracks, but at the cost of casinos telling millions of guests that they couldn’t place large bets until after the shuffle.

Some argued that the remedy was worse than the malady, but it did put an immediate end to that particular loophole in the casino’s counter defenses.

Many of these rules have been relaxed now as casinos have gotten better at knowing what to look for and mining databases of players to find connections between seemingly unrelated players has become exponentially easier.

Working In Teams

One of the best team plays I’ve seen involved a group of five or six players who at first seemed unrelated, who often bet erratically and didn’t seem to pay close attention to the count.

They would position sometimes two but mainly three players on a table and take turns keeping the count while the others engaged in conversation.

They would signal the count using chip stacks, and while each member’s bets might not follow the count, the team’s as a whole would.

They would also disguise play this way, with smaller bets on larger counts not always matching the index deviations.

They were eventually only discovered when some of our dealers noticed them on multiple occasions playing at other casinos in the same cohesive groups which caused us to reevaluate their play.

Once we knew they were a team, we could see the bets and play move with the count in total, instead of through one individual’s actions.

While team play can slow down a casino’s efforts to identify counters, it is still constrained by the need to put large bets out only when the count is high.

And ideally, the ability to play that hand in a very defined way, though large enough bet spreads can make up for some of that.

As a long-ago shift manager once told me about game protection, “The money will always tell the story.”

And that’s as true today as it was 30 years ago.

The math that makes blackjack beatable and card counters successful is exactly the hook that we use to catch them.

What To Bear In Mind If You Plan To Count Cards

For those still intent on card counting, there are a few important considerations. The first thing is to remember that the age of the MIT teams or the Hyland Group are gone.

The money laundering laws and know-your-customer regulations post 9/11 did more to end counters and count teams than all of the casinos’ efforts combined.

Big money bets now mean filling out W-9s and tax paperwork. Identification, and even sometimes occupation, are verified through databases.

The same types of databases that casinos and the government look for to fight money laundering can be used to look for counters and count teams.

They often uncover relationships that might not have been visible to the human eye.

This means you need to manage expectations; the big bets won’t be as big, and the payouts will need to be smaller.

If you’re a lone player, it’s going to be more of a grind. Teams will need to adapt to the new rules on the ground.

Asymmetrical team play – where individual bets and even index plays may not match the count, but the overall money at risk and play does – can be very effective.  The trick is not to overuse the same players at any one property.

Another way some teams have adjusted is by finding players with long histories with casinos, especially losing histories, and recruiting them. The casinos will have done their due diligence and won’t be as alert to the high action.

Others have recruited wealthy business owners or tech execs that might look like the exact type of player that the casinos are marketing to and can withstand a quick background check.

Counters will also want to pay close attention to the many other various advantage plays that are possible in casinos, from excess free play on electronic table games and badly designed promotions, to tournaments and giveaways – and many others.

EV (expected value) can be gained in many different ways to help offset lower betting spreads.

Using all of the possible ways to extract value has a long and sometimes hilarious history in the tales of counters.

From rummage sales of merchandise bought with comp points, to using porn stars to induce dealer errors, many players have gone the extra mile when attempting to gain the advantage.

Don Johnson is one of those. He beat Atlantic City and Vegas for millions not just due to his superb counting skills, but by scaping the battlefield before he ever sat down to play.

By using counting, confusion, and badly designed casino cashback, he won against casinos that should have known better by being better prepared and having a mathematically sound plan – a plan that just happened to include porn stars.

A New Day

One slip-up or one mistake that draws attention to your play or your team’s play can be disastrous with the speed of information and depth of data available now.

Players must be more cautious, measured, and smart.

Situational awareness is very important. Watch pit personnel (especially when they go to a phone) and pay attention to furtive glances or whispered conversations in your area. Don’t panic, just flat bet.

If I come over and move the cut card up, or tell the dealer to shuffle and you run, surveillance will be rewinding your play.

Counting cards for fun and profit hasn’t come to an end just yet. Though truly, technology will probably bring about its demise in the next five or 10 years.

I’m sure there are individuals and teams out there making lots of money. But I’m also sure they would tell you that it’s just not as simple and fun as it used to be.

That being said, there’s something about pitting your wits and imagination against a determined foe, that will always probably draw the hustlers and the dreamers to take their shot at bringing down the house.

And that’s just fine. It keeps me employed.

? 6 Reasons Why You Should Never Count Cards

Not real truth: Selected, approved, manipulated and fabricated truth that will engulf each of us from all directions.

The digital age creates new opportunities and presents new dangers to all who engage with information online and as more countries come to rely on the internet for entertainment, commerce, financial security, and news, this ethereal platform on which billions have come to depend will become increasingly deceptive and manipulative.

In this article, I’m going continue my reflection on how increasingly difficult it has become to avoid being deceived, controlled, and manipulated in the modern world but in particular, how something that in theory was meant to unite us, has in fact divided us.

Ideological Tilt

Gamblers know the dangers of going into tilt where, on a rush of confidence or despair, enormous bankrolls can easily be lost on foolhardy bets made in moments of panic or misplaced certainty.

We’ve all experienced it ourselves from time to time in our daily lives and with honest reflection, we might recognize where we strayed from balanced decisions to reflex reactions.

At the poker table, bad decisions by opponents can be provoked or anticipated by experienced players using psychology and long-proven tactics that capitalize on a multitude of scenarios and this is extremely similar to how a professional con artist manipulates their victims.

As I’ve stated many times, if I know what you want, I can take everything you have but if I know what you think, I can easily shape how you think.

At the most basic level, this is how scams work but it’s also the secret to politics, propaganda, and population control.

One of the enormous downsides to social media has been the ease with which we have become polarized to one worldview or another thanks to algorithms that learn what we like in order to feed us even more of the same, until we find ourselves living inside information bubbles of our own making.

As a result, it has become increasingly easy for people to go on ideological tilt where anything that challenges their worldview is immediately (and sometimes violently) rejected.

For those who seek to divide and control large numbers of people, this is a Godsend and as technology has evolved, so have the tools that influence us.

Conspiracy Theories

One person’s truth is another’s conspiracy and as we navigate online platforms we find ourselves constantly dissected into various “us and them” categories.

Democrat or Republican? Are you vaccinated? Are you for or against the latest thing? Do you like Marmite?

The moment you can be accurately categorized, you become subject to an online barrage of positive or negative bias depending on where and with whom you choose to engage.

Even now, readers will be trying to nail down my personal affiliations, unaware they are following their own internal tilt mechanisms to decide how to interpret this article.

This isn’t about my personal preferences (or yours) it’s about the weapons being levelled to keep us in a state of perpetual ideological conflict.

Beyond Likes And Shares

Social media has been the most powerful new force for mass influence since the invention of the printing press and as engagement with platforms increases, so does global dependence.

The more we feed these beasts, the more we are labeled, separated and ultimately, controlled.

Much has been written about how historic events such as Brexit have been influenced by firms like Cambridge Analytica, but the tactics employed by that company have not been diminished by exposure; instead, their methods have been refined and better concealed.

The version of ourselves we present to social media helps software gauge our preferences then shape what we see and therefore influence how we think about what we see.

It’s entirely possible to influence two very different people in different ways to provoke the same outcome in both cases.

Equally, it’s possible to amplify the opinions of one group and suppress the feelings of another simply by adjusting who gets more coverage on selected platforms.

If you can’t change an undesirable opinion, you can at least smother it, isolate it, discredit it, and ultimately neuter it through multiple methods of data control.

A powerful method used to disarm any piece of data is to control the data that surrounds it.

Let’s say you post something that disagrees with an online majority and your post gets a little traction or even goes viral.

There are several ways to discredit your opinion either by prioritizing dissent and surrounding your post with opposing views or by linking your post to extremists and radicals, thereby attracting a horde of equally radical and extremist opinions from the other side.

Quickly, your post – even if it was the absolute truth – is tainted by the support of extremists and smothered by the voices of opposition.

Best of all, almost any revelation can be dismissed by characterizing it as conspiracy theory or right-wing or left-wing or racist or sexist – or all of the above.

Many times, there’s truth to this but there are lots of crazy conspiracies flying around; all one needs to do is associate an inconvenient fact with some seemingly similar nonsense and you can quickly and easily quash anything anyone tries to say.

These tactics are all right out of the con artist playbook and have now become so common that if the Watergate scandal story broke today, it would be old news in a day and respond into a dozen versions, each casting doubt on the other until the majority obediently dismiss it and anyone still pushing the story sounds like a nut.

The Trunami

But what exactly is “absolute truth” and can it ever exist on social media?

Truth has become so flexible that objective facts are now easy to dismiss with opinions and lived experiences.

Meanwhile, opportunities for deception multiply exponentially whenever truth becomes a subjective idea rather than an objective reality.

Whenever truth can be shaped to individual desires and preferences, we all become easy targets for manipulative mass media, online scammers, and more sophisticated con artists.

One thing I believe is certain: A deluge of malformed, carefully tailored truth is coming and will almost certainly drive a deeper wedge between us.

AI: Artifice And Information

Artificial Intelligence is evolving at a frightening rate.

Perhaps not to a level of consciousness but certainly to a level of practical application where it can be employed to make decisions on our behalf or, more worrying still, to make judgements that impact us on a daily basis.

AI can now create impressive works of “art” by processing words and selected criteria to make something that might easily hang in a museum or a house in the Hollywood Hills but it can also generate pages of text according to some simple inputs that can be used for websites, blogs or even articles like this one.

What should frighten us all is how untethered software can shape how we see the world and how we engage with each other. 

Soon, poorly conceived AI will be recognized as a root cause of society’s widening algorithmic divide but will it be improved to lessen such divisions or fine-tuned to divide and conquer?

AI is yet to emulate my personal grammatical glitches or naive writing style or my writer’s voice but given enough samples, it could do a pretty good job of faking something that seems to be written by me in the same way it can conjure an image of a juggling dog on a skateboard painted by Van Gogh.

I’ll explore how these advances in technology and software impact us financially (both in life and gaming) in a future article.

In the meantime, I like to listen to Bill Hicks who observed that news networks feed their audience a constant menu of “war, famine, death” while outside his own windows, all was peaceful except for a few crickets chirping in the grass.

I know things are bad in some parts of the world and may get worse or better and I know I can do something sometimes while others can make no difference at all.

What’s damaging is the constant flow of uninterrupted noise that keeps each of us concerned and engaged instead of looking outside our own windows to enjoy whatever peace we are fortunate to have.

For similar articles by this author, discover how your biases affect truth and why you need to act like a poker player to avoid being deceived.

One story that I would love to tell has been filmed before but in my opinion remains an untapped source for a brilliantly funny, suspenseful adventure featuring a gang of English middle-class misfits breaking the bank of an iconic European casino.

This is what they did, how they did it, and why it hasn’t happened since.

Meet Norman Leigh – The Mastermind

In my version of this story, Norman Leigh would be straight out of an Ealing comedy casting book – a mixture of Alistair Sims, Sir John Mills and Bill Nighy.

An English gentleman with a plan to beat casinos on the continent with a seemingly ingenious twist on an old betting strategy.

To realize this plan, Norman placed an ad in the newspaper that attracted the interest of a dozen characters who could each be found in a usual suspects line-up of 1960s English society.

This included an undercover policeman who believed the scheme might be some kind of con or a fraud against the gambling establishment but soon discovered that Norman’s idea was perfectly legal and seemingly, a sure-fire way to beat the casinos at their own game.

He was so convinced that he took a leave of absence and joined Norman’s team!

The game was roulette, and the system was the “Reverse Labouchere.”

It’s Pronounced “La-Boo-Share”

First, let’s start with the Labouchere system that is relatively simple to understand but do bear with me as it can seem more complicated than it actually is.

This type of system is designed for (almost) 50/50 type bets like red/black on the roulette table.

The player starts with a series of numbers which can be as short as three digits, but longer strings can be used with some gamblers insisting certain combinations offer better odds (I would advise you to ignore this because – ultimately – the flaws in such systems remain the same).

So let’s say you write down a string of digits as follows: 1-2-3.

The sum of these digits is 6, and that’s the amount you should expect to win if this plays out in your favor.

To play, you must always bet the sum of the first and last digits in your string.

In this case it is 1 + 3, which means the first bet is $4.

The rules are that if you LOSE that bet you add the amount of the bet to the end of your string of digits, which would become 1-2-3-4.

This would continue for each loss, the next bet being $5 (1 + 4 – the sum of first and last digit) adding the number 5 to the end of your string should you lose.

But what if you win?

When you win, you delete the first and last numbers and then add the first and last remaining numbers of your string of digits.

Let’s say you win the third bet, which was a $6 bet since 1 and 5 were the first and last digits after losing the second bet.

You now delete the first and last digits (the 1 and the 5) leaving you with 2-3-4 as your remaining string.

And so it continues until your string of numbers is erased by enough wins (if you get down to just one digit remaining of your string – that’s the amount you bet).

In the end, if you erase all your digits, your profit will equal the sum of the digits in your initial string.

I told you it would seem complicated but play with this for a few imaginary bets (maybe toss a coin and bet heads and tails with this system) and you’ll see that it’s really quite simple.

So long as you don’t hit a long series of losses, you can absolutely make your target amount (the sum of your initial string of numbers) providing you have deep enough pockets to increase your bets whenever you lose.

In this sense, it’s really just a version of the Martingale and can be both fun to play and deceptively effective over time.

But, just like the Martingale, it’s primarily a betting strategy; not a playing system that offers any kind of advantage against the house.

Playing The Reverse

Norman Leigh’s preferred version was called the ‘Reverse Labouchere’ because it increased bets when the player won and decreased bets when they lost.

As with the Labouchere, the Reverse requires players to write down or mentally track a string of numbers.

Like the Labouchere, bets are decided by adding the first and last digits of the string but here you will add your winning bets to the end and delete the first and last digits when you lose – the exact opposite of the method dictated by the Labouchere.

So if you lose the first two bets, the string is deleted and you either begin again with a fresh string (in our example, 1-2-3) or leave the table.

If you win, however, you add the winning bet to the end (1-2-3-4) and then bet again by adding the first and last digits ($5).

Continue until you reach a pre-determined profit, at which point you either retire from the table or start a fresh string (1-2-3) and pocket your winnings from that round of play.

In effect, it is a money management system similar to that of gambling legend Nick The Greek whose book “Gambling Secrets of Nick The Greek” amounted to “bet more when you’re winning and less when you’re losing”!

The 13 players who descended upon Nice, France, and Monte Carlo, Monaco, were also able to increase the amount being risked, since Norman’s bankroll was distributed between the players who were essentially hiding in plain sight.

And did it work?

Did Norman and his 12 cohorts defeat the casinos?

You bet they did!

Norman and his dapper dozen broke the bank at Monte Carlo and Norman was quickly blacklisted, despite the casino having no idea what he was doing to beat their games.

If they had known – and had they been smart – they should have given Norman and his crew free rooms for a fortnight and watched them blow back every penny that they’d previously won thanks to pure luck.

Here’s the rub:

The Reverse Labouchere doesn’t change the odds, it only limits your losses.

But if you keep playing, those losses will add up and while the same system increases returns during a winning streak the only way to benefit from that is to stop playing, which they did – only thanks to the casinos shutting them all down!

What About That Movie?

Other than a dry TV Mini-series, the adventures of Norman Leigh are best presented in his book “Thirteen Against The Bank” and I’d rather you read that than spoil all the details for you here.

It would make a fantastic comedy adventure for anyone who owns the rights and can raise the budget; there’s a fantastic story to be told but there’s one factor many neglect to mention in the telling: That it’s never been repeated.

Martingale-type systems chase ever-increasing losses until stopped by the table limit or a player’s limited bankroll.

Such losses can be a lot more than players might imagine thanks to the nature of random outcomes and the fact that gambling devices have no memory, so it is entirely possible for a 50/50 outcome not to occur after dozens of fair rolls, spins or turns.

The same can be true for a series of wins and in the case of Norman Leigh and his assault on Monte Carlo, he was simply the benefactor of a terrific run of luck that was halted before the tide could turn the other way as it always, always does.

That being said, in my movie, the ending would be better…

Not every opportunity is a new one, of course, and during a recent lunch in a Glasgow pub, I spotted an accidental vulnerability that might give a dishonest gambler the opportunity to repeat a very old scam that usually requires a great deal more work.

Real Hustle On The Wire

During our time filming The Real Hustle, one of the main challenges presented to us (by being on the BBC) was that any scam we staged had to be something that had really happened.

Many con games are based on principles that can be adapted or applied to countless situations so often, our hands were tied in terms of creativity where a true con artist would be free to innovate however they please.

Thankfully, we earned a little latitude over time since many old con games were now redundant in their original forms yet still applicable to the modern world.

In fact, technology and innovation had created many more opportunities for old scams to remain both feasible and profitable to contemporary scammers.

So it was with the old wire scam: A con game where the mark was made to believe they had an unbeatable advantage due to some flaw in the communications network of the time – such as the telegram system or “wire” – and were convinced to buy stocks or make bets based on early access to results that were seemingly being delayed on their way to legitimate banks or betting establishments.

You may remember this scam from The Sting where con artists Hooker and Gondorff built a “Big Store” scam in which they built and ran an entirely bogus underground sportsbook filled with fellow con artists eager to take down Robert Shaw playing evil crime boss, Doyle Lonnegan.

Hustlers Are Ahead Of The Pack

In the movie, Donegan was convinced by a western union clerk – actually another hustler “borrowing” a legitimate clerk’s office – that he could delay the results of any horse race then relay the winner to Donegan in time for him to make a bet on a race that had already been won.

If you haven’t seen the movie, add it to your list immediately – I envy you your first viewing!

The principle at work in this con is the simplest of betting scams or cheating advantages – knowing the outcome before making or taking a bet.

This applies to so many betting scams, such as “The Flipper” who could make a coin land any way he liked but his real money was made from knowing the outcome of a legitimate coin toss then selectively taking bets on the supposedly unknown outcome, thereby skimming the losses to always be in profit.

So any situation where a hustler can know, predict or force the outcome is a powerful, unbeatable edge that only needs a fresh supply of suckers to keep the money rolling in.

An Unbeatable Edge

When we orchestrated a time delay for The Real Hustle, we set up an event in a London pub and used results obtained from a legitimate live event (dog racing) to set up a simple wire where we conned people in various ways, including a sucker who thought he was in on it but ended up losing all his cash to us.

As with The Sting, we manipulated the mark to believe they couldn’t lose then fed them bad information so they would blow their entire bankroll on a big bet (secretly losing to us) for apparently making a mistake which was carefully engineered in advance.

In The Sting, you’ll see how Lonnegan was fooled in a similar way and that method was actually drawn from the king of wire scams, “Yellow Kid” Weil whose methods I will discuss in a later article.

In order to make this scam work we had to delay the live broadcast of those races, which required a little technology and some distraction to build the delay over time until the crowd had no idea they were a couple of minutes behind the real world.

One would think that modern technology would prevent this and in fact it would under most circumstances.

The delay we orchestrated in the pub would have been quickly detected had people used their phones in the same way they do today but at that time, online services were not so advanced, and we were also able to limit phone use through the rules of the event that people were attending.

These rules were convenient for us and necessary because of the limitations of our filming options but if one were to repeat that scam for real, they’d have to deal with phone-use in other – less legal – ways.

Back to that pub in Glasgow.

Taking Advantage Of A Natural Delay

So here I am in 2022, sitting in a pub with multiple screens showing the same live horse race broadcast for customers who were constantly in and out of the pub to visit the bookies next door and after a while, something caught my attention: The footage on the pub’s televisions were not exactly synced.

In fact, they were off by over one second.

Curious, I took my phone and checked the live results, which told me the winner of the race more than 30 seconds before the race being watched in the pub was over!

I spent the next hour ignoring my friends while watching other customers and tracking each race to see if the delay persisted – and it did.

I surmised that the delay is inherent to however the footage is received and then distributed to multiple screens.

In other words, I had discovered a potential ‘natural’ wire scam!

Of course, I didn’t take advantage of this advantage (sadly!) but I spent a few days considering how a con artist might use this type of opportunity and concocted several feasible methods to make use of that delay.

Free from the shackles of network rules and regulations, I came up with a completely workable con game that could place a suitable mark in a situation where they might lose a lot more than a few small bets at the bookies.

I’d love to share the details but I’m not in the habit of giving scammers fresh fish.

Suffice to say, though, that the opportunity definitely exists in one pub on the west end of Glasgow and is sure to exist in many other locations.

Wire scams are inherently difficult, precisely because they require a lot of effort to manipulate technology such as a telegram relay buried in the desert in 1902, a seemingly live satellite feed or a cloned website on a sucker’s phone but modern communications are far from perfect and people’s faith and reliance on that technology could make any “found advantages” extremely profitable in the wrong hands.

What’s amazing to me (and should be of concern to you) is that while technology can protect gamblers who seek to verify the conditions of a betting situation, it also offers hustlers the chance to spot potential scams just waiting to be taken advantage of.

If you enjoyed this, check out this author’s other piece on the scams that were forbidden on “The Real Hustle.”

Many players are fascinated by how games can be beaten both legally and otherwise, which is a good thing but a few would tell war stories about being cheated by casinos and would ask my opinion on a variety of circumstances.

In each case, I had one question that would tell me exactly how likely it was that they (or anyone) had been, or could be cheated, by a casino:

“Where is it?”

Location, Location, Location

If you’re traveling somewhere and are invited to (or discover) a local casino without doing a little research on that country, its laws and reputation, then you might be walking into a trap designed to snare unwary foreigners.

Illegal and unregulated casinos can look remarkably convincing.

Once inside, though, you could just as easily be in a garage on the outskirts of town since many victims are already “in their cups” before being offered the chance to play by a local roper (a con artist tasked with attracting potential marks to a crooked game or scenario).

These establishments are often card rooms or perhaps one or two table games crammed into a garage or apartment.

But equally, very casino-like interiors and exteriors have been known to be operating completely outside the law even though they look and feel a lot like a miniature version of Las Vegas or Macau.

If your bad-beat story starts in a country or region that isn’t known for well-regulated gambling houses and features such classic story beats as “I was pretty drunk,” “he or she was really attractive,” or “I woke up in hospital/in a ditch/back in my room and had no idea how I got there,” then you might have been rolled in a country where secret or hidden casinos operate outside of local laws and are as likely to be scam factories as they are gaming houses.

In these clip-joints, you can expect to be cheated either by outright manipulation of the game or crazy-bad odds that will clean out any bankroll in a fraction of the time of a legitimate casino.

What about under the bright lights of gambling meccas like Las Vegas, Atlantic City or Macau?

These cities depend on their image as a place to gamble, see great shows or live the high life inside big, gaudy, neon-lit hotels that attract millions of players a year to risk their money and chance their luck.

Any proof of foul play might damage an entire city’s reputation in one wave of bad news or social media so naturally, their games are controlled and policed from all sides.

Imagine a big-name casino being caught dealing seconds, loading dice or stripping decks to fleece their customers.

The scandal would be enormous and the collateral damage to other establishments would be unacceptable.

The Bad Old Days  

It wasn’t always that way.

The history of Las Vegas features owners who turned a blind eye to managers and dealers who might shift the odds on a lucky player to avoid a major loss on their shift.

As the connection between criminal enterprises and Las Vegas casinos was broken, house cheaters became a thing of the past but before that transition, big winners might have found their hot run of good luck being reversed by a change of dealer.

Bust-out dealers were career cheaters who crossed to the other side of the table.

Their job was to work their magic on behalf of the house whenever necessary and would often work as pit bosses, occasional honest dealers or even remain on-call should a lucky whale start to hurt the numbers.

The smart bust-out artists knew how to make a game turn gradually and keep a player on the line until he or she had played back and lost everything they’d won.

Second deals and slug controls were often used to control what cards hit and what missed but from the moment they arrived at the table, odds were no longer a factor.

Worst of all, there was always the chance of a “Micky Finn” being dropped into a player’s drink to keep them playing, while making them easier to manipulate and less likely to make good decisions!

Some managers simply culled-out high cards from the deck or shoe and let worse-than-fair odds do the damage for them but once the corporations had taken over, the tide turned against these practices though it may have taken longer than some would admit.

While the name on the sign may have changed, the same tags on the floor remained the same so it took a gradual shift in perspective (and culture) to stop staff from protecting their bottom line with bottom deals.

Today, we are a couple of generations past those days and while there are still dealers and managers who remember the bad old days of cheating and stealing, they know that the eye in the sky is protecting the house from all threats foreign and domestic.

If a player wins too much, p*sses off the pit boss or is an asshole to their dealers, no one is calling an 80-year-old, bust-out man out of retirement.

The numbers will do their work if you can keep the sucker at the table and a few sh*tty cocktails will shift his game into reverse without the need for slipping them a Mickey.

As time went on, the value of reputation convinced bosses that this might hurt their business in the long run and cheating customers became unnecessary once the house began to trust their mathematical advantage.

Bias Confirmed

A run of great cards or a fantastic roll of the dice has to end sometime.

Just because the dealer’s changed, it doesn’t mean that sudden shift in fortune is down to anything that interfered with the natural outcome of the game.

It may seem like the cards are always against you or that you always seem to hit a bad run of luck when some dealer, manager or other player arrives, but most of that is just the human brain making connections that don’t really exist.

If you happen to believe in luck, coincidence and the fickle hand of fate then perhaps these events or influences might fit your worldview but that doesn’t mean or prove anything illegal or sneaky was necessary to bump your bankroll back into the red.

So, if you really did get cheated by a casino, it’s all about where you chose to risk your money (and potentially, your good health).

The same is true online, though that’s a discussion for another day.

None of this goes to say or prove it might never happen in places like Las Vegas or Macau but if reputation is obviously important to a city, state or country, and gambling is closely guarded by the law as well as the owners of a casino, chances are excellent the only danger to your purse is what and how you play.

These methods are seemingly simple, innocuous or – as they are often described – subtle, but they can have a powerful effect on the decisions we make in all walks of life.

In this article, I’m going to describe the lessons I learned selling a deck of magic cards where the real art proved to be how people were being manipulated.

Let’s Go Back In Time

In the late 1980s, I found myself employed by a rather odd little man who set up “Svengali” pitches around the UK using young people – often magicians – as pitchmen for a deck of cards that could perform multiple astonishing card tricks that were then offered for sale at an inflated price.

I stumbled into this job thanks to a fellow magic performer who connected me.

After a brief audition period, I was shipped from Glasgow in Scotland to Newcastle in the north of England where I was installed in Fenwick Department Store to gather crowds, amaze them with these magical cards, then hit them with a carefully-designed sales pitch.

In fact, I was pretty lousy at this from the outset and my sales were so noticeably poor that my boss returned after my first week and secretly watched me work.

Later, he explained a few hard truths to me, the most disappointing of which was that my sleight of hand skills were hurting my bottom line!

The way he put it was that the real skill was in making ordinary people believe they could perform these miracles merely by buying the special cards and to convince them I had no unusual abilities or experience beyond what the trick deck of cards provided.

In other words: Stop showing off and act like your hands are all thumbs.

Hide Your Skill, Appear Normal

This approach, combined with a strict adherence to my employer’s proven sales patter worked wonders and my sales rocketed from almost nothing to being one of his better pitches.

But when he returned a few weeks later to chop money and catch up, he offered more advice on how to increase sales with a few subtleties designed to open people’s purses and wallets.

My sales improved overall but more interestingly, I saw greater consistency in my pitches; whereas I might have the occasional no-sale pitch, almost every pitch I gave after adopting those psychological tricks paid off, so my confidence soared.

One of those little tricks was incredibly simple in principle and amazingly effective in practice.

Subtle Doesn’t Mean Weak

These “little tricks” seemed (at first) too subtle to really work but were in fact, extremely effective.

I would begin by building a crowd, which is not as easy as it sounds.

Any street performer will tell you that making people gather to watch their show is one of the hardest skills to master but keeping that audience can be even harder!

For a pitch at a table in a store or a mall, I could work for five or 50 people but only if I could command their attention from the beginning to the end, otherwise the whole exercise would be pointless.

A trick I was taught to attract people to my table was to simply begin the scripted pitch for nobody!

That’s right: Just start talking and performing and hope that people will come.

And people did come.

Once one person had stopped to watch, another would stop and another and soon I would have enough to bring them all closer and form a mini audience that never failed to attract even more people behind them.

As soon as I had maneuvered people to “see better” and formed the beginnings of my crowd, I would begin the pitch all over again, exactly where I started when I was alone at the table.

This worked because people are naturally curious but also reluctant to engage with strangers or feel exposed to unwanted sales pressure.

The key to success was to present what I was doing as a show – NOT a sales pitch – and to keep reminding people that the show was “free”.

I soon learned that these potential customers would quickly walk away if I came at them too quickly with the pitch, so the second phase was a performance framed as a demonstration of this amazing deck of playing cards that could somehow read minds, or make cards vanish or reappear entirely thanks to its remarkable – but secret – properties.

And once people saw what those cards could do, they would be hooked just enough to see how they worked.

And if they stayed to see how they worked, they would stay to hear the pitch.

And during this pitch a final psychological trick was used to trap even the most cynical of buyers into a sale.

A Simple Psychological Trick

Having brought a crowd of strangers this far, it would be a waste of my time to let them leave without buying whatever I was pitching but this can be a delicate moment in any pitch of this nature.

The price (at the time) was quite high.

In fact, that same deck of magic cards could be purchased from any magic shop for a fraction of the price, but my employer had stacked the end of the pitch with several psychological weapons that when used correctly, made it very hard for people to resist.

It was all about perceived value.

First, I would perform two other tricks during my pitch using their own special packets of cards and quite often, these tricks would attract attention from certain types of people who wanted to perhaps win some money in a bar (with a special version of Three Card Monte) or read someone’s minds (with a classic but easy mentalism feat) but these additional tricks were never for sale.

Instead, they were included in a package that I would collate at the end of the pitch.

After demonstrating the cards, I would introduce a large box that looked like a jumbo deck of playing cards and into that box I would place the (ordinary sized) cards I had just performed with   and then I would toss in the Monte trick and the Mind Reading trick as “bonuses” before closing the box and placing several identical jumbo boxes on the table.

Only once I added all of that “value” did I tell them the price.

While this was truly effective, it had a fatal flaw because the pitch was over and the product was still in my hands.

People could (and would) still walk away but thanks to one of the most powerful subtleties my employer shared with me, sales more than doubled and fewer people left my table without a box of those cards!

Imagine that – one little “trick” that doubled my profits, overnight.

What was it?

It’s so simple, I still have trouble believing it was so damned effective.

After introducing the boxes and adding the “package”, I would hand out those boxes instead of placing them on the table and would comment on the size and weight and what a fantastic gift this “magic set” would make.

In fact, I later came up with the idea of wrapping several boxes complete with a bow and placing those behind me!

At the end of my pitch, I would also hand out a wrapped box and this served to convince even the most dubious of people to buy!

Why these little touches work so well, I am not qualified to say but they were so effective that I see variations employed everywhere from a car showroom to an online app store or a website that seems to go on forever without revealing the price of a product but subtly describing all the amazing benefits of their product.

And because casinos have millions of dollars laying around on their tables and in their slots, these aren’t like the rules at Monopoly that maybe you can bend when no one is watching.

First off, someone is always watching. Modern casinos have thousands of cameras and dozens of surveillance staff.

Second, those friendly guys in suits behind the table may be all too happy to make you a player’s card or comp you with a meal.

But their first job is to closely watch the games and the dealers in their section to enforce the policies and procedures the casino has put in place to safeguard all that money.

The list below isn’t all rules, some of it is just common casino courtesy, but it should at least give you some idea of what is expected on the casino floor.

Every member of the casino staff is used to new guests, and they are going to politely explain what’s expected if something does go wrong.

1. Don’t Have Your Cell Phone Out

This one goes back to times before cell phones, when casinos didn’t want you taking pictures on the casino floor.

Partly this was about security and not wanting people casing the joint.

But it was also because the rich and famous, or in some cases infamous, didn’t like having pictures of them at the crap table splashed all over the press.

Fast forward to today and all the capabilities engineered into that little computer in your pocket represent the most serious threat to game protection that casinos have ever had to face.

You can use it to count cards, or its camera to catch the dealer’s hole card.

You can use it to signal what cards have been dealt to an accomplice who can then use a computer to tell you how to play your hand using code words, all while apparently having an innocent phone conversation.

More recently, there have been apps that can use your phone’s video capabilities to predict what section a roulette ball might land in.

There was even a group of Russian hackers filming slot machines, streaming that to servers back in eastern Europe that could figure out where in the long sequence the machine’s random number generator (RNG) was, and then tell them the exact millisecond to press spin to get a win!

Suffice it to say, most casinos do not allow you to even have your phone out while you are at the table.

And if you are filming while playing slots, don’t be surprised if you are asked to stop.

While pictures away from tables have become a little less frowned upon, security may stop and ask you not to if you are blatant about it.

If you set your phone down on the table or decide you’re going to take a quick call, the dealer or floor person will ask you to step away from the table.

This is just a regular part of casinos’ policies and procedures. If security asks you not to take pictures, they are just following the rules.

Don’t take offense.

While every casino’s thoughts on phones being used may be a bit different, any time you have your phone out on the casino floor, someone may come along and tell you this individual casino’s expectations.

Just listen and follow their instructions.

2. Don’t Overdo The Drinking

In about half of American casinos, alcoholic drinks are complimentary. Complimentary doesn’t mean a free, all-you-can-drink buffet of shots and beers. 

Cocktail servers make predetermined rounds throughout the casino, and they will pass by any given slot or table about every 20 to 30 minutes.

It’s quite possible you may have to wait that long to order your drink. The floor person or dealer is generally unable to get you a drink any faster.

You are only allowed ONE drink at a time.

You will need to finish or relinquish any drinks you may currently have before you will be served another. Any signs of intoxication will result in either the cocktail server or other casino staff calling the beverage manager to do an evaluation.  

If they decide you’ve had enough, you will be asked to leave the casino floor.

Too much drinking means no more gambling.

The general rule of thumb here is that your good time ends when it comes at the expense of some other guest’s good time.  

While your significant other may find your slurring, table slapping, and foul-mouthed behavior charming, odds are that neither the other people on your table nor casino staff will see it in the same light.

We want all our guests to have a fun, exciting night.

But once your behavior becomes either problematic for other people at the table or disruptive to the point of holding up the game, the casino is likely to decide your good time has come to an end.

Side note on comps:

Normally when you sit down, the dealer or floor supervisor will ask you for your loyalty card. This card is used to keep track of your play, average bet and buy-in.

The casino will use this info to offer you comps, like food or free rooms, so try to always get a card at player’s services before you begin to play.

At most casinos, you can ask the floor supervisor to make you a new account with your driver’s license right there at the table if they aren’t too busy.

If you play a few hours and gamble a good bit, don’t be ashamed to ask the supervisor for a comp for something to eat.

Many casinos are only too happy to offer you a meal in hopes of getting you back to play, and it certainly never hurts to ask.

3. Do Make Sure You Buy In And Cash Out Properly

Every table or slot will display its minimum and maximum bet clearly. On table games, it is generally found on either a lighted sign or a placard to the right of the dealer.

Check the minimum before you sit down so that you don’t end up playing at a $25 or $100 game when you only plan to gamble $50 dollars.

Wait until the hand is completed, then pass your money toward the dealer, and they will give you casino chips in return.

The dealer may ask you what denomination chips you would like, but in most cases, they will simply give you what they feel is the right amount of each denomination for the game in question.

Some players have a habit of coloring up (converting smaller denomination chips to easier-to-carry larger value chips) when they’re winning.

This is disruptive for other players as it slows down the game. First when the dealer has to color you up, and then again when the player must pull those higher value chips back out and have them broken down by the dealer again.

It also means the casino has to constantly interrupt the game with fills of lower-end chips.

People come to play, not watch the dealer constantly making change. Wait until you’re done or for the dealer to ask before coloring up.

When you are ready to leave, wait for the end of the hand, then push all your chips towards the dealer.

Importantly, don’t push them into the betting circle. Don’t worry about stacking or sorting them; the dealer will be far quicker than you.

You will then take these higher-value chips to the cage to be cashed out for currency.

Usually but not always, you can find the cashier in the farthest corner from the exit, this is to give you plenty of time to consider putting some of your winnings down on another table or in a slot.

Side note on chips:

Roulette chips are called non-value. They are unlike other casino chips in that their value is determined by how they are marked up on the roulette wheel.

If you buy in $100 and ask for $5 chips, you will notice the dealer put one of your color chips by the wheel along with a lammer (plastic marker) that says 100. That means that every stack of your color is worth $100.

If you buy in for dollars, they will mark your color as 20. $20 dollars a stack, and so forth and so on.

Always color up these chips at the roulette table before you leave as they aren’t worth anything anywhere else.

Also, to avoid confusion, the casino allows only one person per color, so if you need to buy chips for your significant other, you’ll need to get them a separate color.

4. Do Get To Grips With Basic Game Rules And Procedures

There are dozens of different table games and thousands of slots. It can be confusing, so if you have a question don’t hesitate to ask the dealer or find a slot person to explain the game.

In the case of table games, each casino may have slightly different rules on a table or slightly different procedures for how a game is dealt. But we will cover some of the most common here:

Most casino table games require you to be seated at the table while playing.

This is simply about the cameras having the best possible coverage of the cards being dealt. If standing and hunched over your cards, it prevents surveillance from keeping track of those cards.

Most blackjack and even some carnival games are dealt face-up.

If the cards aren’t placed in front of you and are dealt out on the layout, do not touch them.

If dealt to you, you may pick them up. Most casinos will require that you only use one hand on blackjack and even some carnival games.

If in doubt, ask your dealer.

When it comes to signaling, in handheld blackjack games you ask for a hit by lightly scratching the corner of the cards next to your bet. You signal to stay by tucking your cards face down slightly under your bet.

If you have a blackjack and want to split or double, just turn your cards face up, the dealer will know what you require. Try to never cover or block your bet from the view of the dealer with your cards.

In face-up blackjack games you ask for a hit by scratching with your finger. Stay is a horizontal wave of your hand. Split or double is just pointing with two fingers.

In many of the carnival games the signals are similar to blackjack. If you wish to play or need another card just scratch, and if you’re done with your hand just set it down.

Again, the dealer will be happy to answer any questions.

When it comes to the actual play of your hand, though, the dealer may not be allowed to offer advice.

In the case of blackjack, this may be for the best as most blackjack dealers don’t know basic strategy, so you can simply print out a basic strategy card before you go play.

This is also true for the carnival games.

You can find easy-to-understand rules on how to set your hand, what hands to play, and what hands to fold on your phone before you start playing, instead of having to rely on ill-informed dealers or mistaken advice from other players.

5. Do Set A loss Limit

It’s important that when you sit down at a table you have an idea of what you can afford to lose.

Some people only bring that amount with them to make sure they don’t chase losses if things go bad. Others just have the willpower to get up and take a break after losing whatever limit they have set.

Either is fine as long as you know that you’ll stick with the agreed-upon limit.

Having a set amount for each gambling session will ensure that you don’t lose everything in the first few hours and that you’ll be able to continue to enjoy your trip even if you lose the first few times you play.

It also keeps your emotions in check and provides a circuit breaker for when you just want to keep throwing money on the layout no matter how bad the cards.

Some people also like to set limits on what they would like to win. Perhaps they’ve gotten up a good amount only to lose it all back in the past.

While not as common, having an idea of what you’ve come to win will also make you a more disciplined gambler and help protect your bankroll long term.

6. Don’t Tell Others How To Play

Don’t tell other players how to play their hand as much as you may be tempted.

Players get to play their own cards and while not every dealer may enforce this, it’s still a rule. If asked for advice, be sure to give it, but if not, then just play your cards.

On some carnival games, you won’t even be able to offer advice if asked as house rules prevent you from looking at another player’s hands.

This may seem extreme if, let’s say, your wife doesn’t know how to play.

But some of these poker games can be beaten if players know too many of the cards that have already been dealt to players, so the rules are made to prevent that.

As well as not telling others how to play, don’t ask or give money to strangers at the table.

It’s certainly within your right, but the casino will often put out anyone that they believe is panhandling or asking for money.

That $25 chip you gave someone because of a sob story won’t do them much good if they are asked to leave.

7. Don’t Upset Superstitious Craps Players

There’s a reason why many players feel that craps is the best game on the casino floor.

When a player has a hot hand, and the chips are piling up in the rail, it really is a feeling like no other.

But when those dice turn cold, you can quickly see craps players turn superstitious.

It’s this alternating cycle of hot and cold dice that has turned so many lovers of the game into unreasonable believers in bad luck and hexes.

And while dice is a difficult game to learn in the best of circumstances, certain behavior can apparently bring the ire of the Craps Gods down upon the table.

Chief among these is buying in, in the middle of a roll.

When possible, always wait for a seven out, or at least for the player to make a point before throwing your money down on the layout, or you may be faced with an entire table of muttering, coughing players.

One trick that seems to assuage some of these old-timers is to buy in with cash at a blackjack or another table on your way to dice.

It seems it’s the cash hitting the table, not some new player handing in chips to the dealer, which sets off all this calamitous bad luck.

Also, right up there with using the Lord’s name in vain is saying the actual word “seven” at a dice table.

I’m pretty confident that you can no longer be lynched for this, but I don’t see any reason to put it to the test, either.

Another common newbie mistake is putting your hands in the way of the dice. Once the stickman calls “dice are out” immediately get your hands out of the layout.

Should the dice hit your hands, it’s quite possible that many of the others will remember you for life and refuse to play with you for years to come.

Talking to or touching a hot shooter is likely to remove them from their “zone.”

If you want to ask the shooter a question, it’s probably best to wait until they are done shooting to avoid a glare – or worse.

Yes, craps players have some idiosyncrasies, but don’t let that stop you from coming by and trying by far the most fun game in the casino. 

Stick to these rules, listen to your dealer, pay attention, and you too could soon be making new players uncomfortable with talk of jinxes and shouts of “watch your hands.”

8. Don’t Put Your Stuff On The Tables

As I mentioned at the beginning, casinos have a lot of rules. Aside from the important ones we’ve already mentioned, keep in mind:

No purses, wallets, bags, or anything of the like on the table. They can block the eye in the sky’s view, can be used to hide things, or just generally get in the way.

Always keep your drinks in the cupholders provided. On dice, do not dangle your drinks over the layout, there is a shelf just below the rail for drinks. One spilled drink will stop everything and may even lead management to close the table. You don’t want to be the person that ruined everybody else’s good time.

9. Do Dress To Impress

Many casinos across the US have a very relaxed attitude toward dress codes. 

But if you’re playing on a cruise ship or in another country, there is very likely to be a dress code on the casino floor.

You can call ahead or look for it on their website, and it will also usually be posted by the main entrance.

Even in the more laid-back Las Vegas casinos used to dealing with the throngs of tourists, there is likely to be an unmentioned dress code.

For instance, most casinos frown upon “beachwear” and will often ask visitors to cover up.

Guests wearing T-shirts with profanity or vulgar images may be asked to have them turned inside out, and even in Vegas, there are laws on the books on how much skin you can get away with showing.

If you’re hoping to swing by a club or nice restaurant while you’re out, be prepared for a much stricter once-over.

Shorts and ball caps are generally out, as is baggy clothing, and even sports jerseys. In some cases, jeans and T-shirts may be excluded as well.

It is always, always better to be overdressed than underdressed.

There are many casinos and clubs not only in Las Vegas but around the world, all with different ideas about proper dress, but the better you’re dressed, the more likely you are to get into any one of them.

10. Do Make Sure You Tip The Staff

In most American casinos, front-of-house staff like dealers, valet, and beverage servers generally make far less than the minimum wage.  

While this tipping culture has been hotly debated over the last few years, it doesn’t change the basic fact that the nice person who is bringing your drink is probably only being paid $2.35 an hour by the casino.

They are counting on tips to be able to feed their families.  

And this holds true across almost all the guest-facing staff at a casino, from slot attendants to porters, who also make less than minimum wage generally.

As customer service professionals, they’re going to do their best to make sure you have a great time regardless, but a well-timed gratuity can go a long way toward making sure that the people taking care of you also feel appreciated.

Most Importantly, Have Fun!

Yes, there are a lot of rules. We warned you.

Relax, though: Casinos want you to have fun – and they’re counting on it.

They do their best every day to weigh your good time against the safety and security of all that money.  And while it may seem like a lot, it’s mostly common sense.

So, get out there and enjoy!

You’ll pick up the basics of what you can and can’t do pretty quick, the dealers and staff will make sure you don’t get into too much trouble as long as you listen, and they spend a large part of their day teaching new players in any case.

Never risk more than you can afford to lose, but if you’ve budgeted a little of your travel budget for gambling, head on down to the casino floor and see what all the excitement is about.

There’s a reason why Las Vegas attracts over 40 million visitors a year, and it’s not just the endless buffets.

A common tactic used by all scammers is to blend into their surroundings and bide their time until an opportunity presents itself to move in for the kill.

In this article I’m going to illustrate how a super-simple swindle can be adapted to any game but also show how the game itself can be adapted to make new scams possible.

A Cheating Lesson

At the card table, cheaters learn to follow accepted procedures and to emulate common physical actions while practicing to subvert these elements through sleight of hand, gaffed cards, loaded dice, crooked chips or electronic devices that might offer an unbeatable edge over time or steal every chip at the table in a single round of play.

Typically, in any game where strange hand motions or a break in expected procedure would be noticed, the goal is to find a weakness in the established order of play that can be used to create an unfair advantage for the cheater.

For example, most private games share the deal, passing the deck from one player to the next who also collects the cards from the previous round of play.

This gives a mechanic (an expert in crooked sleight of hand) plenty of opportunity to set a hand, load the flop or just know what he’s about to deal and to whom.

There are plenty of sleights to facilitate this kind of unfair advantage while completely complying with the agreed order of play.

Cutting the cards is designed to beat this type of cheater since any stacked cards might be relocated to a random part of the deck but cheaters have known how to beat the cut for centuries with methods that range from staggeringly difficult sleight of hand to more risky techniques that force other players to cut exactly where the cheater wants them to!

The simplest solution is also the safest the most effective; to have a partner sit to the mechanic’s right and make the cut exactly where the dealer tells him to – usually thanks to a tiny brief when the cards are passed.

Attempts to beat this method vary in effectiveness and my favorite (failed) procedure was to have the person to the dealer’s left shuffle the deck and the person to the dealer’s right cut the deck so the dealer would deal cards he neither shuffled nor cut and in the passing of the deck (so the theory goes) it would be impossible to cheat.

Of course, this presented no problem for pairs of cheating partners who simply straddled an honest player at the table sitting either side of a sucker who would be forced (thanks to this procedure) to deal the cards the cheaters had already stacked and cut into play.

An Aside

Incidentally, when I played poker regularly around the UK, many casinos offered the cards to be cut and if I was in the right position to do so, I would make a complete false cut where the top half is snapped forward as if came from the bottom, then slapped back on top.

This sleight is difficult to master but the illusion it creates is perfect and had the cards been stacked in advance, my cut would have kept the pre-ordered cards in play making this a powerful move in concert with a crooked dealer.

The purpose of this false cut was nothing more than practice since the house dealer was never cheating (as far as I could tell) and I was just rehearsing a move to see if anyone noticed, which they never did.

During this time, I also noticed a potential opportunity thanks to the way the cards were passed across the table to be cut.

Since I always cut with two hands, I realized the back of the deck could only be seen by me and that I could use this now-familiar action to spot the top card of the lower half as a legitimate (actual) cut was completed.

This might not seem like much of an advantage until I trained myself to always cut a certain amount, ensuring the card I spotted would hit the flop!

I practiced this technique for years and while knowing one card that will hit the flop every nine or 10 hands might offer some sort of advantage to an expert player, it was really no more than an interesting move that would be better used by a crooked dealer with a confederate on first base to see the exposed card during every shuffle.

Faking The Familiar

Adapting to legitimate procedures isn’t always the most profitable strategy and when cheaters spot the potential for a more effective method that requires a change in those procedures, they corrupt the order of play slowly until the suckers become comfortable with anything new.

It works like this:

Let’s say I want to steal chips from the pot, and I happen to have access to a good bottle of “check cop” (a sticky substance made by manufacturers of crooked gambling devices for the sole purpose of palming chips without transferring the sticky stuff to the chip).

The problem is that I need to lay my hand flat onto a chip for it to adhere to my skin and if I reached into a pot and just slapped my hand onto a pile of checks, people are bound to notice.

So how do I make this method work without attracting attention?

First, I figure out a way to steal that doesn’t require me to flatten my hand onto a pile of loose chips. 

Instead, I’ll steal a chip from the top of a pile where it is less likely to be noticed vanishing and to cover it even further, I’ll then stack more chips onto the stack I just stole from in the process of counting.

This means that if I break off five black chips and stack those then steal the top chip as I collect six loose chips, once I stack those six onto the first pile It will leave a stack of 10, which would be expected.

Timing-wise, I would do this before the end of a hand or during a showdown as I arrange the chips for active players to see and while attention is towards those players or the dealer.

This allows me plenty of cover so long as I am not attracting attention for stacking the chips in the first place!

Once I have mastered this technique until I can make it look almost like magic – in fact, even a close observer would never notice a high-value chip vanishing in the process – I need to create the perfect conditions to secure my advantage with minimum risk to my life and limb.

The secret is to “splash the move” for hours, days or even weeks, months and years – always being the one to stack chips mid-hand or organize pots for other players to see whenever I’m out of the hand.

This becomes normal and comfortable and when it feels safe to do so without suspicion, I might begin stealing the occasional chip to bolster my stack.

This may seem like a lot of work and a lot of risk without much reward, but many crooked players have risked a lot more for a lot less and, over time, little scams like this can add up to a very unfair advantage.

Splashing the move is a powerful way to introduce new actions and put even the most alert players to sleep thanks to eventual familiarity that gives the cheater increased opportunities to steal.

In The Real World

Away from gambling games, this same strategy is used in all forms of deception where tiny changes (or nudges) in everyday situations can corrupt, convert or change any outcome to varying degrees.

Consider how high-stakes advantage players encourage “tweaks” in casino procedures in return for bigger bets and longer playing sessions while potentially giving the player a powerful advantage against the house.

In life, huge changes are often forced upon us in tiny nudges that people are prone to accept when they would have taken to the streets with flaming torches and pitchforks had those changes been made more quickly and openly.

The same is true in deception where tiny shifts in procedure can put people at their ease until the barn door is wide open and horse are long gone.

• Mark Kelly (D) to win Arizona Senate @ 1.73 – Bet365
• Katie Hobbs (D) to win Arizona Governor @ 2.25 – Bet365
• John Fetterman (D) to win Pennsylvania Senate @ 1.36 – Bet365
• Josh Shapiro (D) to win Pennsylvania Governor @ 1.36 – Bet365
• Republicans to win House, Democrats to win Senate @ 2.0 – William Hill

Outside of a Presidential year, the biggest betting event in US politics is the mid-term elections. The season is already well underway, following a summer of primaries.

My best US bet of the year, pinpointed in January, already landed with ease at odds of around 5/4, as Brian Kemp became the Republican Nominee for Georgia Governor.

What’s In Play?

All 435 seats for the House of Representatives. Gubernatorial races in 36 states. 35 of the 100 seats in the US Senate.

All are scheduled for November 8 and all are betting heats.

The Senate and House races will have big implications for President Biden’s ability to deliver legislation. Presidential candidates for 2024 are sure to emerge, especially from those Governor races.

What Are The Betting Options?

Regarding the big picture, Betfair offer odds on which party wins a majority in either the Senate or the House.

William Hill offer a market on the double. For example, they offer Even money or 2.0 that the Republicans win the House, Democrats the Senate.

Note if the Senate is tied 50-50 as it currently stands, that will count as a Democrat win as Vice President Kamala Harris holds the casting vote.

That even money double reflects the current projection.

The Democrats are now slight favorites for the Senate, following a big turnaround in recent weeks.

The Republicans, however, remain very strong favorites to win the House. Their latest Betfair odds are just 1.17.

Going deeper, we can bet on the outcome of all the states deemed competitive. Or even the exact number of seats each party will win in each chamber.

What’s The Form Guide?

So why is the betting so different for each chamber?

Simply, the electorates and dynamics differ. Every Congressional district is up but only 34 states will vote for the Senate.

Also, House districts are manipulated along partisan lines and are to an ever larger extent, gerrymandered. Whereas a Senate race covers the entire state.

Historically, mid-term elections for the House work against the party of the president. Opponents tend to be better motivated to turnout. 

During President Obama’s two terms, his party were hammered in both sets of mid-terms.

But when President Trump was in the White House, the Democrats enjoyed a ‘Blue Wave’, sweeping the House with 235 seats – an improvement of 41.

Yet on the same day, Trump’s Republicans increased their Senate tally to 53, from 51.

Thus, 2018 illustrates how results between the two chambers do not necessarily correlate.

When the House was last contested, on the same day as the 2020 presidential election and therefore involving a more even turnout, that Democrat advantage fell to just 222-213.

It seems extremely unlikely that they will be able to hold their majority, now they are the incumbents and the Republicans have the extra motivation.

Backlash Against Biden Seems Inevitable

Indeed, the signals have long implied that President Biden will suffer a similar backlash.

It has proved the case in special elections, the disastrous loss of Virginia’s governorship and very nearly a catastrophic loss of New Jersey.

His approval ratings have since sunk to a dismal level, below 40%.

However, momentum may be reversing.

Biden has enjoyed several wins in recent weeks – gas prices falling rapidly, bipartisan bills that few thought possible, better job numbers than expected, the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri. 

Generic ballot polls are tied, with more led by the Democrats than not in recent weeks, although are still well short of the double-digit leads enjoyed before 2018.

Fivethirtyeight’s model rates them only 20% likely for the House.

Nevertheless, the Senate is a different story, as a 59% forecast from Fivethirtyeight illustrates.

The states in play are relatively favorable to Democrats – an exact reversal of 2018, when Republican Senators defied the Blue Wave at House level.

Furthermore, the Republicans seem intent on a course of electoral suicide. 

Abortion And Jan 6 Investigation Are Hurting Republicans

Whereas there are easy gains to be made on living standards and inflation, self-inflicted cultural wars could prove their undoing. The transformative issue seems to be abortion.

The Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade sent Republican activists delirious, but it is consistently unpopular with the majority of voters.

It crystalized a key dividing line in US society and politics, and energized Democrat campaigns.

Likewise, the January 6 Committee Hearings are proving a disaster for Republicans.

Whereas a hardcore of their activists remain fervent Trump supporters and deny the 2020 election result, that position is at direct odds with median voters.

Numerous election-denial extremists and QaNon believers have won primaries, damaging their party’s brand and chances in key races.

US elections are always about Independents, rather than hyper-partisans.

Consider two critical swing states, where both the Senate and Governorship are in play.

Remember, Biden’s election win was only possible by narrowly gaining Pennsylvania and Arizona.

Mid-term, Democrats should be vulnerable here to a competent challenge, but that looks unlikely.

Pennsylvania And Arizona To Stay Blue

In PA, the Republican candidate Doug Mastriano is one of those extreme candidates.

A QaNon conspiracy theorist who attended Trump’s rally at the Capitol on January 6, and denies the validity of Biden’s election win. He trails Josh Shapiro by 8%. 

For the Senate, Trump’s choice ‘Dr’ Mehmet Oz won the nomination.

He’s since been shown to be a resident of a different state (NJ) and a dual national, with Turkey. He trails John Fetterman by 11%.

This would represent a gain for the Democrats, as it is an open seat following the retirement of Republican Pat Toomey.

Bet365 offer odds of 4/11 about each of these race leaders. Short odds for sure, but it is very hard to envisage either Democrat failing.

In Arizona, the party has traveled very far to the Right in recent years, since the late John McCain was untouchable in Senate races.

Their 2022 slate revel in dissing the McCain legacy – which makes zero sense in a state where Independents loved him. 

Instead they have Kari Lake up for Governor, against Katie Hobbs. For the Senate, Blake Masters takes on Democrat incumbent Mark Kelly.

Both of these candidates are again, QaNon believing election-deniers, holding unabashed extreme right views. Their Secretary of State candidate is Mark Finchem – a long-term member of the Oath Keepers.

This is the violent far-right terror group whose leadership has been charged with sedition on January 6.

The betting really doesn’t reflect the nature of the candidates.

Bet365 offer 8/11 about Kelly – who leads by 8.6% on average, and frequently hits 49% or higher – and 5/4 about Hobbs. She too is clearly ahead in the polls and hitting the high-forties.

If Kelly and Fetterman do land these Senate seats for the Democrats, that would alter the overall tally to 51-49 in their favor.

Republicans would need a net gain of two elsewhere. Possible, but not easy or obvious, given the map.

The most vulnerable Democrat defences are in Georgia and Nevada. The latter is a genuine toss-up, between incumbent Catherine Cortez Masto and Adam Laxalt.

Bet365 rate the Democrat outsider but the polls have her 1.5% up on average. 

As for Georgia, I much prefer the incumbent Raphael Warnock at odds of 10/11 against ex-football star Herschel Walker.

His lack of political pedigree is showing already and his campaign is plagued with several scandals, including domestic violence allegations.

Outside those states, changes are unlikely, and if there were an upset, there’s at least an equal chance the Democrats would benefit.

They have a strong favorite in New Hampshire, Maggie Hassan, while the two probable if not certain Republican defences are Wisconsin and Ohio, by Ron Johnson and J.D. Vance respectively. 

Overall, I reckon it will work out as either 51-49 to the Democrats, or 50-50 again, leaving them in control. The difference would hang around Nevada.

My recommendation, therefore, is that even money double with William Hill on a Republican House and Democrat Senate.

Recommended Bets

• Mark Kelly (D) to win Arizona Senate @ 1.73 – Bet365
• Katie Hobbs (D) to win Arizona Governor @ 2.25 – Bet365
• John Fetterman (D) to win Pennsylvania Senate @ 1.36 – Bet365
• Josh Shapiro (D) to win Pennsylvania Governor @ 1.36 – Bet365
• Republicans to win House, Democrats to win Senate @ 2.0 – William Hill

But in the gambling world, cash remains a powerful tool for managing one’s bankroll, tipping staff, or sharing profits away from prying eyes.

Sure, crypto offers some financial anonymity while also being in the sights of authoritarian regimes that would prefer some control over whatever monetary tools are used within and without their borders.

But for most offline transactions, cash is still king and there are countless scams to be wary of in your travels.

I Need A Guy Who Knows A Guy

Exchange rate cons are so common that anyone who travels regularly will know where to find them, which is often at a “legitimate” bureau de change in airports or tourist hotspots.

In Paris, these money changers are everywhere and appear to compete with each other while their rates or fees make all of it a wash in terms of being a sh*tty deal no matter where you go.

Unless you happen to be a Parisian who knows a guy who knows a guy – who knows another guy.

During a profitable visit many years ago, I found myself with a lot of cash that would need to be changed before returning home, but I quickly balked at the exchange rates and fees being offered around the city.

Luckily, my friend and host was also a frequent traveller and drove me to a little office down a back alley and up some stairs near a side street in an obscure part of the city.

I couldn’t find that office again for love nor money but on that day, I saved a large chunk of change for the price of lunch and a few card tricks between friends.

Ever since, I’ve always asked local contacts where the “place” is to change money and am often lucky to find someone with a guy who knows a guy who knows another guy.

In Macau, we changed our cash at the cage in several casinos; in Tokyo, a local friend navigated Japanese rules and paperwork to get me the best deal while in Ho Chi Minh City.

A friend visited a little apartment where his cash was whisked away for 10 worrying minutes until an old lady returned with fresh dollar bills that his local contact carefully checked before completing the transaction.

Herein Lies A Problem

The risk in each of these situations is that you could easily be entering into a scam where you can be robbed or ripped off with counterfeit cash so in each of these cases, I (or my friends) relied on a trusted local contact who knew “the lay of the land” in terms of fraud and deception.

I’m not saying that theft doesn’t happen in Tokyo but there are clear signs whether a business or a procedure is legitimate and in Paris, my friend was too important a guy and too smart to be taken in by (or to facilitate) this type of con game, so I had confidence in that scenario.

In Macau, the casinos change money easily and regularly so long as the cash (and the person carrying it) isn’t criminal and they offer better rates than one would find at home, presumably to keep some of that cash on their tables.

But an apartment in Vietnam with strangers taking the money away before they exchange it?

No thanks.

Cash can be dangerous for all sorts of reasons, so when moving it around and changing currency we all need to be careful that a familiar method in one location doesn’t expose you to scams in another.

So sure, my friends and I tend to ask trusted local contacts where to find better deals but if there’s any doubt – any at all – I’d rather line up behind the tourists to get robbed by a clerk with a calculator.

Counterfeit Exchanges

Across Europe and in many parts of the world, fake exchange offices attract transient victims to lose money either through bad arithmetic, counterfeit cash, or outright theft.

In many cities an office isn’t even necessary.

In Prague, for example, bogus money traders prey on tourists near legitimate (though ridiculously expensive) currency exchanges and approach people claiming to be from an exchange with preferable rates.

The scam is simple since it’s easy to spot someone checking posted exchange rates, highlighting that they must be carrying cash and are therefore worth scamming!

So once a likely target is spotted, the hustler knows they are ripe (worth taking) but also what they want and are actively searching for at that exact moment in time.

Knowing what someone wants is the con artist’s most powerful advantage and in this scenario it can be all too easy to leverage this information into a quick and easy deception.

All the scammer needs to do is cut into the tourist before they approach the exchange desk and give them a story with promises of a better rate and no fees.

 Needless to say, many people are quick to jump at that “opportunity”.

The twist (in Prague) is that these counterfeit currency converters do not trade people’s cash for Czech Crowns but for expired Belarusian Rubles that appear similar to foreign eyes and are (of course) completely worthless.

Around the city, you can see signs warning people not to exchange money on the street.

But human beings are often victims of their own impulses, which scammers know how to trigger using centuries-old psychological tricks that never fail to manipulate people in the heat of the moment.

And it’s not just exchange offices where these scammers prey upon the unwary.

At ATMs, clever con artists wait for travellers to withdraw cash, spotting anyone who receives large denomination notes, such as 2,000 CZK, then offers to break their bill in exchange for four 500 CZK notes that are actually – you guessed it – expired Belarusian bills.

Familiar Territory

As with many con games, being unfamiliar with a city or country means you might be easy prey for this kind of “fish out of water” con so care must be taken in any cash transaction on foreign soil but also at home.

In the UK, I was once approached in the waiting area of a bank with a proposition to swap cash since I had dollars and they had pounds; the logic being that the bank would only take a chunk of our money when we could both save by exchanging directly.

My “swindler sense” told me immediately this was too well practiced a pitch to be trusted so I turned down her “kind” offer and sure enough, before reaching the counter she left the bank to find another sucker.

How common this is inside banks I can’t say but while financial institutions can cost more in terms of fees or less attractive rates, going off-reservation requires a lot of trust and an unknown degree of risk.

Lead image: Donald Trung/Wikimedia Commons

But while most people assume this software and technology is available only to the user to use (and abuse) many of us have learned that bad actors have found ways to access those devices.

Through multiple means, software can secretly be loaded onto your phone, tablet or computer that will allow all sorts of access to your data, camera, location, and microphone.

The question is how these ‘viruses’ get onto your devices and how to avoid falling victim in the future.

Dodgy Apps That Steal Your Data

If you’re reading this, there’s an excellent chance you’re already hip to how seemingly simple software applications downloaded from the internet can contain hidden programs designed to capture private information and share it with unknown sources.

Perhaps the most famous of these were a flurry of ‘flashlight’ apps that activated the LED next to the camera on your phone so you could find your keys (and the lock) at three o’clock in the morning.

While these apps only appeared to turn a light on and off, many were also making requests for access within your device that can only mean they were harvesting private data.

According to some reports, many apps were requesting an average of 25 five permissions in order to function, none of which were required to activate the flashlight itself.

One app was downloaded and installed over 1 million times and had 76 requests to access contacts, camera, microphone and other areas of your device you would rather not share with strangers.

Some requested to record audio, access contact lists and even write to those contact lists.

At best, these apps were engaging in an intrusion of privacy, sharing data with unknown recipients for unknown purposes but at worst they might be actively monitoring everything you say, do and see.

Many phone operating systems now include a flashlight app that does exactly what it claims but as hackers get more sophisticated, malware can be found in all kinds of apps and on all platforms.

Android vs. OS X

It’s pretty clear that Android apps suffer a lot more from malware since the process of adding new software to the Google Play store is less stringent and has fewer checks than the Apple App Store, but unexpected activity can be found on apps from both sources.

Malware is not only installed as part of another app but can be injected onto your device if you click on a link or website that can access vulnerabilities in your device.

Beware of any app, game or utility that contains ads as your data or behaviour may be shared with companies providing the developer with ad revenue.

And you should think twice before downloading any app from any unknown developer.

Software For Both Good And Evil

Injecting millions of phones with some form of covert software is not just the pastime of small groups of hackers looking to sell your data or watch you get dressed in the morning.

Governments around the world have been licensing software that can access almost any phone.

This can be injected onto OS X devices using previously unknown flaws in the operating system that allow the malware to be secretly installed and gain full access to the device, even remotely.

This same software was also found on Android devices and has been used by all kinds of users, from members of the intelligence community to private companies all with seemingly good justification.

But the software in question has already turned up in several episodes that make its very existence a real concern for all of us.

After journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered and dismembered, investigating journalists found multiple attempts to place this advanced form of surveillance software on phones belonging to people close to Khashoggi, including his wife.

Whether or not they were successful is uncertain but phones were certainly targeted with links to inject this malware so it’s entirely feasible that Mr. Khashoggi’s own phone and those of his wife and close contacts played a part in his ultimate demise.

This same software is used globally to secure secrets and trace targets and while the company that maintains the software claims no responsibility, it is certainly offering a tool for both good and evil.

It’s important to note that the software providers denied any involvement in the Khashoggi affair and while this may be true, their product can obviously be used for reasons they might never endorse.

Always Be Alert

The problem with breaking safeguards designed to protect the privacy of everyday users is that once a tool is created for nation states, the cracks that tool create in the general safety of a device and the software operating within it can be far-reaching.

New and creative methods for circumventing software protections are appearing every day.

While some are based on ingenious code with concealed purposes, there’s one very common factor in almost all such breaches of private security: You.

Flashlight apps with onboard malware only works when people choose to download and install without really thinking about where such apps come from.

Links to inject intelligence-gathering malware only work when they are clicked without questioning who sent them, why, and for what purpose.

How many times have you opened a link sent by a friend without wondering if it might not be from who you think it is?

The problem is that even if you’re over-cautious, there’s that one time you click without thinking because a nasty link appears in concert with legitimate activity and seems to be part of another conversation or communication.

Many people who get conned by opening a bogus link to their bank do so because they were already in contact with their bank and this link seemed to make sense at the time.

The people who sent that bad link probably sent millions of emails and only need a few to get lucky either because the victim is ignorant of their own online security or was just talking to the same bank that was being spoofed in that dodgy email.

You’re Being Tracked Everywhere

So be aware that your personal, financial, and live data might compromised at any time thanks to that expensive little spy in your pocket.

Or perhaps by the phones in your friends’ pockets, or on the poker table, or beside you on a plane, or behind you in a coffee shop – or anywhere you might be in modern life.

I should probably say there’s no need to be paranoid, but the truth is— there’s plenty of reason to be paranoid.

I’ve seen many crazy bets based on this kind of proposition and most are genuinely suggested at random but with a little advance knowledge you can play with an edge that is sure to pay off over time.

At the very least, you’ll learn how powerful even a slight advantage can be, and have a useful weapon in your arsenal to reclaim some of your bankroll in a pinch.

As stated in my other articles on this topic, these are not scams but real games where you can secure a slight or powerful advantage depending on how and what you play, so I encourage you to share the secret with anyone you are able to fleece (for a fair and reasonable amount) as compensation for their losses.

I can’t tell you how much has been won and lost on a misunderstanding of seemingly obvious odds that are actually quite complex and bear the opposite return to what many might assume.

These propositions will all return a positive outcome over time, but they require a little shaping (scamming) on your part to rope your mark and get their money into your game and your “personal casino”.

Card Hustle #1 – Seven Card Monte

So let’s start with something that’s really unfair.

Ask your target to remove five court cards (K/Q/J) and two spot cards (2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9) from any deck and then mix them thoroughly on the table.

Make the following proposition:

If they turn three court cards face up (one at a time) they win, but if they turn over any of the spot cards, they lose.

Of course, this seems perfectly simple.

If they figure incorrectly, they will believe that each turn of the card is in their favour with the first turn offering five chances in seven, then four chances in six, followed by three chances in five!

In fact, I like to point these odds out, but the odds of turning three cards in seven without turning one of the two spot cards are more than two to one against the sucker overall.

This is more than enough of an advantage to win plenty in the long run but beware sneaky players who may try to mark or identify the spot cards (or one or more court cards), which is disappointingly common.

A crooked variation on this uses identical jokers instead of spot cards and the game ends when any joker is turned over.

The crooked part is that one card of the five court cards is secretly swapped for third joker making the odds almost impossible.

This, of course is a real scam and should not be encouraged.

Card Hustle #2 – Three Cut

This is a simple swindle but can be used to manipulate people effectively into playing deeper into the hole with a little social engineering.

Have a deck shuffled and cut into three piles, then bet that there are no picture (court) cards on top of any of the packets.

A smart person will reason that since only one card in four is a court card, the odds must be in your favour and this is a reasonable (but wrong) assumption that you can use against them by flipping it and betting that there will be a court card on top of any of the three randomly cut and shuffled piles.

This reversal is a great way to manipulate the situation (and your mark) and puts the odds firmly in your favour.

You could obviously simply start from that proposition but since people will try to outthink you, knowing how they might think is a powerful advantage employed by real con artists all the time!

I’ve seen a genuine scam based on this where suckers were paid for any non-court card and the scammer was paid for court cards when three piles were cut at random (by the suckers) – and this seemed incredibly fair.

In reality, several (or all 12) court cards were secretly shaved very finely on all four edges which made it almost certain that at least one court card would appear and, thanks to this ruse, two court cards were more common and would shift the odds to the hustler.

Variations on this (with the short cards) paid odds for court cards (or penalties if roles were reversed) and the game could get quite complex based on true odds that were circumvented by the short and narrow cards, which were more easily cut to the top of any pile.

In fact, a brilliant play on this swindle was to re-cut each packet individually and bet on two or more court cards, which was almost certain under those conditions.

The ‘fair’ version (without the trimmed deck) can also be played when cutting four packets.

Card Hustle #3 – Quick Props

I’ve seen this played for real and it’s a great proposition bet that will often pay off.

Here’s the bet:

Name any four of a kind, shuffle, and deal 32 cards face up from anywhere in the deck without peeking. If you turn up all four cards of your nominated value, you win. If not, you lose.

This is a simple idea, and many will assume it’s possible to turn over four of a kind out of any 32.

It is possible, but the odds are truly against this happening.

If/when they lose, repeat the same bet but offer 39 cards instead of 32. Repeat the challenge, allowing them to name any four of a kind, shuffle, and turn over any 39 cards.

Another challenge is to have a shuffled deck dealt into two even piles and bet that if you turn over cards simultaneously from each pile, two of the same colour and value will appear together.

This actually happens more often than not so, again, odds favour the hustler.

Finally, a perennial favourite of mine is to have someone name any two values in the deck, shuffle, and spread face up. They lose if there are two cards of the named values together anywhere in the deck.

Each of these is a simple, quick challenge played between other rounds of poker and if you’re around real gamblers you should have no problem inviting them to play in your own personal casino.

For more similar content, check out the other articles in this series on dice hustles and coin tricks.

I must re-iterate that these games are for entertainment purposes only and as always, while I encourage you to play for affordable stakes, it’s always good to share the secret when the game is over so your suckers can enjoy the same benefits with fresh fish on another day.

Here we will take the flip of a coin and turn it to our favour with some ingenious games that ultimately push the money in your direction.

The Fun Of Coin Flips

I’ve written elsewhere about the master of crooked coin flips AKA “The Flipper” and the many ways he would manipulate a coin toss or secretly know the outcome.

It’s also possible to buy (or have made) a “wobbler” – a coin that has been re-milled on the edge with a slight angle towards one side so that, when spun on a hard surface, it favours one side more than the other and, in many cases, the work is so heavy it’s almost impossible to force a losing spin!

Such gaffs can be fun, and the above variation was my preferred method for securing a free lunch by spinning a coin and asking someone to call heads or tails while still spinning.

The bet was for who would pay for lunch and if they called the winning side, I’d scoop up the coin and say, “I’m only kidding, I wouldn’t force you to pay for this!”

But if they called the losing side I’d let it fall!

What follows are games played entirely with fair coins and can be a great ongoing game or distraction between other gambling sessions and have been used as such by smart players and grifters for decades.

Coin Hustle #1 – Eight Coins Out

With eight pennies, propose a simple bet that once all are flipped, spun or tossed in a random fashion, you will pay two to one any time that the player throws four heads out of the eight coins.

A simple calculation makes four heads (or tails if preferred) the most common outcome of eight 50/50 flips but in fact the odds are absolutely in your favour, since you win if the result is one, two, three, five, six or eight heads (or tails)!

I prefer to do this in a cup or glass (a glass attracts attention and more suckers in the right scenario) and simply and fairly spread out the coins once upended onto the table without changing how they landed.

This is such a simple proposition that you can play this edge for hours both winning and losing but always being ahead.

And if you can’t find any takers for a two-to-one proposition like this, you’re probably not cut out for this kind of friendly swindle!

Coin Hustle #2 – Threesomes

The same proposition can be made with just three coins and again is based on encouraging a simple fallacy.

With just three coins, point out that there are only four possibilities when all three are flipped at random:

1. Three heads.
2. Three tails.
3. One head and two tails.
4. Two tails and one head.

Now state that if they fall all heads or all tails they win, and you will pay two to one on any reasonable bet but if the coins land with any other outcome they lose.

Personally, I prefer to randomise the coins in a glass or cup but the result is three individual 50/50 propositions. You may prefer to simply flip one coin three times, but the result is the same.

Think about this for a minute.

If there are only four outcomes, then you are essentially offering them two to one on a 50/50 situation and that’s madness.

But be warned that if they’re smart enough to think it over they will exit the logic trap you set up at the beginning and realise that there are actually six losing outcomes and only two winning possibilities since each of the three coins has a 50/50 outcome.

You lose when the coins land:

TAILS, TAILS, TAILS

or

HEADS, HEADS, HEADS

You win if the coins land:

HEADS, TAILS, TAILS

HEADS, HEADS, TAILS

HEADS, TAILS, HEADS

TAILS, HEADS, TAILS

TAILS, TAILS, HEADS

TAILS, HEADS, HEADS

Think of it as individual rolls and it makes sense but the beauty of rolling three coins at once is that this is harder to intuit and many people will be blinded by your two-to-one offer on a game that is actually three to one against the player.

Coin Hustle #3 – Penney’s Game

Finally, let me share a brilliant bit of mathematics that will guarantee a powerful edge almost by magic if you follow some simple rules.

As stated above there are eight possible outcomes when flipping three coins and each outcome should be as likely as the other.

But for this version, only one coin is flipped repeatedly until a chosen three-flip combination appears.

So, if the chosen combination is TAILS, TAILS, TAILS, a single coin is flipped until three tails have appeared in a row. So it might be flipped 10 times before this occurs in three consecutive flips.

Similarly with any selected possible outcome – such as TAILS, HEADS, HEADS or HEADS, TAILS, HEADS – you keep flipping coins and recording the outcome until three consecutive flips produces one of the wagered results.

I hope you got that.

It can be confusing, but just keep flipping and noting down the result until one of the wagered three-coin outcomes happens and whoever bet on that combination is the winner.

So where is the scam?

Walter Penney discovered that a simple calculation based on your opponent’s choice of three-coin combination will place the odds firmly in your favour in the worst case, and seven to one in your favour for the best case scenario!

The secret is to make sure they choose their three-coin combination first and then you state your three-coin combination based on their choice as follows.

Whatever combination they choose, consider it as A/B/C so if they nominate HEADS, HEADS, HEADS:

A = HEADS

B = HEADS

C = HEADS

If they pick TAILS, HEADS, TAILS, then:

A = TAILS

B = HEADS

C = TAILS

And so on.

Your nominated three-coins should be X/A/B where X = the opposite of B.

I know this sounds complicated so let’s look at a couple of quick examples.

For the two examples above X/A/B would be TAILS, HEADS, HEADS (if the sucker nominates HEADS, HEADS, HEADS) and TAILS, TAILS, HEADS (if the sucker wants TAILS, HEADS, TAILS).

So, another way of saying this is that you take their choice (A/B/C) remove C (their third flip option) and simply add the opposite of B (their second flip option) to the beginning of your three-coin combination.

This means that X/A/B for their choice of HEADS, TAILS, TAILS would be HEADS, HEADS, TAILS.

Play with this for while with all the combinations mentioned in the previous coin flip game above (Threesomes) until you can quickly calculate X/A/B for all outcomes, then flip a coin to see how often your three-coin combo will win against theirs.

Sure, it sounds complicated but all advantages in gambling require a little extra work and understanding and if you can decipher these instructions, you have a powerful winning strategy for a seemingly simple game.

For more similar content, check out the first part of this series on dice hustles.

I spend a lot of time explaining how to narrow and occasionally beat the mathematical edge in certain casino games and in turn, I read and discuss these matters with expert players who put these methods into practice with various levels of success.

Concealed computers and complex mental gymnastics can offer individuals or teams of players a better return for money they play but it’s a lot of work and can require a particular mindset to commit the effort required to beat the house.

So let’s take a different approach and put ourselves into the house’s position of playing with an edge against anyone curious (or stupid) enough to accept a seemingly simple proposition.

Games With An Unfair Advantage

Proposition bets often have a trick to them that is revealed when enough money is bet against us but with clip games, there is a concealed advantage that is only apparent to players who can calculate the true odds against them.

Whether you read these games as curious examples of skewed chances or as an opportunity to fleece your friends or fellow players in the future, I guarantee there’s plenty to learn from understanding how to play with an unfair advantage!

Carry a few dice in your pocket and you’ll find no end of gamblers interested in playing a seemingly fair game, but you need to make sure the rules are clear and any apparent advantage to you is hidden or far from obvious.

So the approach – like all good con games – has to be as subtle as possible without going unnoticed and not so strong you wake up their suspicions!

Dice Hustle #1 – Six And Four Before

With two dice, make the following proposition:

In any round, I bet you will roll a six AND eight BEFORE you roll TWO sevens.

Now think about that.

A seven is the most common number rolled with two legitimate dice so the chances of rolling a six and an eight before two sevens seems to be weighted entirely in the favour of the player (remember: you are the house) so you’re going to get a lot of takers if they can figure the odds of rolling a six and an eight compared to the odds of rolling a seven.

They should figure like this:

There are five ways to roll a six, and five ways to roll an eight.

There are six ways to roll a seven.

Therefore, it should be easier to roll two sevens than to roll a six and an eight in any round of play.

In fact, the odds against them are almost two to one against but the false logic that most people fall into will set them up for a (minor) financial fall.

Be prepared to play several rounds and if you happen to lose the first one, be prepared to play even more than if they lose the first roll.

That first win is a powerful convincer and some dice mechanics have been known to fix the first roll on bets like this to drive the hook even deeper into their mark!

Dice Hustle #2 – Add Up To Seven

For this you will need four identical dice.

With three dice, there’s a devilish little swindle that can play entirely in your favour but be warned it’s limited, as the secret can easily be recognized.

The first couple of rounds require some careful management (and explanation) on your part.

Stick a die inside a coffee mug with a little blu-tack or similar product with an ace (one dot) uppermost.

Add two more dice and find a suitable cover (a saucer, plate etc).

If you have a home poker night, this is a perfect little set-up for a break in the main game and I encourage you to share the secret after winning but only if the original bet stands, of course!

Here’s the proposition:

The dice will be shaken inside the cup while covered with the plate and when stopped, if any two or all three add to seven, you (the house) win. But if there’s no seven then the players win.

All should be encouraged to bet against you since the odds in this round are entirely in your favour.

Play several rounds and you’ll be shocked that no-one will notice there is always an ace amongst the three dice.

Be warned, though, that if you win too often they will start to question what’s in the cup or notice that one die never moves.

Tip: I stick it off-centre, near the inner edge and I use a shallow coffee mug, so the dice are easily seen and the mug does not need to be picked up to show them.

With this method you will win five times out of nine.

After a couple of rounds, secure an extra die in your hand and then tip the dice in the mug onto that hand and pass out the three dice (one will remain stuck inside the mug) as you place the mug and plate aside while you offer a variation on the game just played.

This time the dice will be rolled openly and this time if any two or all three add to seven the players will win, apparently turning the odds in their favour but in truth you still hold enough of an edge to win more than half the time!

Dice Hustle #3 – Aces Wild

For this, you’ll need five dice and enough gall to offer the following proposition:

With aces wild (three ones), players win with any pair but lose with any three of a kind!

Without aces being wild, two of a kind is much easier to roll than three but making aces wild makes three of a kind more likely than a pair!

This is hard for people to figure but after a few rounds they’ll soon realise that three of a kinds happen almost twice as often as pairs, making this bet a license to print money!

I’ve played this with poker dice and somehow the added colour and playing card dice make it less obvious but over time, anyone is sure to wake up to getting fleeced.

Remember To Reveal The Secret

The goal here is to win a little money but the host thing to do with this information is to expose how and why you are able to win more often than you lose.

The doesn’t necessarily mean they get their money back!

As the great Bob Farmer has often coached, the secret is part of the price of losing a proposition bet and is therefore a fair trade so long as you’re playing for reasonable stakes.

In our next “Be Your Own Casino” article we will explore a brilliant mathematical principle that can turn the flip of a few coins into a winning proposition for the house (you).

This particular masterpiece has been shared with only a few friends and students but creates a staggering moment of wonder if the audience can only understand just how completely and utterly impossible the final effect actually is.

Juan’s solution to this is both beautiful and elegant, and if you saw him (or I) perform it, you would soon have a real understanding of how quickly numbers can increase and odds can become astronomical so that when the final effect is revealed, the enormous improbability is interpreted as something wonderful, amazing and utterly impossible.

Without giving anything away, the secret is in illustrating how quickly large numbers become truly enormous and lose their meaning once we are unable to compare or contrast these numbers based on our own experience.

Tamariz gives the audience this understanding by tapping into their emotional intelligence and the result is pure astonishment.

In many aspects of life, especially gambling, investing or taking “calculated” risks, there’s a point where numbers cease to have meaning and intuition takes over but is often way, way off target.

Seriously Terrible Odds

We can see this effect in any weekly lottery where people who buy tickets fail to understand the sheer size of the odds against them; seemingly happy with the idea that “someone always wins” and frankly, I think there’s nothing wrong with that if it’s merely a weekly or occasional purchase to feed one’s dreams or imagine “what if” so long as the price of the ticket is affordable.

Some people, however, take this way too far and buy dozens of tickets every week chasing a great mathematical dragon that will only consume them over time with odds that are far from fair compared to other, much wiser bets that are available to knowledgeable gamblers.

The reason is not just one of addiction, it is a failure to comprehend the sheer weight of improbability against the player when buying a lottery ticket, not to mention the outrageously unfair reward for beating those lottery odds.

Let’s consider it for a moment and look at our chances of winning the UK national lottery.

If you buy one ticket, the chances of hitting all six numbers are over 45,000,000 to 1 and your chances of hitting just two numbers are around 10 to 1 against you.

Chances are, anyone can understand 10:1 against in terms of probability but in most people’s minds, 45,000,000 to 1 is immediately translated into “big number versus small number” and falls squarely into the “guesstimate” part of our brains.

This is what people do when the numbers start to lose their meaning and it’s all too easy to misunderstand or poorly estimate the real odds of something when numbers get so big that our internal system of weights and measures simply bundles them into a “big” or “really big” category.

In fact, many con games work by concealing astronomical odds or reframing them easily by dictating how those odds are interpreted by a potential mark.

This is incredibly easy to do if the target has a limited comprehension of how numbers relate to any outcome but when dealing with people who do understand the odds and can recognise a skewed (or fraudulent) proposition, con artists tend to either make for the door or take an entirely different approach.

But generally speaking, most people fail to understand the odds against them.

And the bigger those odds, the less they seem to understand and the easier it might be to focus them on an impossible reward.

Inability To Comprehend Big Numbers

In The Real Hustle, we once showed people a non-existent stocks and shares computer that apparently (thanks to some cool graphics) could predict the outcome of a multi-layered investment over several weeks or months while those “grey-suited morons” at the stock exchange were stuck in the last century using outdated methods and technology.

As with any “big store” set-up, we used the single location to bring in multiple potential marks compared to a typical scam that might only have three victims lined up, two of whom would be cancelled if the scam worked first time as it often did.

In these types of scams, however, numbers were part of the story as were the number of victims we could convince to sign up for our scheme.

Almost everyone who saw the “flash” (how we dressed the scam – the graphics, the computer screens, the office, the suits etc.) immediately accepted the concept and moved quickly towards being convinced they could make a great deal of money if they were “allowed” to invest.

Only one potential victim immediately understood the sheer mathematical impossibility of what we were supposedly doing and while he couldn’t calculate the odds exactly; based on what he was being shown, he could see an enormous improbability that only got worse the more he thought about it.

It turned out he was an amateur poker player who had very recently learned to calculate odds at the table (an invaluable skill that many still refuse to learn) and could immediately see that the number of permutations based on the number of stocks being invested (according to our bullshit story) made our “sure fire” system impossible based on our claims.

Needless to say, he was quickly shown the door!

What worked with this kind of scam was the inability of most people to comprehend numbers beyond a certain size and our ability to quickly distract them with promises of easy money based on a compelling idea that was little more than a bedtime story.

In short, the idea was easy to grasp but the reality was harder to recognise because the numbers were simply too much to calculate, unless you had developed the habit (and the mental muscle) to do so.

Lottereality

Going back to the UK Lotto: Millions of people buy tickets every week and if I were to ask any of them to quote the odds, I genuinely believe many could quickly state around 14,000,000 to 1.

This may have been true at some point and has somehow stuck with people as the “big number versus small number” that they are happy to live with but the true odds of 45,000,000 to 1 are far worse yet would only be interpreted as another “big number versus small number” and would fail to have the impact it should on their understanding.

In actual fact, while the odds are bad, the potential prizes are far worse in terms of return since the minimum prize is only ￡2.5 million.

While many would quickly mistake this as being paid odds of 2,500,000 to 1, smart gamblers would remember that a ticket costs ￡2, so the average return is half of that!

Being paid 1.25 million to 1 on a bet of 45 million to 1 against is a staggering mathematical advantage for any lottery but it has to be remembered that they all pay out many more prizes (for less than six winning numbers) and the easiest prize to win (by matching two numbers) is still 10 to 1 against and all you win for that is a free ticket for the next draw!

Perhaps people should consider the smallest odds rather than the largest to gauge just how fair a proposition is, but truth be told, that simply creates more possibilities for fraud, deception or manipulative psychology.