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1
00:00:23,066 --> 00:00:26,156
I would guess that if you walk
into a crowded casino,
2
00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,203
maybe ten percent
of those customers
3
00:00:29,246 --> 00:00:31,814
think they're advantage players.
4
00:00:31,857 --> 00:00:34,991
But of those ten percent
fewer than one percent
5
00:00:35,035 --> 00:00:37,950
have any hope
of actually taking
6
00:00:37,994 --> 00:00:40,388
any substantial amount
of money out of a casino.
7
00:00:41,476 --> 00:00:45,001
[man] Casinos don't like it when they get people in there
8
00:00:45,045 --> 00:00:47,090
who have the expectation
of walking out the door
9
00:00:47,134 --> 00:00:49,223
with more money
than they walked in with.
10
00:00:49,266 --> 00:00:52,139
[music]
11
00:00:55,229 --> 00:00:58,014
Any card counter knows
that heat comes quickly
12
00:00:58,058 --> 00:01:00,190
if you're counting cards.
13
00:01:00,234 --> 00:01:02,888
It's the thing that casinos look for first.
14
00:01:04,977 --> 00:01:08,938
[Nelson] The casinos feel emotionally toward card counters,
15
00:01:08,981 --> 00:01:10,940
the way they feel towards
cheats. So they hate you.
16
00:01:21,559 --> 00:01:22,430
[music]
17
00:01:38,881 --> 00:01:43,146
For the past four decades
18
00:01:43,190 --> 00:01:45,192
blackjack players
have been saying,
19
00:01:45,235 --> 00:01:48,020
"Oh the game is over.
It's the end of times.
20
00:01:48,064 --> 00:01:49,674
We're not going to get
to play anymore
21
00:01:49,718 --> 00:01:51,154
because a new technology
comes along."
22
00:01:51,198 --> 00:01:54,026
When I started playing in 1978
23
00:01:54,070 --> 00:01:57,900
from that moment and every
single year since then,
24
00:01:57,943 --> 00:02:00,294
I have had people tell me
blackjack is dead.
25
00:02:00,337 --> 00:02:03,123
It's over.
You can't make money anymore.
26
00:02:03,166 --> 00:02:05,386
And then we went and made
27
00:02:05,429 --> 00:02:07,779
ten million dollars
or whatever it was.
28
00:02:07,823 --> 00:02:10,913
And KC started his career.
29
00:02:10,956 --> 00:02:13,176
So, it all depends
on how you look at it.
30
00:02:13,220 --> 00:02:15,265
[KC] Most people realize
the game of blackjack
31
00:02:15,309 --> 00:02:17,311
is vulnerable and can be beaten.
32
00:02:17,354 --> 00:02:20,140
But very few people take
the time to master the skills
33
00:02:20,183 --> 00:02:24,318
necessary to do it and/or build
the required bankroll
34
00:02:24,361 --> 00:02:28,278
to play professionally.
When I started
playing blackjack, I knew
35
00:02:28,322 --> 00:02:30,672
I wanted to play at the highest stakes available.
36
00:02:30,715 --> 00:02:33,022
I started playing at a very young age. I had a subscription
37
00:02:33,065 --> 00:02:34,980
to Arnold Snyder's,
"Blackjack Forum."
38
00:02:35,024 --> 00:02:37,200
I read every issue cover
to cover. I loved it.
39
00:02:37,244 --> 00:02:39,724
Realizing there were people
beating casinos for a living,
40
00:02:39,768 --> 00:02:41,204
I was attracted to it.
41
00:02:41,248 --> 00:02:42,945
I would read books,
42
00:02:42,988 --> 00:02:45,469
go to websites.
Check out the forums.
43
00:02:45,513 --> 00:02:48,733
I had a computer software
I'd practice on,
on a regular basis.
44
00:02:48,777 --> 00:02:51,954
And at the time, I was playing very low limits,
45
00:02:51,997 --> 00:02:54,783
learning the game, learning how to play, learning techniques,
46
00:02:54,826 --> 00:02:57,960
and I slowly built up
a bank roll over the years.
47
00:02:58,003 --> 00:03:00,354
I learned a lot of hard lessons. I went broke a few times,
48
00:03:00,397 --> 00:03:02,660
but it's when I really
became a professional.
49
00:03:02,704 --> 00:03:05,707
There was a definitive point
where I went from playing
50
00:03:05,750 --> 00:03:07,926
under the radar
at lower states
51
00:03:07,970 --> 00:03:09,928
recreationally
without giving my ID,
52
00:03:09,972 --> 00:03:12,453
I decided I was going to set up credit lines
53
00:03:12,496 --> 00:03:14,324
and play at high stakes.
54
00:03:14,368 --> 00:03:16,805
It took me years and years
to get to that point,
55
00:03:16,848 --> 00:03:19,199
I not only had the bankroll
but I also had the skills
56
00:03:19,242 --> 00:03:22,245
to play blackjack
at nosebleed stakes.
57
00:03:22,289 --> 00:03:24,334
This is where like my whole plan
came together.
58
00:03:24,378 --> 00:03:27,076
And every weekend
I was traveling from Berkeley,
59
00:03:27,119 --> 00:03:29,034
where I was a full-time student, to Las Vegas
60
00:03:29,078 --> 00:03:32,342
where I was working full-time as a professional blackjack player.
61
00:03:32,386 --> 00:03:34,779
It was a pretty exciting
period of my life.
62
00:03:34,823 --> 00:03:36,128
[music]
63
00:03:37,913 --> 00:03:40,829
[KC] My optimal high-limit strategy required disclosing my identity
64
00:03:40,872 --> 00:03:43,223
and establishing credit lines all over Las Vegas.
65
00:03:43,266 --> 00:03:45,399
I knew I only had one shot at this,
66
00:03:45,442 --> 00:03:48,271
once the casinos identify you
as an advantage player,
67
00:03:48,315 --> 00:03:49,664
the whole game changes.
68
00:03:49,707 --> 00:03:52,536
I went to grad school with KC
69
00:03:52,580 --> 00:03:54,408
and while we were doing
our homework together,
70
00:03:54,451 --> 00:03:57,062
I quickly
understood that his lifestyle
71
00:03:57,106 --> 00:04:00,152
was not financed
by working at Starbucks.
72
00:04:02,372 --> 00:04:05,636
What makes KC so good? I mean he's been playing the game
73
00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,073
for so many years, that any little edge he'll find,
74
00:04:08,117 --> 00:04:11,076
he'll take advantage of it
and push it to its maximum.
75
00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:13,905
[KC] There's something
extremely satisfying
76
00:04:13,949 --> 00:04:16,168
about beating a casino
for a large sum of money,
77
00:04:16,212 --> 00:04:18,693
even better
when they pick up your tab
78
00:04:18,736 --> 00:04:20,782
on an enormous weekend
of extravagance.
79
00:04:20,825 --> 00:04:23,915
That's a great feeling.
I'm not only winning.
80
00:04:23,959 --> 00:04:25,787
But them paying
for the whole thing,
81
00:04:25,830 --> 00:04:27,702
knowing you had the advantage the whole way.
82
00:04:27,745 --> 00:04:29,225
And the whole time
the casino was a sucker.
83
00:04:31,009 --> 00:04:33,316
Sidrit] Comps are what we give
back to a customer
84
00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:35,623
who's willing to risk
his money in the casino
85
00:04:35,666 --> 00:04:37,712
and play up to a certain level.
86
00:04:37,755 --> 00:04:42,412
We base comps on the level
of play of a customer.
87
00:04:42,456 --> 00:04:46,677
[KC] The extravagant lifestyle afforded to casino high rollers seems frivolous but actually
88
00:04:46,721 --> 00:04:50,115
it's an important calculated
element of a professional
blackjack career.
89
00:04:50,159 --> 00:04:53,293
Comps range from room,
to food and beverage,
90
00:04:53,336 --> 00:04:56,165
to spa, to expensive flight tickets,
91
00:04:56,208 --> 00:04:59,516
jet air fares, very expensive
nightclub bills.
92
00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:02,345
We're talking about all the way to 50,000 dollars.
93
00:05:02,389 --> 00:05:04,739
For a big enough player,
the sky is the limit.
94
00:05:04,782 --> 00:05:07,568
[Max] It adds up a lot.
So it can probably
95
00:05:07,611 --> 00:05:10,962
add as much as twenty
to forty percent
96
00:05:11,006 --> 00:05:14,357
to your overall
expected earn per hour,
97
00:05:14,401 --> 00:05:17,012
if you really work
the comp system well.
98
00:05:17,055 --> 00:05:20,494
[KC] Casinos are constantly looking for advantage players.
99
00:05:20,537 --> 00:05:23,235
So as a professional, a bit of acting is required.
100
00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:25,716
I'm ordering cocktails. I'm buying bottle after bottle
101
00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:29,024
of champagne--Cristal,
Dom Pérignon.
102
00:05:29,067 --> 00:05:31,069
I'm throwing a party
in the high-limit pit.
103
00:05:31,113 --> 00:05:33,637
And as long as I am there
gambling and partying
104
00:05:33,681 --> 00:05:35,813
in their eyes I'm not working.
105
00:05:35,857 --> 00:05:38,207
[Max] Hiding your skill, most people want to show off.
106
00:05:38,250 --> 00:05:40,209
A blackjack player
wants to hide
107
00:05:40,252 --> 00:05:42,211
whatever skill
he may happen to have.
108
00:05:42,254 --> 00:05:45,519
And the more you can act
like a complete jerk
109
00:05:45,562 --> 00:05:47,216
the better off you are.
110
00:05:47,259 --> 00:05:48,783
KC] So having some type of act
111
00:05:48,826 --> 00:05:50,393
you feel comfortable executing,
112
00:05:50,437 --> 00:05:52,264
really does distract them
113
00:05:52,308 --> 00:05:54,092
from evaluating your skills.
114
00:05:55,050 --> 00:05:57,400
In that timeframe,
I beat the Hard Rock
115
00:05:57,444 --> 00:05:59,054
for 1.4 million,
116
00:05:59,968 --> 00:06:03,058
which is probably my greatest score in my blackjack career.
117
00:06:03,101 --> 00:06:05,060
I didn't know how long
it was going to last.
118
00:06:05,103 --> 00:06:07,584
And it ends
when you become so hot
119
00:06:07,628 --> 00:06:09,238
you can't enter a casino
and you can't play.
120
00:06:09,281 --> 00:06:11,283
All of a sudden
you're unwelcome.
121
00:06:11,327 --> 00:06:13,155
You don't know when that day is going to happen.
122
00:06:16,550 --> 00:06:19,030
[KC] There's a very drastic
change from being welcomed
123
00:06:19,074 --> 00:06:21,598
to the casino to them
basically throwing you out.
124
00:06:21,642 --> 00:06:23,426
And maybe even treating you like a criminal.
125
00:06:23,470 --> 00:06:25,689
The Casino has a
surveillance department
that's very good.
126
00:06:25,733 --> 00:06:28,431
Cameras everywhere, personnel trained to look for people
127
00:06:28,475 --> 00:06:30,564
that either might be cheating or counting cards.
128
00:06:30,607 --> 00:06:33,741
They don't care what you're
doing, if you're a threat
129
00:06:33,784 --> 00:06:35,786
to their bottom line in any way, they get you out of their.
130
00:06:46,318 --> 00:06:49,017
The casinos have every
right to bar you
131
00:06:49,060 --> 00:06:51,019
for doing an advantage play,
132
00:06:51,062 --> 00:06:53,587
for using your brain--
you hate it,
133
00:06:53,630 --> 00:06:56,154
but, yes, the casinos
have the right to throw you out.
134
00:06:56,198 --> 00:06:58,026
[Nelson]
Gambling is a state issue.
135
00:06:58,069 --> 00:07:01,029
Nevada law is that any business
136
00:07:01,072 --> 00:07:02,987
has the right to exclude anyone,
137
00:07:03,031 --> 00:07:05,381
for any reason
or for no reason at all
138
00:07:05,425 --> 00:07:08,602
with the obvious exceptions
of by statute,
139
00:07:08,645 --> 00:07:11,779
race, gender,
other forms of discrimination.
140
00:07:11,822 --> 00:07:15,130
So casinos in Nevada
have the right to exclude
141
00:07:15,173 --> 00:07:18,046
anybody they want. If they want
to exclude card counters
142
00:07:18,089 --> 00:07:20,788
or people wearing green hats,
they have the right to do it.
143
00:07:20,831 --> 00:07:23,791
And the casinos also have
the right to 86 you,
144
00:07:23,834 --> 00:07:27,272
formally 86 you, which means
to read you the Trespass Act,
145
00:07:27,316 --> 00:07:29,187
which means if you return,
146
00:07:29,231 --> 00:07:30,885
they can arrest you
for having trespassed.
147
00:07:30,928 --> 00:07:32,539
The relationship between casinos
148
00:07:32,582 --> 00:07:34,192
and advantage players,
149
00:07:34,236 --> 00:07:36,934
it's a thin line
of love and hate.
150
00:07:36,978 --> 00:07:40,198
APs hate the casinos
for limiting their play.
151
00:07:40,242 --> 00:07:44,202
Same time APs love the casinos
after crushing them.
152
00:07:44,246 --> 00:07:46,727
And the casinos
hate them because they did.
153
00:07:46,770 --> 00:07:49,164
Your subsequent return
to the premises
154
00:07:49,207 --> 00:07:52,210
will subject you to immediate
arrest for trespassing.
155
00:07:52,254 --> 00:07:54,169
Some casinos are more friendly
than others
156
00:07:54,212 --> 00:07:56,084
in getting rid of players.
157
00:07:56,127 --> 00:07:58,521
Some players
are much more persistent
158
00:07:58,565 --> 00:08:00,567
than others in playing.
159
00:08:05,093 --> 00:08:07,095
In my opinion, the relationship
160
00:08:07,138 --> 00:08:09,967
between the casino
and the advantage player
161
00:08:10,011 --> 00:08:12,013
should be a cat
and mouse relationship.
162
00:08:12,056 --> 00:08:13,493
Obviously, I am biased.
163
00:08:13,536 --> 00:08:15,756
It seems there's
some illegal conduct
164
00:08:15,799 --> 00:08:17,888
that goes on, either
on the part of the casino
165
00:08:17,932 --> 00:08:19,020
or on part of the card counter.
166
00:08:19,063 --> 00:08:21,065
Most of the illegal conduct
167
00:08:21,109 --> 00:08:24,068
or immoral conduct
is done by the casinos.
168
00:08:24,112 --> 00:08:28,595
The player also enters this
environment under the assumption
169
00:08:28,638 --> 00:08:30,771
that the game
is going to be fair
170
00:08:30,814 --> 00:08:33,469
and the casinos are going to act
in a fair and legal manner.
171
00:08:33,513 --> 00:08:38,039
This is probably true for 99.9% of casino players.
172
00:08:38,082 --> 00:08:42,826
But for advantage players
or players willing to risk
173
00:08:42,870 --> 00:08:45,350
enough money that could
potentially disrupt
174
00:08:45,394 --> 00:08:48,005
the finances of the casino,
this couldn't be further
from the truth.
175
00:08:48,049 --> 00:08:51,748
Casinos, in my opinion, they are
the worst of both worlds.
176
00:08:51,792 --> 00:08:54,272
They'll get people drunk.
They'll take advantage of them.
177
00:08:54,316 --> 00:08:58,625
If you try to take advantage
of them legally,
178
00:08:58,668 --> 00:09:01,149
they will employ
illegal methods to stop you.
179
00:09:01,192 --> 00:09:04,065
It runs the gamut
from illegal detentions,
180
00:09:04,108 --> 00:09:08,852
search and seizure,
confiscating chips,
cheating in the games.
181
00:09:08,896 --> 00:09:10,985
Casinos have refused
to cash my chips.
182
00:09:11,028 --> 00:09:12,943
Casinos have stolen
chips from me.
183
00:09:12,987 --> 00:09:15,903
I've had money
illegally confiscated from me.
184
00:09:15,946 --> 00:09:17,513
I've been cheated
numerous times.
185
00:09:17,557 --> 00:09:19,341
In the past, I have been drugged
186
00:09:19,384 --> 00:09:21,125
in the back, I've been punched,
187
00:09:21,169 --> 00:09:23,345
friends of mine
had been burned with cigarettes,
188
00:09:23,388 --> 00:09:25,390
friends of mine
have had their jaws broken,
189
00:09:25,434 --> 00:09:28,089
friends of mine have been
threatened to be murdered.
190
00:09:28,132 --> 00:09:30,570
I've seen intentional payoffs
against me.
191
00:09:30,613 --> 00:09:34,225
I've been arrested
for crimes I didn't even commit.
192
00:09:34,269 --> 00:09:36,314
I know people who have been
beaten up.
193
00:09:36,358 --> 00:09:38,360
I was once drugged
by a casino.
194
00:09:38,403 --> 00:09:41,145
Casinos planted narcotics
on a friend of mine
195
00:09:41,189 --> 00:09:42,277
that was being detained
illegally.
196
00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:44,714
The list of casino crimes
197
00:09:44,758 --> 00:09:48,326
goes on and on
with never anything
but a slap on the wrist
198
00:09:48,370 --> 00:09:50,372
from local gaming authorities
199
00:09:50,415 --> 00:09:53,375
which are supposed
to regulate games
200
00:09:53,418 --> 00:09:56,465
but we've found
just protect casinos.
201
00:09:56,508 --> 00:09:59,076
People say is it dangerous
to play in these casinos.
202
00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:03,603
And I immediately say,
"No. I don't feel any danger.
203
00:10:03,646 --> 00:10:06,562
I never felt really,
the danger, you know."
204
00:10:06,606 --> 00:10:09,652
But then I think
about visiting Ken Euston,
205
00:10:09,696 --> 00:10:13,569
on his hospital bed when he had
73 broken bones in his face
206
00:10:13,613 --> 00:10:15,963
from a security guard
that punched him
207
00:10:16,006 --> 00:10:18,095
just outside a casino in Reno.
208
00:10:18,139 --> 00:10:19,662
There is a safety issue.
209
00:10:19,706 --> 00:10:22,273
I generally feel
I'm safe in a casino.
210
00:10:22,317 --> 00:10:25,842
Um, but it's not unusual
for security
211
00:10:25,886 --> 00:10:29,672
to get out of line
and overreact to the situation.
212
00:10:29,716 --> 00:10:31,456
This is part of the reason.
213
00:10:31,500 --> 00:10:33,328
They send out
these bolo reports.
214
00:10:33,371 --> 00:10:35,678
They say, be on the lookout
for this player.
215
00:10:35,722 --> 00:10:37,767
He's got this skill,
this skill, and this history.
216
00:10:37,811 --> 00:10:40,683
And one here and one there
and these casinos, freak out.
217
00:10:40,727 --> 00:10:43,730
Usually they tend
to very quickly overreact
218
00:10:43,773 --> 00:10:46,689
and bring security, police
219
00:10:46,733 --> 00:10:49,692
and other goons
to treat us like criminals.
220
00:10:49,736 --> 00:10:51,694
But playing is my job.
221
00:10:51,738 --> 00:10:53,478
It's what I do professionally.
I want to play,
222
00:10:53,522 --> 00:10:55,872
I don't feel
that I should quit playing
223
00:10:55,916 --> 00:10:57,700
just because
they're aggressive,
224
00:10:57,744 --> 00:10:59,659
and willing to break
the laws and intimidate me.
225
00:10:59,702 --> 00:11:04,185
From being both a player
and a casino operator,
226
00:11:04,228 --> 00:11:06,187
I'm just kind of--
sometimes I'm amazed
227
00:11:06,230 --> 00:11:08,624
at some of the techniques
that the casinos use
228
00:11:08,668 --> 00:11:10,713
to try to discourage
card counters.
229
00:11:10,757 --> 00:11:13,934
As any card counter or other
casino player would know
230
00:11:13,977 --> 00:11:16,197
that the hardest part about
the game is avoiding the heat
231
00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,373
over an extended period of time.
232
00:11:18,416 --> 00:11:20,549
The casino's willingness
to break the law
233
00:11:20,592 --> 00:11:23,421
and create a hostile environment
for advantage players,
234
00:11:23,465 --> 00:11:25,423
forces advantage players
to take countermeasures.
235
00:11:25,467 --> 00:11:26,990
I've used disguises.
236
00:11:27,034 --> 00:11:29,123
I use camouflage when I play.
237
00:11:29,166 --> 00:11:31,081
I use aliases.
238
00:11:31,125 --> 00:11:32,996
I would say creativity
239
00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:36,173
and hard work are the two
most important characteristics
240
00:11:36,217 --> 00:11:37,958
that an AP can possess.
241
00:11:38,001 --> 00:11:39,960
I lasted for years.
242
00:11:40,003 --> 00:11:42,353
I had these accents, I was
a Texan, I talked like this.
243
00:11:42,397 --> 00:11:44,660
Come on in, I'd hide whiskey,
I'd put tea in there
244
00:11:44,704 --> 00:11:47,054
and I'd knock them down,
order a double wild turkey,
245
00:11:47,097 --> 00:11:49,143
make it a quadruple
wild turkey and a beer.
246
00:11:49,186 --> 00:11:52,146
And I'd already have an O'Doul's
poured it into the beer I had.
247
00:11:52,189 --> 00:11:54,191
I'd have this one here.
I'd knock them down,
knock that down.
248
00:11:54,235 --> 00:11:57,107
I'm talking like this,
acting like that,
tipping like crazy.
249
00:11:57,151 --> 00:11:59,240
I've done some ridiculous
things to try
250
00:11:59,283 --> 00:12:02,243
to avoid heat
or detection or whatever.
251
00:12:02,286 --> 00:12:04,941
But they were kind of ridiculous and I got caught,
252
00:12:04,985 --> 00:12:08,075
I got dressed up as a woman.
I mean, come on, you know.
253
00:12:08,118 --> 00:12:10,904
Welcome to "Gambling
with an Edge." I'm Bob Dancer.
254
00:12:10,947 --> 00:12:13,471
-Hello, Richard.
-Hello. Good to be here.
255
00:12:13,515 --> 00:12:16,997
All right. Tonight's guests will
be KC, a professional gambler.
256
00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:20,478
[KC] At the time,
in the peacock lounge which used to be the high-limit pit
257
00:12:20,522 --> 00:12:22,829
-in the Hard Rock.
-Yes, right by the front door.
258
00:12:22,872 --> 00:12:27,485
Yep. They used to have
chips with RFID
259
00:12:27,529 --> 00:12:29,531
that they used to rate you.
260
00:12:29,574 --> 00:12:31,663
As you bet these chips,
there was a computer screen
261
00:12:31,707 --> 00:12:33,970
that the pit-boss had access to and it could see
262
00:12:34,014 --> 00:12:36,233
exactly how much you were wagering on every single hand.
263
00:12:37,147 --> 00:12:40,672
And I realized that if you took
one of those chips and placed it
underneath the table,
264
00:12:40,716 --> 00:12:42,762
it would also trigger
in the betting circle.
265
00:12:42,805 --> 00:12:45,765
I wore Under Armour
underneath my pants.
266
00:12:45,808 --> 00:12:48,115
Then, sewed these chips
into the Under Armour.
267
00:12:48,158 --> 00:12:51,118
And I could lift my knee up,
268
00:12:51,161 --> 00:12:53,468
it would trigger as if I bet
on top of the circle.
269
00:12:53,511 --> 00:12:55,470
-Underneath the table?
-Exactly.
270
00:12:55,513 --> 00:12:57,254
[Richard] Attention, advantage
players, this is exactly
271
00:12:57,298 --> 00:13:00,562
the way the mind
of an advantage player works.
272
00:13:00,605 --> 00:13:04,392
You automatically get extra
2,000 dollars on to your bet.
273
00:13:04,435 --> 00:13:06,960
You might be spreading
from 100 to 500,
274
00:13:07,003 --> 00:13:09,310
but it looks like
a spread from 2,100
275
00:13:09,353 --> 00:13:11,616
to 2,500, which isn't much
of a spread at all.
276
00:13:11,660 --> 00:13:13,183
-Exactly!
-Something like that?
277
00:13:13,227 --> 00:13:15,707
It looked like
I was betting pretty big.
278
00:13:15,751 --> 00:13:18,798
I might change my bet a little,
when I go down to 500,
279
00:13:18,841 --> 00:13:21,104
I put the 1,500
and chips underneath the table,
280
00:13:21,148 --> 00:13:23,106
so it would still read
as if it were 2,000.
281
00:13:23,150 --> 00:13:25,761
So my bet, according
to their computer system,
282
00:13:25,805 --> 00:13:28,068
never looked like it was going
between 2,000 and 3,000
283
00:13:28,111 --> 00:13:30,810
all the time which isn't
that big of a variation.
284
00:13:30,853 --> 00:13:34,770
And I think that they were very
dependent on this technology.
285
00:13:34,814 --> 00:13:37,599
So, I was able
to beat them up, pretty good.
286
00:13:37,642 --> 00:13:40,820
KC was one of those players
that I noticed in the circuit.
287
00:13:40,863 --> 00:13:44,171
He was one of my players
that I liked to follow
288
00:13:44,214 --> 00:13:46,390
because he had
all these personas.
289
00:13:46,434 --> 00:13:50,090
He looked like a mountain man one day and GQ'ed up the next.
290
00:13:50,133 --> 00:13:53,702
I didn't really talk very much
about the art of implementation
291
00:13:53,745 --> 00:13:58,925
because I feel that it would be
presumptuous of me
292
00:13:58,968 --> 00:14:02,015
to talk about it when KC I think
is better at it than I am.
293
00:14:02,058 --> 00:14:05,583
I am a professional
blackjack player.
I'm forced to evade
294
00:14:05,627 --> 00:14:07,455
the most advanced surveillance
systems known to man.
295
00:14:07,498 --> 00:14:10,588
I'm scrutinized
by biometric software.
296
00:14:10,632 --> 00:14:13,461
I'm constantly observed
by casino personnel.
297
00:14:13,504 --> 00:14:16,029
My identity changes every day.
298
00:14:16,072 --> 00:14:19,423
This is the price
I pay to be a winner.
299
00:14:19,467 --> 00:14:22,383
KC has taken this to some kind
of new level, you know.
300
00:14:22,426 --> 00:14:25,429
The disguises he puts on,
the variety
301
00:14:25,473 --> 00:14:28,084
and the IDs and all that stuff.
302
00:14:28,128 --> 00:14:32,219
I don't know anybody
else who does it like that,
to that degree.
303
00:14:32,262 --> 00:14:34,351
[KC] I was getting a lot of heat from the casinos,
304
00:14:34,395 --> 00:14:35,962
changed my look, grew a beard,
305
00:14:36,005 --> 00:14:39,661
grew my hair out,
changed the way I dressed
306
00:14:39,704 --> 00:14:41,619
and I've been able to get back into the casino.
307
00:14:41,663 --> 00:14:43,665
So, I'm going to take
another shot at them,
308
00:14:43,708 --> 00:14:45,232
start playing every day,
see how things go.
309
00:14:47,712 --> 00:14:49,801
Yeah, so we just got booted
from the Orleans.
310
00:14:49,845 --> 00:14:52,717
Unfortunately,
he was on a tail end
311
00:14:52,761 --> 00:14:54,458
of a very good run of cards
312
00:14:55,503 --> 00:14:59,202
using a 100 dollar unit,
one over 6,000 which was good.
313
00:14:59,246 --> 00:15:01,030
[man] What did the guy say
when he went up to you?
314
00:15:01,074 --> 00:15:03,337
He introduced himself.
He was very friendly.
315
00:15:03,380 --> 00:15:07,776
"No more blackjack at any of the boy gaming properties."
316
00:15:07,819 --> 00:15:09,691
-[man] Did he ask you
who you were?
- Nope.
317
00:15:09,734 --> 00:15:12,128
Didn't ask me. Probably knew
I wouldn't tell him.
318
00:15:12,172 --> 00:15:15,305
Just to be safe when we left the property we jumped in a cab,
319
00:15:15,349 --> 00:15:18,047
circled around the block, came back and jumped in the car.
320
00:15:18,091 --> 00:15:22,312
When I walk out of a casino
and I know I've just either been
backed off, or trespassed,
321
00:15:22,356 --> 00:15:26,142
I never get into my car.
They've got cameras all over.
322
00:15:26,186 --> 00:15:28,057
Even if you don't think
they're following you, they are.
323
00:15:28,101 --> 00:15:30,930
We're going to head
over to Silverton lodge.
324
00:15:30,973 --> 00:15:32,975
It's right
on the outskirts of Vegas
325
00:15:33,019 --> 00:15:36,239
and work our way
north from there.
326
00:15:36,283 --> 00:15:38,720
Just do as many hit
and runs as we can.
327
00:15:38,763 --> 00:15:42,071
In and out, playing
aggressively, you know.
328
00:15:42,115 --> 00:15:44,334
Most of these places I've been thrown out before.
329
00:15:44,378 --> 00:15:47,729
We're going to take dead aim at them until we have to go.
330
00:15:58,522 --> 00:16:03,092
[KC] The hair. To go or not to go? To cut or not to cut.
331
00:16:03,136 --> 00:16:06,008
My hair has been pretty good
to me lately.
332
00:16:06,052 --> 00:16:09,446
You know, it's provided quite a bit of cover for me.
333
00:16:09,490 --> 00:16:12,884
The problem is
it's very difficult to handle
334
00:16:12,928 --> 00:16:18,586
other day-to-day functions
looking like the caveman.
335
00:16:18,629 --> 00:16:19,891
[music]
336
00:16:24,157 --> 00:16:25,941
[KC] Fresh out of salon
at the Palms,
337
00:16:25,985 --> 00:16:31,120
got my new haircut,
my new look.
338
00:16:31,164 --> 00:16:33,035
We'll see how it goes.
339
00:16:33,079 --> 00:16:36,125
There's only one way to tell
and we should go play.
340
00:16:36,169 --> 00:16:37,997
[music continues]
341
00:16:56,580 --> 00:17:00,541
There's nothing like walking
downtown 7:00 in the morning.
342
00:17:00,584 --> 00:17:04,153
T. Dane] Camouflage plays will efinitely help your longevity.
343
00:17:04,197 --> 00:17:07,026
Eventually, no matter how good
you are, you will get caught.
344
00:17:29,135 --> 00:17:31,093
Duly appointed representative
of the owner of this property,
345
00:17:31,137 --> 00:17:33,052
I hereby warn
you you are trespassing
346
00:17:33,095 --> 00:17:36,055
according to the Trespassing Act
347
00:17:36,098 --> 00:17:38,361
as defined by Statute 207.200.
348
00:17:39,232 --> 00:17:42,061
[sighs]
349
00:17:42,974 --> 00:17:47,718
Six a.m. Spent all night
playing at a crappy casino.
350
00:17:47,762 --> 00:17:50,678
It's getting really tough.
I'm not welcome in the city.
351
00:17:50,721 --> 00:17:54,682
I'm finding myself playing in,
you know, poor casinos
352
00:17:54,725 --> 00:17:58,512
and off shifts at low limits.
353
00:17:58,555 --> 00:18:03,169
I've had two faces
at this blackjack career.
354
00:18:03,212 --> 00:18:06,346
One, learning how to play,
playing in lower limits,
355
00:18:06,389 --> 00:18:08,826
building my bankroll and two,
playing at the highest limits
356
00:18:08,870 --> 00:18:13,309
as an invited Casino guest.
But things have changed.
357
00:18:13,353 --> 00:18:19,010
Now, I'm a known entity, I can't play in Las Vegas anymore.
358
00:18:19,054 --> 00:18:21,535
I've come to a crossroads
in my blackjack career.
359
00:18:21,578 --> 00:18:25,974
I need to determine,
if I want to go
down this road further.
360
00:18:26,017 --> 00:18:28,411
I'm going to have to leave
Las Vegas,
361
00:18:28,455 --> 00:18:30,892
travel around the country
to other casinos
362
00:18:30,935 --> 00:18:34,722
or, two, I'm going to have
to find a new career.
363
00:18:34,765 --> 00:18:37,551
It's not clear to me
what the right decision is.
364
00:18:37,594 --> 00:18:40,989
But it is clear to me that
playing professional blackjack
365
00:18:41,032 --> 00:18:43,165
in Las Vegas
is no longer an option.
366
00:18:45,776 --> 00:18:48,170
[music]
367
00:19:03,533 --> 00:19:06,101
[KC] I think there might be another half a million out there
368
00:19:06,145 --> 00:19:08,190
for me to earn
playing blackjack.
369
00:19:08,234 --> 00:19:10,105
There's so many
casinos I haven't been to,
370
00:19:10,149 --> 00:19:12,586
I'd really like to spend
one year in the RV,
371
00:19:12,629 --> 00:19:15,023
traveling around the country trying to extract
372
00:19:15,066 --> 00:19:17,068
as much as I possibly can out of the game of blackjack.
373
00:19:17,112 --> 00:19:18,940
[music continues]
374
00:19:23,249 --> 00:19:26,034
[KC] So pulled
on the road heading east,
375
00:19:26,077 --> 00:19:29,907
our nationwide blackjack
tour begins.
376
00:19:32,693 --> 00:19:36,784
We just entered Louisiana,
first town on the border
in Shreveport,
377
00:19:36,827 --> 00:19:40,048
there's a nice group
of casinos here at boomtown.
378
00:19:40,091 --> 00:19:42,137
And we're trying to work our way
down to New Orleans
379
00:19:42,181 --> 00:19:43,834
which is going to be
our home base
380
00:19:43,878 --> 00:19:46,054
as we take on all the casinos
381
00:19:46,097 --> 00:19:47,403
in this region here.
382
00:19:47,447 --> 00:19:49,840
[music continues]
383
00:19:54,628 --> 00:19:58,197
I wanted to play
my third session at Harrah's,
New Orleans.
384
00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:02,157
And within five minutes,
a casino manager trespassed
me from the property.
385
00:20:02,201 --> 00:20:04,986
I hadn't gotten a lot of heat during my first two sessions
386
00:20:05,029 --> 00:20:06,770
but I had a lot of big bets
out there.
387
00:20:06,814 --> 00:20:08,685
Probably got their attention,
388
00:20:08,729 --> 00:20:10,818
they may have rewound
the footage and analyzed
389
00:20:10,861 --> 00:20:13,168
my play later and realized
I was counting cards.
390
00:20:13,212 --> 00:20:15,910
Card counting is professional blackjack 101,
391
00:20:15,953 --> 00:20:19,653
the first technique
an aspiring AP would learn.
392
00:20:19,696 --> 00:20:22,786
Counting is a simple technique, players sign values to cards,
393
00:20:22,830 --> 00:20:24,571
contract them as they are dealt.
394
00:20:24,614 --> 00:20:25,833
I use the high-low count
395
00:20:25,876 --> 00:20:27,051
and assign the value
396
00:20:27,095 --> 00:20:28,705
of plus 1 to 2 through 6,
397
00:20:28,749 --> 00:20:31,230
0 to 7s, 8s and 9s
398
00:20:31,273 --> 00:20:32,796
and minus 1 to tens,
399
00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:34,407
face cards, and aces.
400
00:20:34,450 --> 00:20:36,235
As the cards
are dealt in real time,
401
00:20:36,278 --> 00:20:38,454
values are added to create the running count.
402
00:20:41,152 --> 00:20:43,677
The running count needs to be adjusted by the decks remaining
403
00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:46,549
to establish an adjusted count
or true count.
404
00:20:46,593 --> 00:20:48,595
The true count determines the player's edge
405
00:20:48,638 --> 00:20:50,988
or mathematical advantage
or disadvantage
406
00:20:51,032 --> 00:20:53,208
which in turn determines
how much a player wagers
407
00:20:53,252 --> 00:20:56,124
on any given hand. When the true count goes up,
408
00:20:56,167 --> 00:20:58,909
the player wagers more. When the true count goes down
409
00:20:58,953 --> 00:21:01,172
the player wagers
less or not at all.
410
00:21:01,216 --> 00:21:04,175
Changes in true count determine strategy decisions.
411
00:21:04,219 --> 00:21:06,265
Similar hands are often played differently
412
00:21:06,308 --> 00:21:08,963
depending on the true count at the time the hand is dealt.
413
00:21:09,006 --> 00:21:11,095
On my first hand
I have an ace seven
414
00:21:11,139 --> 00:21:13,707
or soft 18
versus the dealer's two.
415
00:21:13,750 --> 00:21:17,188
A basic strategy
would suggest that I stand
416
00:21:17,232 --> 00:21:19,321
but because the true count
is plus three,
417
00:21:19,365 --> 00:21:22,281
my strategy indicates I should double down in this situation.
418
00:21:23,369 --> 00:21:27,068
On my second hand I have
six-three or nine
versus the dealer's two.
419
00:21:27,111 --> 00:21:30,898
Again, basic strategy would suggest I hit in this situation
420
00:21:30,941 --> 00:21:33,640
but as the true count is plus
three my strategy suggests
421
00:21:33,683 --> 00:21:35,903
that I deviate and double down in the spot.
422
00:21:35,946 --> 00:21:38,079
Using this strategy,
an advantage player
423
00:21:38,122 --> 00:21:40,777
can expect to play with an advantage over the casino
424
00:21:40,821 --> 00:21:42,301
of approximately one percent.
425
00:21:43,389 --> 00:21:46,261
Changed my look, I'm going to try playing in another casino.
426
00:21:46,305 --> 00:21:49,090
I don't have much of a history with them, that might go well.
427
00:22:12,287 --> 00:22:14,811
[KC laughing] Shit.
428
00:22:18,206 --> 00:22:20,034
Now they got a cop up here.
429
00:22:23,254 --> 00:22:25,039
He's turning his lights
on coming to get me. Shit!
430
00:22:25,082 --> 00:22:26,997
-What disturbance?
-[policeman] I don't know.
431
00:22:27,041 --> 00:22:28,825
They said the white car,
you're in the white car.
432
00:22:28,869 --> 00:22:32,829
The casino asked the Kenner,
Louisiana police,
433
00:22:32,873 --> 00:22:35,223
to pull us over
outside of the casino.
434
00:22:35,266 --> 00:22:38,008
Casino surveillance is trying
very hard to get us
435
00:22:38,052 --> 00:22:40,315
to show identification
which we're not going to do.
436
00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:43,797
We haven't broken the law.
We didn't even play blackjack.
437
00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:46,147
-I have a supervisor
coming to the scene.
-Okay.
438
00:22:46,190 --> 00:22:48,105
I have one of their supervisors
coming to the scene
439
00:22:48,149 --> 00:22:51,152
so we can see what we have
going. We try to resolve this.
440
00:22:51,195 --> 00:22:52,980
I have no idea
what they're talking about.
441
00:22:53,023 --> 00:22:55,112
That's what I'm trying.
He just pointed to you.
442
00:22:55,156 --> 00:22:57,854
He said the white car, stop them
they're causing a disturbance.
443
00:22:57,898 --> 00:23:00,596
That's where we're at right now.
So give me a few minutes.
444
00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:02,598
Yeah we'd love to go,
you know, it's...
445
00:23:02,642 --> 00:23:06,689
The casino manager who
trespassed us from the property
446
00:23:06,733 --> 00:23:10,780
is now explaining to the officer
why his security personnel
asked him to pull us over.
447
00:23:11,868 --> 00:23:14,175
The good thing is the cop
has no idea what to do.
448
00:23:14,218 --> 00:23:16,046
He said, "what do you want
me to charge him with?"
449
00:23:16,090 --> 00:23:18,440
I think, the cop realizes
we haven't done anything wrong.
450
00:23:20,050 --> 00:23:21,574
This guy is starting
to sweat a little.
451
00:23:23,184 --> 00:23:24,446
Do you have some identification?
452
00:23:24,490 --> 00:23:26,230
Can I ask what the problem is?
453
00:23:26,274 --> 00:23:28,711
-I just need your ID.
-Okay.
454
00:23:28,755 --> 00:23:32,062
Now they just extracted my ID out of me illegally.
455
00:23:32,106 --> 00:23:35,022
They finally figured it out.
It's me.
456
00:23:35,065 --> 00:23:38,286
So, new disguise, new look.
457
00:23:38,329 --> 00:23:41,158
The two trespassings
made it clear
458
00:23:41,202 --> 00:23:44,510
that Griffin was aware
that I'm in this area.
459
00:23:44,553 --> 00:23:47,121
There's no doubt in my mind
that they sent out a flyer
460
00:23:47,164 --> 00:23:49,253
with my picture on it--
461
00:23:49,297 --> 00:23:52,126
updated picture
to the local casinos.
462
00:23:52,169 --> 00:23:58,219
Griffin is a big thorn
in any blackjack player's side.
463
00:23:58,262 --> 00:24:02,397
Griffin holds itself out
as a detective agency
464
00:24:02,441 --> 00:24:06,140
that publishes
an electronic database
465
00:24:06,183 --> 00:24:09,317
of purportedly known cheaters,
466
00:24:09,360 --> 00:24:12,015
advantage players,
card counters,
467
00:24:12,059 --> 00:24:16,933
and other people who casinos
might want to know who they are.
468
00:24:16,977 --> 00:24:20,284
It's very bad to be a card
counter and get placed
in the Griffin book.
469
00:24:20,328 --> 00:24:23,374
That's like considered somewhat
traumatic the first time
470
00:24:23,418 --> 00:24:25,725
you find out that you're
actually in the Griffin book.
471
00:24:25,768 --> 00:24:29,032
There's the famous black book
called the Griffin book.
472
00:24:29,076 --> 00:24:33,210
This is a rogue copy given to me
by another blackjack player.
473
00:24:33,254 --> 00:24:36,953
It's a little bit older version. They take a picture of you
and disseminate it.
474
00:24:36,997 --> 00:24:41,175
And they file a report.
This card player's here in town and blah, blah, blah.
475
00:24:41,218 --> 00:24:43,699
We got to work against them. It's a game of cat-and-mouse.
476
00:24:43,743 --> 00:24:45,266
[music]
477
00:24:52,360 --> 00:24:56,233
[KC] We got to rotate.
Session, session, session.
Keep it small and quick.
478
00:24:57,800 --> 00:25:00,107
Three casino shifts.
I'm going to change my outfit,
479
00:25:00,150 --> 00:25:03,284
every few hours.
Go and play 45 minutes.
480
00:25:03,327 --> 00:25:06,635
Get some maximum bets down. Try not to get too much attention.
481
00:25:06,679 --> 00:25:08,681
Come back eight hours later, do the same thing.
482
00:25:08,724 --> 00:25:11,205
Biloxi is pretty good down here. Nice weather,
483
00:25:11,248 --> 00:25:13,512
a little pool time
in at the Beau Rivage.
484
00:25:13,555 --> 00:25:16,210
I won 7,700 at the Hard Rock
485
00:25:16,253 --> 00:25:19,126
and then I won 11,800
at Beau Rivage
486
00:25:19,169 --> 00:25:22,129
in about ten minutes. These
double dead games are so juicy
487
00:25:22,172 --> 00:25:23,870
that it's actually worth it
488
00:25:23,913 --> 00:25:26,568
to go in and just play
for 15 minutes spreading,
489
00:25:26,612 --> 00:25:28,222
you know,
you can probably make--
490
00:25:29,397 --> 00:25:31,181
the way I'm spreading,
you can probably make
491
00:25:31,225 --> 00:25:33,183
about 2,000 an hour,
playing those games.
492
00:25:34,315 --> 00:25:38,624
Three days and 26,000,
two 28.
493
00:25:38,667 --> 00:25:40,669
Yeah like what you created huh?
494
00:25:41,627 --> 00:25:45,805
My background in gaming? I grew up my father was a games player.
495
00:25:45,848 --> 00:25:49,765
He was a serious backgammon player, poker player, blackjack player,
496
00:25:49,809 --> 00:25:51,811
and he was an innovator
in these fields.
497
00:25:51,854 --> 00:25:54,030
He took the game
very seriously.
498
00:25:54,074 --> 00:25:56,816
he played it in a time
when very few people
knew how to count cards.
499
00:25:56,859 --> 00:25:59,296
dad] Ah, this is 1960, 61'-62'.
500
00:25:59,340 --> 00:26:02,299
There were
no resources available
501
00:26:02,343 --> 00:26:05,041
but no history of blackjack
is complete
502
00:26:05,085 --> 00:26:07,130
without mentioning John Scarne,
503
00:26:07,174 --> 00:26:10,133
who was the first person to my knowledge, to ever make
504
00:26:10,177 --> 00:26:14,094
a public statement
that blackjack was a game
that could be beaten.
505
00:26:14,137 --> 00:26:16,357
I remember getting on the bus
506
00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:21,536
and going to Reno
before he was 18 years old.
507
00:26:21,580 --> 00:26:25,105
[dad] I had developed
my own counting method
508
00:26:25,148 --> 00:26:27,629
based on what I think
at the time
509
00:26:27,673 --> 00:26:31,720
was actually the first point count, ever used in a casino.
510
00:26:31,764 --> 00:26:35,158
And using the crude
basic strategy
511
00:26:35,202 --> 00:26:41,295
I learned from John Scarne's
work, I found myself winning.
512
00:26:41,338 --> 00:26:43,602
And we gambled around the world
513
00:26:43,645 --> 00:26:48,781
in blackjack, backgammon,
play blackjack in casinos
514
00:26:48,824 --> 00:26:53,307
in Biarritz, in @@,
in Monte Carlo.
515
00:26:53,350 --> 00:26:57,050
So as a child I was able to see
some of his adventures playing,
516
00:26:57,093 --> 00:26:59,226
traveling to tournaments,
traveling to Las Vegas,
517
00:26:59,269 --> 00:27:01,837
playing
and it certainly influenced me.
518
00:27:01,881 --> 00:27:04,579
[dad] By the time
he was growing up,
519
00:27:04,623 --> 00:27:08,844
he'd see it occasionally.
But not on a several hours
a day basis,
520
00:27:08,888 --> 00:27:10,846
the way I was engaged
in my youth.
521
00:27:10,890 --> 00:27:15,764
I was kind of surprised really
that the he took it up
522
00:27:15,808 --> 00:27:21,640
and got into it to the degree
he did, but maybe it's genetic.
523
00:27:22,597 --> 00:27:24,860
[music]
524
00:27:24,904 --> 00:27:28,037
[KC] We are in Greenville,
Mississippi.
525
00:27:28,081 --> 00:27:29,822
These places are great
because they're so small,
526
00:27:29,865 --> 00:27:34,827
they don't really
belong to a big--
527
00:27:34,870 --> 00:27:36,785
where the hell am I?
528
00:27:36,829 --> 00:27:39,005
They're so small I don't know
where the hell they are.
529
00:27:39,048 --> 00:27:42,051
They have very unsophisticated surveillance.
530
00:27:42,095 --> 00:27:43,662
I was able to shuffle track
which added
531
00:27:43,705 --> 00:27:45,751
doubled
my advantage rating more.
532
00:27:45,794 --> 00:27:47,666
Shuffle tracking
is a great technique
533
00:27:47,709 --> 00:27:49,580
used to take advantage
of weak shuffles,
534
00:27:49,624 --> 00:27:51,017
can enhance the card counting experience
535
00:27:51,060 --> 00:27:52,932
and increase your advantage
536
00:27:52,975 --> 00:27:54,673
with less heat
than card counting alone.
537
00:27:54,716 --> 00:27:56,762
As I count the shoe, I notice a lot of tens and aces
538
00:27:56,805 --> 00:27:58,938
grouped together
in the first deck dealt.
539
00:27:58,981 --> 00:28:00,983
I mentally labeled this
group of cards
540
00:28:01,027 --> 00:28:04,726
or slug in the discard tray. As I continue to count the shoe,
541
00:28:04,770 --> 00:28:06,989
I noticed the consistency of the remainder of the shoe.
542
00:28:07,033 --> 00:28:09,209
After counting
the entire six-deck shoe,
543
00:28:09,252 --> 00:28:11,037
I'm able to follow
the interesting slugs
544
00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:12,865
through a weak,
one pass shuffle.
545
00:28:15,563 --> 00:28:18,392
Notice the two slugs with negative counts of minus 16
546
00:28:18,435 --> 00:28:21,438
and minus eight will be shuffled together to form a two-deck slug
547
00:28:21,482 --> 00:28:23,919
with a running count
of minus 24.
548
00:28:23,963 --> 00:28:26,313
The new group of cards
is presented
at the front of the shoe
549
00:28:26,356 --> 00:28:29,403
after the shuffle and I want to target this slug.
550
00:28:29,446 --> 00:28:33,842
I cut a small group of cards from the back of the shoot
forward noted in green.
551
00:28:38,281 --> 00:28:40,762
I'll play through the green group of cards at minimum bets
552
00:28:40,806 --> 00:28:42,721
until I reach
the red target slug.
553
00:28:45,114 --> 00:28:48,074
With a true count of plus 12 and an advantage over 5%,
554
00:28:48,117 --> 00:28:50,032
I will increase my bets
to the table maximum,
555
00:28:50,076 --> 00:28:52,078
until I play
through the entire slug.
556
00:28:53,122 --> 00:28:55,646
Once you begin to include techniques beyond
557
00:28:55,690 --> 00:28:58,606
counting in your repertoire,
it makes it more difficult
558
00:28:58,649 --> 00:29:01,348
for casino surveillance operators to analyze your play.
559
00:29:01,391 --> 00:29:03,785
So it was great,
a couple thousand here,
560
00:29:03,829 --> 00:29:05,918
a couple there. It adds up.
561
00:29:05,961 --> 00:29:07,702
I just went
into Sam's Town to play.
562
00:29:07,746 --> 00:29:09,704
They had a great single-deck game I was playing,
563
00:29:09,748 --> 00:29:11,793
very small, trying not
to get any attention.
564
00:29:11,837 --> 00:29:13,969
Casino's shift manager
approached me
565
00:29:14,013 --> 00:29:16,972
along with head of security, another security guard,
566
00:29:17,016 --> 00:29:19,975
they were rude and unpleasant,
told me to color up,
567
00:29:20,019 --> 00:29:21,977
I was being trespassed
from the property.
568
00:29:22,021 --> 00:29:24,153
I was very calm
and friendly with them.
569
00:29:24,197 --> 00:29:26,503
They kind of escorted me
towards the door and I said,
570
00:29:26,547 --> 00:29:28,549
"Listen, I've got these chips. Where's the cashier?"
571
00:29:28,592 --> 00:29:30,290
The casino
shift manager told me
572
00:29:30,333 --> 00:29:31,813
the cashier
was in the parking lot,
573
00:29:31,857 --> 00:29:33,554
that I had to leave right now.
574
00:29:33,597 --> 00:29:35,121
"If you come back,
we'll arrest you."
575
00:29:38,864 --> 00:29:41,388
So I'm meeting with agents
from the Mississippi
Gaming Commission,
576
00:29:41,431 --> 00:29:43,346
it's unlawful
for them to kick you out
577
00:29:43,390 --> 00:29:45,174
when they know you have
chips and tell you
578
00:29:45,218 --> 00:29:46,567
that you cannot cash the chips.
579
00:29:46,610 --> 00:29:48,090
That's equivalent to stealing.
580
00:29:48,134 --> 00:29:50,397
The gaming agent
walked me in today,
581
00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:53,095
and cashed them with me. He
walked into the casino with me
582
00:29:53,139 --> 00:29:55,010
so that I could cash them.
583
00:29:55,054 --> 00:29:57,534
They might get a fine.
584
00:29:57,578 --> 00:29:59,188
They're going to get
some sort of violation.
585
00:30:00,363 --> 00:30:02,975
You have to fight this,
this web of surveillance
586
00:30:03,018 --> 00:30:06,195
and counter surveillance to try and get your bets down.
587
00:30:06,239 --> 00:30:07,849
All you want is walk
into a casino and play
588
00:30:07,893 --> 00:30:09,938
and use your mind
ike anybody else
589
00:30:09,982 --> 00:30:14,203
but there's a whole web
that you can get caught in,
590
00:30:14,247 --> 00:30:16,989
once they find you, they're going to kick you out.
591
00:30:17,032 --> 00:30:19,513
Despite the usual dramas
and challenges
592
00:30:19,556 --> 00:30:21,994
you face while you're playing blackjack professionally,
593
00:30:22,037 --> 00:30:23,996
such as getting kicked out
and a heat,
594
00:30:24,039 --> 00:30:25,127
I'm having a blast.
595
00:30:26,389 --> 00:30:28,957
Enjoying my time in the RV,
the freedom,
596
00:30:29,001 --> 00:30:32,178
being on the road,
had a great winning streak
597
00:30:32,221 --> 00:30:34,833
in the south and now I'm ready to head west.
598
00:30:34,876 --> 00:30:36,791
I'm going to stop in Vegas for a couple of days
599
00:30:36,835 --> 00:30:38,619
and then head to California.
600
00:30:38,662 --> 00:30:41,056
There's 40 or 50 casinos
I haven't even been to.
601
00:30:41,100 --> 00:30:45,147
I'm looking forward to that and I'm just excited right now.
602
00:30:45,191 --> 00:30:47,454
[music]
603
00:30:53,199 --> 00:30:57,768
We're back on the road,
heading west to California.
604
00:31:01,642 --> 00:31:03,774
Yeah I started
Golden Acorn last night,
605
00:31:03,818 --> 00:31:05,689
Indian casino
in San Diego area.
606
00:31:05,733 --> 00:31:08,040
Once we arrived, there were only two tables open
607
00:31:08,083 --> 00:31:10,999
at a six-deck game
with a maximum bet of 500
608
00:31:11,043 --> 00:31:14,089
and a two-deck game
with a maximum bet of 250.
609
00:31:14,133 --> 00:31:15,482
I ended up winning
under 2,000 there.
610
00:31:15,525 --> 00:31:18,180
Then we drove to Viejas casino,
611
00:31:18,224 --> 00:31:19,965
walk in there and had two
amazing shoes back to back,
612
00:31:20,008 --> 00:31:22,010
sky-high counts.
It happened so fast
613
00:31:22,054 --> 00:31:24,099
as he would go press,
press, press.
614
00:31:24,143 --> 00:31:25,971
Next thing I knew
I was at maximum bets.
615
00:31:26,014 --> 00:31:28,408
And I won over 10,500
616
00:31:28,451 --> 00:31:31,063
in probably about half an hour.
617
00:31:32,716 --> 00:31:34,109
[music continues]
618
00:31:36,764 --> 00:31:39,941
KC] And now we drove to Barona. 'm going to play here today,
619
00:31:39,985 --> 00:31:41,943
it's most high-end casino
in the San Diego area.
620
00:31:43,162 --> 00:31:46,817
How are you today?
Quick session in Barona,
621
00:31:46,861 --> 00:31:49,429
they had no problem
with me winning 5,000.
622
00:31:49,472 --> 00:31:51,605
A little bit of cover
play went a long way.
623
00:31:51,648 --> 00:31:55,043
For sure the hat
and glasses I was wearing
624
00:31:55,087 --> 00:31:58,177
were a must because
they practically advertise
625
00:31:58,220 --> 00:31:59,569
on the table
they use facial recognition.
626
00:31:59,613 --> 00:32:00,570
I've never seen it.
627
00:32:02,137 --> 00:32:04,226
Biometrica is a software company
628
00:32:04,270 --> 00:32:06,272
that came into being,
specifically,
629
00:32:06,315 --> 00:32:09,275
to provide game protection
software to casinos.
630
00:32:09,318 --> 00:32:11,059
They have people they'd like
to keep track of.
631
00:32:11,103 --> 00:32:13,540
Good guys, bad guys,
high rollers,
632
00:32:13,583 --> 00:32:15,194
advantage players, cheaters.
633
00:32:15,237 --> 00:32:17,109
Here's a new guy in our casino.
634
00:32:17,152 --> 00:32:19,241
We checked our databases,
we don't know who he is.
635
00:32:19,285 --> 00:32:21,069
He's winning
a heck of a lot of money.
636
00:32:21,113 --> 00:32:22,984
They grab your picture, click,
637
00:32:23,028 --> 00:32:25,682
with the touch of a mouse
it can go up and out
638
00:32:25,726 --> 00:32:27,946
to 175 little
surveillance rooms.
639
00:32:27,989 --> 00:32:30,078
The camera will freeze
an image and instantly check
640
00:32:30,122 --> 00:32:31,775
all the pictures in the database
641
00:32:31,819 --> 00:32:34,082
and come up
with the most likely matches.
642
00:32:34,126 --> 00:32:36,128
The best way to think
of it is in terms of,
643
00:32:36,171 --> 00:32:38,478
we grab an image of your face,
as soon as you grab that,
644
00:32:38,521 --> 00:32:40,045
the software measures
your face,
645
00:32:40,088 --> 00:32:42,221
maybe 1,000
different measurements.
646
00:32:42,264 --> 00:32:44,440
So it's important to understand
that we use the eyes
647
00:32:44,484 --> 00:32:47,313
just as anchor points to start
the measurements all around.
648
00:32:47,356 --> 00:32:49,271
There's
so many measurements there.
649
00:32:49,315 --> 00:32:51,970
If you put it on a mustache
or you put on a beard,
650
00:32:52,013 --> 00:32:54,755
you covered up, what,
15% of your measurements?
651
00:32:54,798 --> 00:32:57,540
I mean you could go
through a makeup artist
652
00:32:57,584 --> 00:32:59,978
and come into a casino
dressed as Tootsie
653
00:33:00,021 --> 00:33:03,024
instead of Dustin Hoffman,
then you probably won't be seen.
654
00:33:03,068 --> 00:33:06,245
It's unlikely that somebody's
going to have so much on them.
655
00:33:06,288 --> 00:33:09,596
If they do what's going
to happen is they're not going
to need face recognition
656
00:33:09,639 --> 00:33:12,033
"Look at this guy."
They attracted
more attention to themselves
657
00:33:12,077 --> 00:33:15,210
than our software ever could.
658
00:33:15,254 --> 00:33:16,646
[waves splashing]
659
00:33:19,214 --> 00:33:21,303
I got to scout it out and figure
out what her shift is
660
00:33:21,347 --> 00:33:23,088
and how she moves around.
661
00:33:23,131 --> 00:33:25,090
It's a 12 o'clock, it's 12:30.
662
00:33:25,133 --> 00:33:27,831
I don't know if I may caught
the very end of her shift.
663
00:33:27,875 --> 00:33:31,139
All right. Well, I'll keep you posted. Bye-bye.
664
00:33:31,183 --> 00:33:36,101
Well I just hit a quick session
at Pechanga, San Diego,
665
00:33:36,144 --> 00:33:41,367
and stumbled across
an incredible opportunity.
666
00:33:41,410 --> 00:33:44,413
I came across a dealer
who unbeknownst to her,
667
00:33:44,457 --> 00:33:46,981
would show me her hole card
every single hand.
668
00:33:47,025 --> 00:33:49,288
The game is such
a slam-dunk where
669
00:33:49,331 --> 00:33:51,116
this could be easily,
a six-figure opportunity.
670
00:33:51,159 --> 00:33:53,205
Hole carding means
that the dealer
671
00:33:53,248 --> 00:33:57,383
is exposing their hole card
in blackjack.
672
00:33:57,426 --> 00:34:00,255
Normally, that's supposed
to be dealt face down
673
00:34:00,299 --> 00:34:02,518
but sometimes the way
the dealer takes it out
674
00:34:02,562 --> 00:34:05,739
of the shoe or the way they check for the blackjack,
675
00:34:05,782 --> 00:34:07,915
some sort of mannerism
that they have
676
00:34:07,958 --> 00:34:09,830
the player
might be able to see it.
677
00:34:09,873 --> 00:34:11,484
Hole card play is one
of the best things
678
00:34:11,527 --> 00:34:13,094
that they could do
nowadays I believe.
679
00:34:13,138 --> 00:34:15,096
Anytime you're in a card game,
680
00:34:15,140 --> 00:34:18,056
you know the value
or even some partial information
681
00:34:18,099 --> 00:34:21,102
about what a hidden card
is likely to be
682
00:34:21,146 --> 00:34:24,018
then you could adjust your
strategies accordingly
683
00:34:24,062 --> 00:34:27,935
to get a much bigger edge
than you would have
through counting cards.
684
00:34:27,978 --> 00:34:29,850
[KC] Approximately one to two percent of dealers
685
00:34:29,893 --> 00:34:31,808
use poor or sloppy techniques
686
00:34:31,852 --> 00:34:34,072
which can be exploited
by advantage players.
687
00:34:34,115 --> 00:34:36,596
This dealer is unknowingly
flashing his hole card.
688
00:34:36,639 --> 00:34:38,467
Given the extra information
689
00:34:38,511 --> 00:34:40,643
I adjust my playing
strategy accordingly.
690
00:34:40,687 --> 00:34:42,297
On my first hand
I have a nine,
691
00:34:42,341 --> 00:34:44,125
would normally
hit against a 10
692
00:34:44,169 --> 00:34:45,909
but given the extra information
693
00:34:45,953 --> 00:34:47,476
that the hole card
is the six of clubs,
694
00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:49,609
I changed my play
and double down.
695
00:34:49,652 --> 00:34:51,611
The hole card information
provides an advantage
696
00:34:51,654 --> 00:34:53,526
of about ten percent.
So, I flat bet
697
00:34:53,569 --> 00:34:55,180
the table maximum, every hand.
698
00:34:55,223 --> 00:34:57,660
On my second hand I have 14.
699
00:34:57,704 --> 00:34:59,749
I would normally hit
14 against a 10,
700
00:34:59,793 --> 00:35:02,404
but I'm playing my 14
against the dealer's 16
701
00:35:02,448 --> 00:35:06,147
and opt to stand according
to the hole card strategy.
702
00:35:08,976 --> 00:35:11,631
The erratic plays combined
with consistent bet amounts
703
00:35:11,674 --> 00:35:15,069
make the technique
more difficult for casino operators to detect.
704
00:35:17,027 --> 00:35:18,725
We read up and we consult
with attorneys
705
00:35:18,768 --> 00:35:20,814
and find out
before we even play
706
00:35:20,857 --> 00:35:23,251
is this something
we can do legally?
707
00:35:23,295 --> 00:35:26,167
And since it is,
we have no qualms.
708
00:35:26,211 --> 00:35:30,563
Just you know hitting that game
and others as hard as we could.
709
00:35:30,606 --> 00:35:34,480
My last session
with Pechanga went really well.
I played an eight-hour shift,
710
00:35:34,523 --> 00:35:35,916
on graveyard
711
00:35:35,959 --> 00:35:39,528
um... with my favorite dealer
712
00:35:39,572 --> 00:35:42,183
who happens to show me
her hole card almost every hand.
713
00:35:42,227 --> 00:35:45,055
I followed her around, figured out her table rotation
714
00:35:45,099 --> 00:35:46,709
and when she would be there.
715
00:35:46,753 --> 00:35:48,407
I play a little bit
before she rotate in
716
00:35:48,450 --> 00:35:49,799
and after,
it went really well.
717
00:35:49,843 --> 00:35:52,411
I did get a fair amount of heat.
718
00:35:52,454 --> 00:35:55,414
They knew I wasn't counting
they couldn't figure out
what was going on.
719
00:35:59,766 --> 00:36:01,811
Ninety-five thousand
eight hundred,
720
00:36:01,855 --> 00:36:03,987
I think for a total
of six days of play,
721
00:36:04,031 --> 00:36:05,163
not bad at all.
722
00:36:06,555 --> 00:36:09,036
I started out strong in Mississippi, in Louisiana,
723
00:36:09,079 --> 00:36:10,907
with a series of big wins.
724
00:36:10,951 --> 00:36:13,171
The winning
continued in San Diego,
725
00:36:13,214 --> 00:36:15,912
followed by a six-figure hole card score.
726
00:36:15,956 --> 00:36:18,219
This trip really couldn't have
started better.
727
00:36:18,263 --> 00:36:20,830
I'm up already
over 250,000 dollars.
728
00:36:21,962 --> 00:36:23,703
I pulled
in Palm Springs last night
729
00:36:23,746 --> 00:36:27,402
to Morongo, crushed them,
won over 20,000.
730
00:36:27,446 --> 00:36:30,231
He drove down further
into Palm Springs
731
00:36:30,275 --> 00:36:32,233
to Fantasy Springs
at which point I took off
732
00:36:32,277 --> 00:36:35,105
my sports coat and my jacket and my nice outfit
733
00:36:35,149 --> 00:36:37,456
and put on a wig and some camo,
734
00:36:37,499 --> 00:36:40,023
pad and changing into black shirt and shorts.
735
00:36:42,417 --> 00:36:44,811
Then I headed on
deeper into Palm Springs,
736
00:36:44,854 --> 00:36:46,856
went to Spa,
had a quick clobbered
737
00:36:46,900 --> 00:36:49,468
beating up for 5,500
and got some heat.
738
00:36:49,511 --> 00:36:54,081
As soon as I raised my bet they came over and booted me.
739
00:36:54,124 --> 00:36:56,518
Said that-- told me I was
a known advantage player.
740
00:36:57,389 --> 00:36:59,652
[music]
741
00:37:09,357 --> 00:37:11,185
[engine roars]
742
00:37:14,580 --> 00:37:18,410
You know we're getting deep,
went around dirt roads,
743
00:37:18,453 --> 00:37:21,195
and you have
no cell phone reception.
744
00:37:21,239 --> 00:37:25,852
This casino over the trip
because we're so far out
in the boonies.
745
00:37:25,895 --> 00:37:29,290
I started playing, another
gentleman sat down, he was
playing five dollars a hand.
746
00:37:29,334 --> 00:37:33,686
And another kid came up
and had four one-dollar chips.
747
00:37:33,729 --> 00:37:37,124
I went on a bit of a hot streak,
cleaned out their whole rack.
748
00:37:37,167 --> 00:37:40,083
We got a lot of attention.
I mean a 1,500 dollar bet
749
00:37:40,127 --> 00:37:43,173
in Vegas term isn't very big.
But out on a place like this
750
00:37:43,217 --> 00:37:46,481
you know, created quite a crowd.
751
00:37:48,135 --> 00:37:50,180
[music continues]
752
00:37:58,232 --> 00:38:02,715
We've landed in Reno.
I've got my list,
753
00:38:02,758 --> 00:38:05,718
I planned out my route of all the casinos I want to hit.
754
00:38:05,761 --> 00:38:09,722
I'm looking at about 15 to 20 casinos I want to play.
755
00:38:09,765 --> 00:38:12,420
They've been hit hard
over the years
by a lot of card counters
756
00:38:12,464 --> 00:38:15,902
and teams of professionals.
It's pretty hard
to get down some big bets.
757
00:38:31,134 --> 00:38:34,181
Does the casino have a right
to demand identification
758
00:38:34,224 --> 00:38:36,401
and have it produced?
The answer is no.
759
00:38:36,444 --> 00:38:39,012
The casinos are always
trying to get your ID.
760
00:38:39,055 --> 00:38:40,927
They want you
to have a player's card.
761
00:38:40,970 --> 00:38:43,146
So, security guards will say,
762
00:38:43,190 --> 00:38:46,019
"You know, it's illegal not
to have ID." Complete horseshit.
763
00:39:17,180 --> 00:39:21,271
It's this simple.
It's a lie. It's a lie.
764
00:39:21,315 --> 00:39:23,404
Let's see if I can think
of another way to say it?
765
00:39:23,448 --> 00:39:25,232
It's untrue. Okay.
766
00:39:25,275 --> 00:39:28,061
There is nothing
in God's green earth
767
00:39:28,104 --> 00:39:31,412
that says you have
to have papers, anywhere,
768
00:39:31,456 --> 00:39:34,241
in the United States
merely to be there.
769
00:39:34,284 --> 00:39:36,678
If you get in or cash out
770
00:39:36,722 --> 00:39:39,072
more than 10,000
dollars in cash,
771
00:39:39,115 --> 00:39:40,595
then you do have to show ID,
772
00:39:40,639 --> 00:39:42,118
they have to file this form
773
00:39:42,162 --> 00:39:43,990
called
a cash transaction report.
774
00:39:44,033 --> 00:39:46,514
Everybody knows what to do
if you're over 10,000.
775
00:39:46,558 --> 00:39:50,300
But when you're
sort of above 3,000
776
00:39:50,344 --> 00:39:52,607
they typically,
internally ask for an ID
777
00:39:52,651 --> 00:39:54,740
for their own
internal records.
778
00:39:54,783 --> 00:39:57,960
But they're not legally
obligated to get an ID,
779
00:39:58,004 --> 00:40:01,181
nobody really knows how
to handle those transactions.
780
00:40:55,061 --> 00:40:57,019
Normally, they're not supposed
to ask for your ID
781
00:40:57,063 --> 00:40:58,891
unless they're charging you
with a crime.
782
00:40:58,934 --> 00:41:01,589
But if they're smart,
they'll say wait,
783
00:41:01,633 --> 00:41:04,505
we're just trying to keep track
to make sure you
784
00:41:04,549 --> 00:41:07,421
because we may have to file
a currency transaction report.
785
00:41:07,465 --> 00:41:10,163
[KC] Now, they cash out
8,250 for me
786
00:41:10,206 --> 00:41:13,209
without an ID.
But they basically told me,
787
00:41:13,253 --> 00:41:16,038
they wanted to file a suspicious activity report.
788
00:41:16,082 --> 00:41:17,518
They tried
to ask me for my name
789
00:41:17,562 --> 00:41:18,911
for that report.
I didn't give it.
790
00:41:18,954 --> 00:41:20,434
But yeah, it's like drugs.
791
00:41:20,478 --> 00:41:22,480
When they want your ID,
just say no.
792
00:41:38,104 --> 00:41:40,062
[KC] I've now been kicked out
on nearly every shift
793
00:41:40,106 --> 00:41:43,979
from every casino.
I feel I've done a good job
794
00:41:44,023 --> 00:41:47,287
extracting value from the city. I'm actually probably
right about expectation
795
00:41:47,330 --> 00:41:49,724
for the amount I've played. I got logged in a lot of hours.
796
00:41:51,160 --> 00:41:54,816
We are in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
The heat is through the roof.
797
00:41:54,860 --> 00:41:58,559
I'm going to get
one more session in,
then we're out of here.
798
00:41:58,603 --> 00:42:01,693
The good news is Reno, Tahoe, has been a pretty good area.
799
00:42:01,736 --> 00:42:05,261
I am up about 35,000 after 11 days of play in Reno.
800
00:42:05,305 --> 00:42:08,047
Tahoe's been a bit of a grind, but I've gotten a lot of hands
in here,
801
00:42:08,090 --> 00:42:10,571
came out ahead. So,I'm feeling good having won
802
00:42:10,615 --> 00:42:13,269
in each area
and they never got my ID.
803
00:42:14,793 --> 00:42:16,708
[music continues]
804
00:42:24,280 --> 00:42:28,676
This like one of the best
blackjack games I've seen
in a long, long time.
805
00:42:28,720 --> 00:42:31,984
I was only planning to stop by it might be a one session place.
806
00:42:32,027 --> 00:42:35,553
I'm so surprised by the conditions, it's juicy.
807
00:42:35,596 --> 00:42:37,119
They don't seem to give
a shit who I am.
808
00:42:38,033 --> 00:42:40,296
They don't belong to Griffin or anything like that.
809
00:42:40,340 --> 00:42:43,604
They don't use any facial recognition software
810
00:42:43,648 --> 00:42:45,780
and they don't seem
to mind that I'm spreading
811
00:42:45,824 --> 00:42:48,870
from the minimum to the maximum, ideal situation.
812
00:42:48,914 --> 00:42:56,182
For the day I am down 30--
just under 50,000.
813
00:42:56,225 --> 00:42:57,792
I'm going to take
a little break,
814
00:42:57,836 --> 00:43:00,490
run a simulation on the game
815
00:43:00,534 --> 00:43:02,275
just to make sure my numbers are all up to date.
816
00:43:04,451 --> 00:43:07,672
This is like the needle in the haystack to play here, then to take a big loss.
817
00:43:07,715 --> 00:43:11,153
I'm going to have to play
20 more casinos
to try to win it back.
818
00:43:11,197 --> 00:43:13,547
That's the benefit
of betting bigger.
If you have a big win,
819
00:43:13,591 --> 00:43:14,896
it takes you to the next level.
820
00:43:14,940 --> 00:43:17,725
Big loss, you really have to
821
00:43:17,769 --> 00:43:19,901
grind and grind
to get your money back.
822
00:43:19,945 --> 00:43:23,775
[Arnold] Blackjack players understand the concept of risk.
823
00:43:23,818 --> 00:43:25,733
They understand the fact
that there are going to be
824
00:43:25,777 --> 00:43:28,083
fluctuations, ups and downs,
825
00:43:28,127 --> 00:43:30,564
but they want
to control the risks.
826
00:43:30,608 --> 00:43:33,219
People ask me, "What's different
about new card counters
827
00:43:33,262 --> 00:43:35,656
that you can make this
work?"
828
00:43:35,700 --> 00:43:38,006
And it's a really interesting
question.
829
00:43:38,050 --> 00:43:40,139
I think we're all
pretty wacky.
830
00:43:40,182 --> 00:43:43,359
We have niches
where we get really good
831
00:43:43,403 --> 00:43:46,014
at doing simple math
under pressure.
832
00:43:46,058 --> 00:43:47,929
There's no gut feeling,
833
00:43:47,973 --> 00:43:50,584
there's no I just busted
three hands in a row,
834
00:43:50,628 --> 00:43:53,065
there is an exact right
play and a wrong play.
835
00:43:53,108 --> 00:43:55,807
Other people will analyze
a situation and think,
836
00:43:56,721 --> 00:43:59,680
"Oh my god,
I don't want this outcome
837
00:43:59,724 --> 00:44:03,336
and I know that outcome is
possible. So, I won't do that."
838
00:44:03,379 --> 00:44:05,643
And we analyze
that situation and we say,
839
00:44:05,686 --> 00:44:09,124
"Well, if I did that
a million times.
840
00:44:09,168 --> 00:44:13,259
How many times would
that outcome happen?
how many times would the other?"
841
00:44:13,302 --> 00:44:16,131
It's a really different
way of looking at the world.
842
00:44:16,175 --> 00:44:19,918
[KC] I went back, ended up playing a marathon and graveyard shift
843
00:44:19,961 --> 00:44:22,529
of nine and a half hours.
I bought it for 5,000.
844
00:44:22,572 --> 00:44:26,228
I lost 2,500. I was down by about down to 2,500 left.
845
00:44:26,272 --> 00:44:28,274
I ran 2500 and 70,000.
846
00:44:33,366 --> 00:44:36,543
So, we just got escorted out by Bear River security.
847
00:44:36,586 --> 00:44:40,416
Unlike recent security escorts this one was quite
a bit more friendly.
848
00:44:40,460 --> 00:44:43,028
They gave us a courtesy escort all the way to the RV
849
00:44:43,071 --> 00:44:46,335
because we cashed out
so much at the casino cage.
850
00:44:46,379 --> 00:44:48,686
[music]
851
00:44:50,426 --> 00:44:53,473
It's so pretty up here.
It's a beautiful drive.
852
00:44:58,652 --> 00:45:02,961
We're up in the northwest corner
of California, Humboldt County.
853
00:45:03,004 --> 00:45:06,399
Quite a few little Indian casinos scattered around here.
854
00:45:06,442 --> 00:45:08,706
I've never played in this area of the country.
855
00:45:08,749 --> 00:45:10,925
So I didn't
really know what to expect
856
00:45:10,969 --> 00:45:14,320
and I've stumbled across a couple of really good games.
857
00:45:14,363 --> 00:45:17,410
We were going to come up
the west coast of California
858
00:45:17,453 --> 00:45:21,980
into Oregon, up to Seattle
before we go east.
859
00:45:26,114 --> 00:45:29,030
I really enjoyed the Northwest. It's beautiful up here
860
00:45:29,074 --> 00:45:32,468
and I keep
stringing together wins.
861
00:45:32,512 --> 00:45:34,557
So, I'm feeling good
about my play.
862
00:45:34,601 --> 00:45:37,212
Unfortunately, I am getting
a little bit lonely.
863
00:45:37,256 --> 00:45:39,998
I think two to three
months here in the RV
864
00:45:40,041 --> 00:45:42,130
is starting to take
its toll on me.
865
00:45:42,174 --> 00:45:45,046
I thought maybe with the excitement of travel
866
00:45:45,090 --> 00:45:48,441
and the wins and losses that go along with playing, I'd be fine.
867
00:45:48,484 --> 00:45:51,661
But I am getting
a little bit lonely
868
00:45:51,705 --> 00:45:55,883
and I think a good cure for that
would be picking up my dogs
869
00:45:55,927 --> 00:45:58,712
in the Bay Area. I'm going to drive down to San Francisco,
870
00:45:58,756 --> 00:46:02,063
load up the dogs, bring them along for the rest of the trip.
871
00:46:02,107 --> 00:46:04,544
Hit the Thunder Valley
this weekend.
872
00:46:04,587 --> 00:46:06,633
Should have
a pretty good session there
873
00:46:06,676 --> 00:46:10,289
in terms of the ability
to bet big this weekend
874
00:46:10,332 --> 00:46:12,030
and then work my way
to the Midwest.
875
00:46:12,073 --> 00:46:14,032
[music]
876
00:46:15,555 --> 00:46:18,166
The Mohawk and the outfit
definitely helped a lot.
877
00:46:18,210 --> 00:46:22,083
Booked a small win
just under 5,000 but opted
878
00:46:22,127 --> 00:46:24,259
to call it a night. Friday night's a bit busier.
879
00:46:24,303 --> 00:46:26,392
There's more action.
The place was kind of dead.
880
00:46:26,435 --> 00:46:29,308
I don't want to get burned
tonight and thrown out
881
00:46:29,351 --> 00:46:31,919
betting 2,000
when I could bet 10,000.
882
00:46:46,238 --> 00:46:50,546
Hi, I just had the casino steal
883
00:46:50,590 --> 00:46:55,769
my personal property
in the amount of almost 40,000.
884
00:46:55,813 --> 00:46:58,859
No. they surrounded me with security, they trespassed me,
885
00:46:58,903 --> 00:47:02,863
I was in the parking lot
in my RV, trying to get
a hold of the sheriff.
886
00:47:02,907 --> 00:47:05,605
They started giving me
a hard time saying,
I wasn't leaving.
887
00:47:05,648 --> 00:47:08,608
I was leaving, I'm trying to call the police to handle it myself.
888
00:47:08,651 --> 00:47:12,960
I'm about three blocks away
from the casino I just left.
889
00:47:13,004 --> 00:47:15,093
All right. They're going
to have a deputy come here.
890
00:47:17,922 --> 00:47:22,709
So, you know, the sheriff went
in there was sympathetic to me
891
00:47:22,752 --> 00:47:24,972
and said, "I'll help
you go get your chips."
892
00:47:25,016 --> 00:47:27,018
They were doing everything
they could just to be
893
00:47:27,061 --> 00:47:28,889
as difficult as possible.
894
00:47:28,933 --> 00:47:31,152
[music]
895
00:47:35,113 --> 00:47:37,985
You got to leave the property.
I'm not going to give you
whole lot of time.
896
00:47:38,029 --> 00:47:40,205
Or we can go to county jail.
It's a 130 miles that way.
897
00:47:42,033 --> 00:47:44,252
They just gave me a real hard
time. I didn't even play a hand.
898
00:47:44,296 --> 00:47:48,343
I just bought in and they were just real nasty.
899
00:47:48,387 --> 00:47:52,782
Salt Lake City. We're in an area
that is completely isolated
900
00:47:52,826 --> 00:47:55,873
from any casinos. Just driving across the country.
901
00:47:55,916 --> 00:47:57,700
[music continues]
902
00:47:59,398 --> 00:48:02,227
[KC] Made it to Nebraska.
It's been a long night.
903
00:48:02,270 --> 00:48:06,579
Done about
five-hundred-something-mile
drive so far.
904
00:48:06,622 --> 00:48:09,669
We are in Iowa.
I played a few sessions.
905
00:48:09,712 --> 00:48:11,801
I had session
at Ameristar,
906
00:48:11,845 --> 00:48:14,369
a couple of sessions
at Horseshoe
907
00:48:14,413 --> 00:48:20,201
and I am just in the middle
of a tailspin losing streak.
908
00:48:21,246 --> 00:48:24,118
Fifteen thousand last night, 10,000 yesterday,
909
00:48:24,162 --> 00:48:26,686
eighteen thousand
the day before that.
910
00:48:26,729 --> 00:48:30,124
From a mathematical perspective,
it's not that big of a deal.
911
00:48:30,168 --> 00:48:32,126
But it's not always easy
912
00:48:32,170 --> 00:48:35,086
to detach yourself
emotionally from it.
913
00:48:36,130 --> 00:48:38,698
Just had a very bad experience at Harrah's.
914
00:48:38,741 --> 00:48:41,657
Tried to get me
into a back security room
915
00:48:41,701 --> 00:48:43,703
but they couldn't give me
a reason why.
916
00:48:51,102 --> 00:48:53,234
We're leaving the Iowa area.
917
00:48:53,278 --> 00:48:55,497
I've been asked
not to play at Ameristar
918
00:48:55,541 --> 00:48:58,805
and I've been trespassed from the Horseshoe and Harrah's.
919
00:48:58,848 --> 00:49:02,591
This was pretty
much a losing city for me.
920
00:49:04,028 --> 00:49:05,594
[music]
921
00:49:07,335 --> 00:49:10,425
[KC] After five days battling these three casinos in St. Louis
922
00:49:10,469 --> 00:49:13,994
just feeling a bit frustrated.
I'm down 3,000.
923
00:49:14,038 --> 00:49:16,170
I feel like in five days
I've logged in
924
00:49:16,214 --> 00:49:17,955
over 40 hours of play,
925
00:49:17,998 --> 00:49:20,827
got a head, lost it, got behind
926
00:49:20,870 --> 00:49:23,177
ten-fifteen thousand,
won it all back,
927
00:49:23,221 --> 00:49:25,005
got down again. It's really just been a grind.
928
00:49:26,485 --> 00:49:30,054
I'm heading
through Northern Iowa. We had one casino on our list.
929
00:49:30,097 --> 00:49:34,014
Unfortunately, I used a casino
guide book from last year.
930
00:49:34,058 --> 00:49:37,191
Showed up and the casino
had been turned into a theater.
931
00:49:37,235 --> 00:49:40,455
They must have gone bankrupt
in the last six months.
932
00:49:40,499 --> 00:49:43,023
Either way, it's actually good
to have a night off.
933
00:49:43,067 --> 00:49:46,070
I've played already three,
if not four casinos today
934
00:49:46,113 --> 00:49:49,508
and I'm freaking losing
like crazy.
935
00:49:51,858 --> 00:49:54,034
Sit back, take it easy,
have a couple of beers,
936
00:49:54,078 --> 00:49:56,994
watch a movie,
lick my wounds, move on
937
00:49:57,037 --> 00:50:01,302
and it sucks. I've been on this blackjack train for so long,
938
00:50:01,346 --> 00:50:04,131
I felt like I might as well ride it to the end of the station.
939
00:50:04,175 --> 00:50:06,438
When you put in that time
and effort and get the RV
940
00:50:06,481 --> 00:50:08,657
travelling around,
have the bankroll,
941
00:50:08,701 --> 00:50:11,051
deal with all the stress
of getting kicked out
942
00:50:11,095 --> 00:50:14,054
and treated like a criminal,
you end up losing 100,000,
943
00:50:14,098 --> 00:50:17,144
that's brutal. I don't think a lot of people in the world
944
00:50:17,188 --> 00:50:21,540
could deal
with working two months,
945
00:50:21,583 --> 00:50:25,152
ten hours a day
and end up losing money,
946
00:50:25,196 --> 00:50:27,807
there aren't that many jobs
you can do that.
947
00:50:27,850 --> 00:50:31,767
But if you want to be
a professional blackjack player,
play every day for years,
948
00:50:31,811 --> 00:50:33,856
five years say,
this is what I'm going to do.
949
00:50:33,900 --> 00:50:36,729
Traveling around the country,
play at every single casino,
950
00:50:36,772 --> 00:50:40,037
you can bet your ass you're
going to go a two-month period
and you're going to be down.
951
00:50:40,080 --> 00:50:42,648
[music]
952
00:50:44,780 --> 00:50:49,220
Playing our route through the Midwest. Basically the whole Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin,
953
00:50:49,263 --> 00:50:52,571
Minnesota, Michigan,
not a lot of good casinos
954
00:50:52,614 --> 00:50:55,400
but a lot of places
worth peeking into.
955
00:50:56,662 --> 00:51:00,100
I like coming to these
out-of-the-way places usually
you could find good games.
956
00:51:00,144 --> 00:51:02,755
They tend to be less networked
with other casinos.
957
00:51:02,798 --> 00:51:04,670
So it's easier
for me to get some action.
958
00:51:06,715 --> 00:51:10,850
Majestic Pines Casino, Black River Falls, Wisconsin.
959
00:51:10,893 --> 00:51:14,941
I lost 1,000 bucks
which again is not a big deal
960
00:51:14,984 --> 00:51:16,812
in terms of absolute value of the loss
961
00:51:16,856 --> 00:51:19,206
but I went to two hands at 50
962
00:51:19,250 --> 00:51:21,687
and I lost eight of them
in a row. It's just brutal.
963
00:51:23,950 --> 00:51:26,735
For safety reasons,
I only travel with a portion of my bankroll
964
00:51:26,779 --> 00:51:31,740
which is fine unless
I go through a sustained losing stretch which I've done.
965
00:51:33,525 --> 00:51:37,311
So today, I flew
from O'Hare to Las Vegas,
966
00:51:37,355 --> 00:51:41,707
picked up 200,000
and flew back two hours later.
967
00:51:41,750 --> 00:51:44,927
There's nothing illegal about carrying large amounts of money domestically.
968
00:51:44,971 --> 00:51:47,060
You can cross state lines
and there's no problem.
969
00:51:47,104 --> 00:51:50,107
The only thing that happens
is people tend to freak out
970
00:51:50,150 --> 00:51:54,285
when they see a lot of cash,
they report it
to various agencies.
971
00:51:54,328 --> 00:51:58,115
They immediately think if you
have more than 10,000 in cash,
972
00:51:58,158 --> 00:52:00,160
you're a drug dealer or you're
doing something illegal.
973
00:52:00,204 --> 00:52:03,772
I can put 200,000 on me
and I feel pretty comfortable.
974
00:52:03,816 --> 00:52:05,774
I don't feel like I'm bulging.
I don't feel like
975
00:52:05,818 --> 00:52:07,950
people are looking at me
or anything's funny.
976
00:52:09,387 --> 00:52:11,780
Joliet, Illinois.
Didn't even get in there.
977
00:52:11,824 --> 00:52:14,957
I got right
to the gate of the boat
978
00:52:15,001 --> 00:52:17,351
and security said, "We just
got a call. We're expecting you.
979
00:52:17,395 --> 00:52:19,179
I can't let you in."
980
00:52:19,223 --> 00:52:21,964
I've had a good run
and play all the way through
981
00:52:22,008 --> 00:52:26,012
from Chicago,
and we played four east of Chicago and Indiana.
982
00:52:26,055 --> 00:52:28,580
Played all over Indiana.
983
00:52:28,623 --> 00:52:30,364
The casinos have been
very close together
984
00:52:30,408 --> 00:52:32,323
they communicate and take
a lot of photos of me.
985
00:52:32,366 --> 00:52:34,194
Various casinos have taken down
986
00:52:34,238 --> 00:52:35,761
license plate
and description of the RV.
987
00:52:35,804 --> 00:52:37,806
I walked in,
they had a file
988
00:52:37,850 --> 00:52:40,200
of probably
12 different photos of me,
989
00:52:40,244 --> 00:52:41,984
all from the last week.
990
00:52:42,028 --> 00:52:44,030
So, it's getting
a little tricky right now.
991
00:53:35,299 --> 00:53:42,088
Bob] Stepping out of the realm of state-regulated casinos
992
00:53:42,131 --> 00:53:46,440
that are not Indian related
and on to a reservation casino
993
00:53:46,484 --> 00:53:52,403
can be as different as deciding that you want to have dinner
994
00:53:52,446 --> 00:53:56,145
in downtown Las Vegas
or dinner in Liberia.
995
00:53:56,189 --> 00:53:59,758
The tribes of the United States
are considered domestic nations.
996
00:53:59,801 --> 00:54:03,109
They have the rights
of sovereign governments,
997
00:54:03,152 --> 00:54:08,157
similar to the states
to some extent even greater
than the state.
998
00:54:08,201 --> 00:54:14,686
They have you tied up hook,
line, and sinker
999
00:54:14,729 --> 00:54:17,428
and can do their will upon you,
1000
00:54:17,471 --> 00:54:21,214
physically and financially.
Bad place to be.
1001
00:54:22,911 --> 00:54:26,567
Other casinos can do that too, but you have civil recourse.
1002
00:54:26,611 --> 00:54:31,790
A difference with the Indian
casino is the threat of recourse
1003
00:54:31,833 --> 00:54:34,967
isn't there, so they might feel
much more free to do it.
1004
00:54:35,010 --> 00:54:38,144
You have about the same
amount of rights
1005
00:54:38,187 --> 00:54:41,103
that a U.S. citizen
would have in Mexico.
1006
00:54:41,147 --> 00:54:45,064
The heat is so high right now
that each casino
1007
00:54:45,107 --> 00:54:48,241
is notifying the other casinos
in the area. Griffin's on to us.
1008
00:54:48,285 --> 00:54:51,984
I think the only solution
right now is to break our trail.
1009
00:54:52,027 --> 00:54:56,162
So rather than following
our route up through northern
Michigan and Canada,
1010
00:54:56,205 --> 00:54:59,296
I think that we need
to probably just break off,
1011
00:54:59,339 --> 00:55:03,212
do a long driving session, move a couple of states over.
1012
00:55:04,388 --> 00:55:06,041
[music]
1013
00:55:24,233 --> 00:55:26,235
[KC] After traveling
across five states,
1014
00:55:26,279 --> 00:55:27,628
I showed up in New York
at Turning Stone.
1015
00:55:27,672 --> 00:55:29,238
I booked a small win,
1016
00:55:29,282 --> 00:55:32,241
I was able to log
in a multi-hour session
1017
00:55:32,285 --> 00:55:34,287
which meant
that they weren't expecting me.
1018
00:55:36,681 --> 00:55:40,815
Just played my second big session in the Connecticut area,
1019
00:55:40,859 --> 00:55:43,078
I'm going to go play
another graveyard session
1020
00:55:43,122 --> 00:55:45,254
tonight and play
a little smaller.
1021
00:55:45,298 --> 00:55:48,083
Try and stay out of the radar and book a small win,
1022
00:55:48,127 --> 00:55:49,955
basically
to regain my confidence.
1023
00:55:49,998 --> 00:55:51,435
And grind out
a little bit of more EV.
1024
00:55:53,437 --> 00:55:55,352
Travel is a big part
of the game.
1025
00:55:55,395 --> 00:55:59,007
Moving around constantly
and it's an aspect of the game
1026
00:55:59,051 --> 00:56:01,923
that it makes it difficult
for some people.
1027
00:56:01,967 --> 00:56:04,143
At first the travel
can be fun,
1028
00:56:04,186 --> 00:56:07,320
but sometimes
the travel was very grueling.
1029
00:56:07,364 --> 00:56:09,191
You know, constantly
being on the road.
1030
00:56:09,235 --> 00:56:12,064
[KC] We just had
a minor disaster.
1031
00:56:12,107 --> 00:56:14,588
The RV broke down
in the Mohegan Sun.
1032
00:56:14,632 --> 00:56:17,852
We're having trouble
finding someone that can come
out and fix it.
1033
00:56:17,896 --> 00:56:19,854
And towing this thing
is a nightmare.
1034
00:56:19,898 --> 00:56:21,160
To make matters worse,
1035
00:56:22,466 --> 00:56:24,598
the bankroll
is secured and unlocks
1036
00:56:24,642 --> 00:56:26,905
at a place that you can only get
to when the car was on.
1037
00:56:26,948 --> 00:56:31,344
We did finally find a guy--a mobile truck service
1038
00:56:31,388 --> 00:56:35,130
that could come out. As I
suspected, the starter went bad.
1039
00:56:35,174 --> 00:56:38,003
One of the amazing things
about KC, as far as I'm aware,
1040
00:56:38,046 --> 00:56:41,223
he's a lone wolf.
That's a tough road.
1041
00:56:41,267 --> 00:56:44,618
You can't really specialize, you have to be a master
1042
00:56:44,662 --> 00:56:48,187
of everything or a jack-of-all-trades at least.
1043
00:56:48,230 --> 00:56:51,059
To survive
as a lone wolf is very rare.
1044
00:56:51,103 --> 00:56:53,105
Basically,
Connecticut was a disaster,
1045
00:56:53,148 --> 00:56:55,803
a 100,000 dollar downswing.
1046
00:56:55,847 --> 00:56:59,677
I come to Atlantic City,
drop down my bets a bit,
1047
00:56:59,720 --> 00:57:02,506
only to have a really bad first night here.
1048
00:57:02,549 --> 00:57:06,205
[Nelson] New Jersey has said
that card counting is legal
1049
00:57:06,248 --> 00:57:11,558
and that the casinos
cannot exclude card counters.
1050
00:57:11,602 --> 00:57:14,126
There's no regulation saying they can kick them out,
1051
00:57:14,169 --> 00:57:16,389
but they do have
these horrible regulations
1052
00:57:16,433 --> 00:57:19,740
such as changing the stakes for a single person at a table.
1053
00:57:21,568 --> 00:57:24,092
[KC] Pretty rough day today,
played three sessions,
1054
00:57:24,136 --> 00:57:27,618
had three 10,000 dollar losses back-to-back-to-back.
1055
00:57:27,661 --> 00:57:31,665
As of this morning, around noon, I was up 20,000.
1056
00:57:31,709 --> 00:57:34,363
I lost that back,
plus, another 30,000
1057
00:57:34,407 --> 00:57:36,670
for a 50,000 dollar downturn,
1058
00:57:36,714 --> 00:57:38,759
plus 8,000
that I lost last night.
1059
00:57:40,718 --> 00:57:45,113
This blackjack trip
for me is like a company, a business that I am running.
1060
00:57:45,157 --> 00:57:47,289
I need a place get
as many of these bets in
1061
00:57:47,333 --> 00:57:49,074
and create as much
expected value.
1062
00:57:49,117 --> 00:57:52,294
Along the way I have to deal with a fluctuations
1063
00:57:52,338 --> 00:57:57,822
which is the risk and I don't want to end up tapping out at any point, going bankrupt.
1064
00:57:57,865 --> 00:58:01,303
When you start losing,
you need to buckle down
and grind it back out.
1065
00:58:01,347 --> 00:58:04,219
And you just have to let go, you know. You get your bets in
1066
00:58:04,263 --> 00:58:08,876
then the cards fall as they may. And you just really have to hope
1067
00:58:08,920 --> 00:58:12,663
that you can ride out the storm.
So, right now, this is all about
riding out the storm.
1068
00:58:12,706 --> 00:58:15,535
By far the most important
characteristic of someone
1069
00:58:15,579 --> 00:58:20,279
who is going to be a success
at this is emotional control.
1070
00:58:20,322 --> 00:58:24,283
You can't be subject
to emotional involvement
1071
00:58:24,326 --> 00:58:26,807
that will take your losses
1072
00:58:26,851 --> 00:58:28,940
and turn them
into your downfall.
1073
00:58:30,071 --> 00:58:31,029
[music]
1074
00:58:32,509 --> 00:58:34,815
[KC] Trying to fill up
with the Flying J.
1075
00:58:34,859 --> 00:58:37,209
We're out of propane. It's been a rough two nights
1076
00:58:37,252 --> 00:58:40,081
Ran out of propane and it's been
freezing in Atlantic City.
1077
00:58:40,125 --> 00:58:43,041
Spent two nights shivering
with the dogs.
1078
00:58:43,084 --> 00:58:46,131
I wrapped them up in a blanket
using to keep me warm.
1079
00:58:46,174 --> 00:58:48,133
The good news
is we're heading south.
1080
00:58:48,176 --> 00:58:49,700
Hopefully, it's going to get warmer from here.
1081
00:58:49,743 --> 00:58:50,831
[music]
1082
00:58:52,485 --> 00:58:55,488
KC] It's nice to be in Florida. The weather's a bit better.
1083
00:58:55,532 --> 00:58:57,446
The losing seems
to have slowed down a bit.
1084
00:58:57,490 --> 00:58:59,666
I'm starting to log in a couple of winning sessions,
1085
00:58:59,710 --> 00:59:05,977
playing in the Tampa-Miami Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood area.
1086
00:59:10,198 --> 00:59:14,768
I'm going to jump on a plane and hop over to the Bahamas.
Check out the Atlantis.
1087
00:59:14,812 --> 00:59:17,641
They get some decent action there, should be a good spot.
1088
00:59:17,684 --> 00:59:21,470
Just arrived at Atlantis
Casino and Resort,
1089
00:59:21,514 --> 00:59:23,124
played my first
session at the casino,
1090
00:59:23,168 --> 00:59:26,388
went straight in, played 14,500.
1091
00:59:28,173 --> 00:59:31,219
Last 24 hours in the Bahamas has just been awesome.
1092
00:59:31,263 --> 00:59:33,700
Got some pool time, some R&R,
1093
00:59:33,744 --> 00:59:37,138
I have been able to get
solid table max bets
1094
00:59:37,182 --> 00:59:39,314
without ever even
disclosing my ID.
1095
00:59:39,358 --> 00:59:41,447
They've got a table
up by the pool.
1096
00:59:41,490 --> 00:59:44,145
I've been able to get a deep afternoon session in.
1097
00:59:44,189 --> 00:59:46,583
I had a great situation
last night in a shoe game,
1098
00:59:46,626 --> 00:59:50,238
a few aces came out and I was able to shuffle track
1099
00:59:50,282 --> 00:59:53,111
a sequence and it worked out perfectly.
1100
00:59:53,154 --> 00:59:55,287
I basically got three aces
in a row.
1101
00:59:55,330 --> 00:59:57,115
They all landed on my hand,
I won all three hands
1102
00:59:57,158 --> 00:59:59,030
at maximum bet.
That was fantastic.
1103
00:59:59,073 --> 01:00:01,249
Sequencing is
an advantage play technique
1104
01:00:01,293 --> 01:00:03,600
which involves following a string or sequence of cards.
1105
01:00:03,643 --> 01:00:06,124
Keep in mind that aces are very valuable to the player
1106
01:00:06,167 --> 01:00:07,560
in the game of blackjack.
1107
01:00:07,604 --> 01:00:09,736
A player has a 53% advantage
1108
01:00:09,780 --> 01:00:12,086
when dealt an ace
as his first card.
1109
01:00:12,130 --> 01:00:13,871
In this example a sequence
1110
01:00:13,914 --> 01:00:16,134
of three consecutive
aces is observed.
1111
01:00:16,177 --> 01:00:19,224
Location of aces are mentally noted in the discard tray.
1112
01:00:19,267 --> 01:00:21,574
In the following hand
a sequence of key cards
1113
01:00:21,618 --> 01:00:23,315
are observed and memorized.
1114
01:00:23,358 --> 01:00:24,751
These cards will precede
1115
01:00:24,795 --> 01:00:26,927
the aces in the following shoe.
1116
01:00:26,971 --> 01:00:29,495
In this example
the key cards in order are
1117
01:00:29,538 --> 01:00:31,715
the nine of diamonds,
Jack of Diamonds,
1118
01:00:31,758 --> 01:00:34,239
King of Diamonds
and seven of Spades.
1119
01:00:34,282 --> 01:00:37,111
While the cards will get
shuffled the sequence
gets shuffle tracked
1120
01:00:37,155 --> 01:00:39,113
and cut
to the front of the shoe.
1121
01:00:57,131 --> 01:00:59,830
After the first three key cards appear in order,
1122
01:00:59,873 --> 01:01:02,006
the bet is raised to table max
1123
01:01:02,049 --> 01:01:04,443
in anticipation of the arrival
of the ace sequence.
1124
01:01:17,630 --> 01:01:20,198
The three aces shortly
follow an order.
1125
01:01:26,073 --> 01:01:28,032
Sequencing is a powerful
technique
1126
01:01:28,075 --> 01:01:30,034
when the opportunity
presents itself.
1127
01:01:30,077 --> 01:01:32,079
There's very little heat
as few casinos have
1128
01:01:32,123 --> 01:01:34,473
the ability
to detect this method.
1129
01:01:34,516 --> 01:01:37,606
After getting up 600,000
I've had a dreadful winter,
1130
01:01:37,650 --> 01:01:40,435
playing every day
for three months. I've given back over 300,000.
1131
01:01:40,479 --> 01:01:42,742
Finally, I've strung together six wins in a row, including
1132
01:01:42,786 --> 01:01:45,527
a 77,000 dollar
win in the Bahamas
1133
01:01:45,571 --> 01:01:47,791
I feel like things are starting to turn for the better.
1134
01:01:48,792 --> 01:01:50,837
We're basically
on the home stretch
1135
01:01:50,881 --> 01:01:53,144
of this giant circle we've done around the country.
1136
01:01:55,233 --> 01:01:57,975
[music]
1137
01:01:59,716 --> 01:02:03,328
I just got off the phone with my dad, I piqued my dad's interest talking to him over
1138
01:02:03,371 --> 01:02:06,853
the last year and a half.
And he told me today
1139
01:02:06,897 --> 01:02:09,769
that he's going to join us through New Mexico and Arizona.
1140
01:02:09,813 --> 01:02:12,076
It's going to be fun for me to pull him out of retirement
1141
01:02:12,119 --> 01:02:14,252
and have a little bit of camaraderie.
1142
01:02:14,295 --> 01:02:17,124
-Good to see you.
-Yeah. We are on Albuquerque
1143
01:02:17,168 --> 01:02:19,518
-ready to start our adventure.
-Are you ready for some work?
1144
01:02:19,561 --> 01:02:21,868
-All right, let's do it.
-All right.
1145
01:02:21,912 --> 01:02:23,000
[music]
1146
01:02:25,306 --> 01:02:28,048
[KC] Yeah, it's fun having my dad in the RV. You know...
1147
01:02:28,092 --> 01:02:30,790
he lives in California.
I live in Las Vegas.
1148
01:02:30,834 --> 01:02:34,054
I've been on the road a lot. It's good for us
to spend time together.
1149
01:02:34,098 --> 01:02:36,753
You can write down
the stakes in advance.
1150
01:02:38,276 --> 01:02:40,844
-All right. That's not fair.
-Go ahead.
1151
01:02:40,887 --> 01:02:44,108
No, you've lost
your score keeping
1152
01:02:44,151 --> 01:02:48,155
and I'm keeping score now
and driving. You can't do that.
1153
01:02:48,199 --> 01:02:51,028
So when we're together,
it's just non-stop games,
non-stop competition.
1154
01:02:51,071 --> 01:02:56,555
All right. The next
alphabetical state, Indiana.
1155
01:02:58,252 --> 01:03:00,080
Stop writing it down.
1156
01:03:00,124 --> 01:03:02,126
I'm not supposed to write
your answer down?
1157
01:03:02,169 --> 01:03:03,170
Do you challenge me?
1158
01:03:04,345 --> 01:03:07,479
Yeah, my dad and I
are very competitive.
1159
01:03:07,522 --> 01:03:09,394
You know he has been
a professional games player
1160
01:03:09,437 --> 01:03:12,092
for a large portion of his life
1161
01:03:12,136 --> 01:03:15,008
and has this competitive spirit
which I probably inherited.
1162
01:03:15,052 --> 01:03:18,098
We were playing a state game
1163
01:03:18,142 --> 01:03:20,927
and we just found evidence that
1164
01:03:20,971 --> 01:03:24,017
there was a little bit
of foul play going on here,
1165
01:03:24,061 --> 01:03:28,021
but he was busted. He used
the score-- the privileges.
1166
01:03:29,675 --> 01:03:31,720
The competition got out
of control to the point
1167
01:03:31,764 --> 01:03:35,376
where he's accusing me of stuff,
I am accusing him of stuff,
1168
01:03:35,420 --> 01:03:38,205
it got so heated that we had
to quit the game in the middle.
1169
01:03:39,946 --> 01:03:44,908
It's double after split we split
aces, six-deck game, shoe...
1170
01:03:44,951 --> 01:03:46,953
We cut off a deck and a half.
1171
01:03:48,215 --> 01:03:50,304
This isn't his idea
of finding in the airport
1172
01:03:50,348 --> 01:03:52,089
getting picked up
by a limo, playing golf
1173
01:03:52,132 --> 01:03:53,351
going out to nice dinners.
1174
01:03:53,394 --> 01:03:55,309
We're grinding it in an RV,
1175
01:03:55,353 --> 01:03:56,963
driving across the desert,
1176
01:03:57,007 --> 01:03:59,357
places with 500 dollar
maximum bet.
1177
01:03:59,400 --> 01:04:01,098
So it's not really
glorious here.
1178
01:04:01,925 --> 01:04:05,145
Dad, we need a signal,
we're going to be
playing these shoe games
1179
01:04:05,189 --> 01:04:09,106
If you get a count that's good, I want to know,
so I can come and play.
1180
01:04:09,149 --> 01:04:11,369
If you can do a call
in it's okay
1181
01:04:11,412 --> 01:04:13,458
if you don't know the count, you can come in betting big.
1182
01:04:13,501 --> 01:04:15,199
That's classic team theory,
1183
01:04:15,242 --> 01:04:17,027
but most casinos have seen that
1184
01:04:17,070 --> 01:04:18,985
so it's not
some original idea anymore.
1185
01:04:19,029 --> 01:04:23,685
The man that invented
team play is Frank.
1186
01:04:23,729 --> 01:04:26,036
-Yeah. We call him Al Francesco.
-[man] Yeah.
1187
01:04:26,079 --> 01:04:28,429
My name is-- I have three names.
1188
01:04:28,473 --> 01:04:31,345
In the blackjack world,
it's Al Francesco.
1189
01:04:31,389 --> 01:04:35,045
My original, real name
is Frank Schipani.
1190
01:04:35,088 --> 01:04:38,178
My legal name
is Frank Salerno.
1191
01:04:38,222 --> 01:04:40,833
Yeah, the people
in a blackjack world
1192
01:04:40,877 --> 01:04:43,053
understand why
we have different names.
1193
01:04:43,096 --> 01:04:45,055
He was the guy that years ago
1194
01:04:45,098 --> 01:04:47,796
before when I was still
in grade school
1195
01:04:47,840 --> 01:04:51,061
he went into the casinos in Las Vegas and just watched what people do.
1196
01:04:51,104 --> 01:04:54,107
Where do people put their hands? What do they do with them?
1197
01:04:54,151 --> 01:04:59,199
And he made up these signals
that were the basis of team play
1198
01:04:59,243 --> 01:05:02,202
and these signals that many
which we still use today.
1199
01:05:02,246 --> 01:05:03,769
Put your hand into your hair,
1200
01:05:03,812 --> 01:05:06,337
but like you were
there playing yesterday.
1201
01:05:06,380 --> 01:05:09,427
-Mm-hmm
-But if the count is good go up.
1202
01:05:09,470 --> 01:05:11,951
My hand will either be
on my on my chin
1203
01:05:11,995 --> 01:05:15,912
or if my chin means nothing.
1204
01:05:15,955 --> 01:05:18,131
If I'm like this at the table
1205
01:05:18,175 --> 01:05:20,873
but if my fingers
are touching my hair
1206
01:05:20,917 --> 01:05:23,963
-at all it's a good situation.
-Alright.
1207
01:05:24,007 --> 01:05:26,661
I really like this area.
I haven't really done
1208
01:05:26,705 --> 01:05:29,751
any in-depth play
in the New Mexico region
1209
01:05:29,795 --> 01:05:32,015
and I'm finding
some really good games.
1210
01:05:32,058 --> 01:05:35,061
-That's a good game.
-I was getting some heat,
1211
01:05:35,105 --> 01:05:36,410
well not heat,
but he was watching me.
1212
01:05:37,498 --> 01:05:39,283
[dad] You've establish
yourself as--
1213
01:05:39,326 --> 01:05:42,068
You were talking
about he's hitting 13
1214
01:05:42,112 --> 01:05:43,765
against fives and sixes
1215
01:05:43,809 --> 01:05:47,247
and standing on 15
against sevens and eights
1216
01:05:47,291 --> 01:05:50,642
and you get up from him and,
"Hey, I played horribly,"
1217
01:05:50,685 --> 01:05:55,125
the woman was just, "Yeah,
I mean he was just awful."
1218
01:05:55,168 --> 01:05:57,518
And they're talking
to the pit-boss
1219
01:05:57,562 --> 01:06:00,217
and the dealer that way,
it was funny.
1220
01:06:00,260 --> 01:06:03,002
-That's what they said
about me after I left?
-Yeah.
1221
01:06:03,046 --> 01:06:06,658
It's a good game. Their dealing is five decks.
1222
01:06:06,701 --> 01:06:08,834
I think you should go back
in there and punish them.
1223
01:06:08,877 --> 01:06:09,966
All right.
1224
01:06:11,706 --> 01:06:13,099
[hubbub]
1225
01:06:16,233 --> 01:06:17,974
[KC] We're continuing
through Arizona.
1226
01:06:18,017 --> 01:06:19,888
I've got my father with me
1227
01:06:19,932 --> 01:06:22,543
we're playing at Camp Verde at Cliff Castle.
1228
01:06:22,587 --> 01:06:25,024
And I had a solid,
two or three decks
1229
01:06:25,068 --> 01:06:27,461
I got to play with in a really high count situation
1230
01:06:29,072 --> 01:06:31,639
This winner was the worst losing
streak I'd ever sustained.
1231
01:06:31,683 --> 01:06:35,078
I played every day
for three months and was
down over 325,000 dollars.
1232
01:06:35,121 --> 01:06:38,081
I've been able to maintain the momentum I had in the south
1233
01:06:38,124 --> 01:06:41,345
and the Bahamas and Florida
through Arizona, New Mexico
1234
01:06:41,388 --> 01:06:44,174
and have recovered about 60
to 70 percent of that back.
1235
01:06:45,349 --> 01:06:46,654
That was quite a shoe.
1236
01:06:46,698 --> 01:06:48,047
[dad] The shoe after was better.
1237
01:06:48,091 --> 01:06:49,831
-What?
-My very last shoe.
1238
01:06:50,832 --> 01:06:52,225
[music]
1239
01:07:00,451 --> 01:07:02,453
[KC] Here you go. Finished it.
1240
01:07:02,496 --> 01:07:05,325
- The finish I was looking for.
-[woman laughs]
1241
01:07:07,545 --> 01:07:12,071
Blackjack I think
has probably ran its course.
1242
01:07:12,115 --> 01:07:14,508
But then if you look at it, it's
been going around since 60s.
1243
01:07:14,552 --> 01:07:17,076
So how much farther is
the course going to go?
1244
01:07:17,120 --> 01:07:20,688
Back in 2000
I was at a gaming conference
1245
01:07:20,732 --> 01:07:23,256
and I ran into Arnold Snyder and we got talking.
1246
01:07:23,300 --> 01:07:25,867
I said, "Arnold, I think blackjack is going to be history
1247
01:07:25,911 --> 01:07:29,132
as being
attackable in five years."
1248
01:07:29,175 --> 01:07:31,656
Well, it was 2005,
so, obviously, I was wrong.
1249
01:07:31,699 --> 01:07:33,745
The blackjack players
are smarter
1250
01:07:33,788 --> 01:07:37,096
than the casino operators,
fact of life.
1251
01:07:37,140 --> 01:07:39,316
Those guys are watching somebody
else's money.
1252
01:07:40,360 --> 01:07:41,840
We're playing our own.
1253
01:07:41,883 --> 01:07:43,537
While the casinos are sleeping
1254
01:07:43,581 --> 01:07:45,539
and those guys are at home,
we're thinking.
1255
01:07:45,583 --> 01:07:47,759
There's always a new move
coming along.
1256
01:07:47,802 --> 01:07:50,675
Right now people in blackjack
are making as much money
1257
01:07:50,718 --> 01:07:54,157
as they made five years ago,
ten years ago, 20 years ago.
1258
01:07:54,200 --> 01:07:56,159
There's always
something else out there.
1259
01:07:56,202 --> 01:07:59,075
Not just card counting,
there's always going
to be something.
1260
01:07:59,118 --> 01:08:02,339
I think the future of advantage
play is very bright.
1261
01:08:02,382 --> 01:08:05,994
The people that adapt
continue to make money
1262
01:08:06,038 --> 01:08:07,779
and still make money
to this day.
1263
01:08:07,822 --> 01:08:10,129
Every year somebody
tells me blackjack is dead
1264
01:08:10,173 --> 01:08:13,001
and every year
advantage play
1265
01:08:13,045 --> 01:08:15,700
has just gotten
better and better and better.
1266
01:08:15,743 --> 01:08:19,269
I don't see in the reasonable,
foreseeable future
1267
01:08:19,312 --> 01:08:22,010
that blackjack is going
to be dead to any of us.
1268
01:08:22,054 --> 01:08:25,144
For us the clock
never stops working, you know,
1269
01:08:25,188 --> 01:08:28,800
working all the time.
And so the game goes on.
1270
01:08:29,801 --> 01:08:32,760
[KC] Coming back to Las Vegas,
I'm exhausted.
1271
01:08:32,804 --> 01:08:35,154
The last 12 months
I spent grinding in casinos,
1272
01:08:35,198 --> 01:08:37,156
working
in a hostile environment,
1273
01:08:37,200 --> 01:08:39,158
it took its toll on me,
the wins, the losses.
1274
01:08:39,202 --> 01:08:42,161
I'm glad this chapter of my career was profitable.
1275
01:08:42,205 --> 01:08:44,946
Oh he's taken things that I did
1276
01:08:44,990 --> 01:08:46,992
and gone to the next level
with them.
1277
01:08:47,035 --> 01:08:49,734
He's ambitious
and he's done very well.
1278
01:08:49,777 --> 01:08:51,997
And has no reason
not to be successful,
1279
01:08:52,040 --> 01:08:55,131
but I hope he realizes that there are better things
1280
01:08:55,174 --> 01:08:57,089
to do in the long term
with his life.
1281
01:08:57,133 --> 01:09:00,788
But I think it should form
a good basis,
1282
01:09:00,832 --> 01:09:05,097
some good experience,
things will carry over
in no matter what he does.
1283
01:09:05,141 --> 01:09:10,102
It really makes no difference
where KC ends up.
1284
01:09:10,146 --> 01:09:12,235
The skills that he's learned
from blackjack,
1285
01:09:12,278 --> 01:09:15,455
where does that lead?
Only the future will tell.
1286
01:09:15,499 --> 01:09:18,632
People in life, who are going to be successful
1287
01:09:18,676 --> 01:09:23,071
as his dad was and KC is very much like his father that way.
1288
01:09:23,115 --> 01:09:26,336
[KC] I still like the rush
of beating a casino,
1289
01:09:26,379 --> 01:09:28,207
but for me the game has changed.
1290
01:09:28,251 --> 01:09:31,036
I'm no longer, you know,
a welcomed high roller.
1291
01:09:31,079 --> 01:09:33,169
I'm now trying to fly
under the radar
1292
01:09:33,212 --> 01:09:36,433
having to work really hard
just to play.
1293
01:09:36,476 --> 01:09:40,001
And it's tough.
It's a super grind.
1294
01:09:40,045 --> 01:09:43,179
It's not what I want to spend
the rest of my life doing.
1295
01:09:43,222 --> 01:09:45,877
I am thankful
that I had this experience.
1296
01:09:45,920 --> 01:09:48,793
I am thankful
that I've got skills
1297
01:09:48,836 --> 01:09:52,231
I should hopefully be able to
take to a new phase of my life.
1298
01:09:52,275 --> 01:09:54,364
And I don't know
what the next step is
1299
01:09:54,407 --> 01:09:56,888
but it's become clear
to me at this point
1300
01:09:56,931 --> 01:09:59,760
that professional Blackjack
is behind me.
1301
01:10:01,893 --> 01:10:04,112
[music]
1302
01:10:05,026 --> 01:10:08,378
Hey, Stevie! What's up?
It's KC just checking in.
1303
01:10:08,421 --> 01:10:10,380
I just got a call from my dad.
1304
01:10:10,423 --> 01:10:12,382
He's down in Florida,
was playing golf
1305
01:10:12,425 --> 01:10:14,645
and came across
a hole card game.
1306
01:10:14,688 --> 01:10:16,647
He said it might be
a six-figure opportunity.
1307
01:10:16,690 --> 01:10:19,258
So I'm jumping on the next plane and heading down there.
1308
01:10:19,302 --> 01:10:21,217
Hope all is well with you.
Give me a ring.
1309
01:10:21,260 --> 01:10:23,262
[music]
105728