Originally Posted by
MiracleCard
Our humble host, Dan Druff, has indeed posted some very good strategies. I have known Dan Druff as an acquaintance for several years and can verify that he knows what he is talking about with said card counting. I'm neither a professional blackjack nor a professional poker player, but I am pretty knowledgeable about both games, and I have been kicked out of my fair share of casinos for card counting.
I'd like to add an interest anecdote whereby I was barred from a casino, and then "unbarred."
About a year ago, I was playing at the Bellagio in their $25 minimum, 6-deck shoe game. After about 15 minutes of play, I was down a moderate amount, about $400.
In the middle of a shoe, a guy in a suit comes up behind me, and says "Tommy, I need to have a word with you." (Tommy is not my real name.) The suit says that I am no longer welcome on the property, and that I must leave.
I was surprised that the suit said my name, since I had not given out a players card or any other form of ID to the dealer or pit boss when starting my session. In fact, I hadn't used a players card in over 5 years at any MGM Mirage casino (of which Bellagio is a part of). I had, however, been backed off at Mirage and Aria over the past couple of years.
Clearly, the suit must have known my name from Bellagio's facial recognition system. The suit, by mentioning my name, was clearly trying to say "We know who you are, and you're not fooling anybody."
I was clearly very disturbed at this turn of events, not so much because I was no longer able to play blackjack at Bellagio, but more so because Bellagio is a place where I come frequently to do non-Blackjack stuff, such as playing in their poker room, eating at their buffet, staying in their hotel, and probably most importantly, meeting friends there.
In any case, without making a scene, I calmly say OK and ask if I can just cash out my chips. (I had been in for a grand, so I had about $600 in chips.) The suit says OK, and he and I walk over to the cashiers cage. There is a person ahead of me in line. While I wait, the suit says, "Tommy, you know, I respect what you do, but I hope you respect what we do as well."
I then decided to pull a line out of my "public relations" frame of mind. I said to the suit, "I definitely respect what you do, and I do realize that this is private property and that you have the right to ask anyone to leave for any reason."
The suit, who looked surprised - probably because he never heard of such a line from any card counter he's barred before - then said, "OK, Tommy, I'm not going to bar you from this property, but - and I'm being serious - you are not allowed to do any more gambling, all right?"
I was elated to hear that he rescinded my barring, likely because I treated the suit with respect. Note: This is the Bellagio, and they like to do things in a very professional manner. There were no security guards, and, given that the suit was not accompanied by any other people, it's likely I would have been able to walk out on my own even if the suit maintained his barring decision.
My car was parked in their self-parking garage, and just for my own security, I decided not to head there, just in case they could catch my license plate number. I had to meet a friend around that time anyway near the strip, so I just took a taxi over there. I came back to get my car later that night during another shift.
I have not gambled in any MGM Mirage property since that time, including in any of their poker rooms. While my playing poker at the Bellagio would be unlikely to cause a problem, I don't want to take any chances just in case.
A few lessons: Don't be antagonistic when/if you're told to leave. Calmly ask to cash out your chips, and do as you're told. (An even better alternative is to have a friend that you trust cash in the chips for you, so you can just get the hell out of the casino. Of course, this is something you'll probably have to know beforehand, and if there's any doubt that you won't be able to have a friend get your money, just cash out right then and there.)
Don't go to the "back room" and don't give any identification.
Don't ask for permission to come back to the property if you've been barred (although you could try something like the line I used above).
Don't play any Blackjack at a sister property (although you can probably step foot on a sister property as long as you don't gamble there.) At the very least, they'll know your face, and they may even know your name, even if you haven't used a players card in years. Once you get into their system, you'll probably be there forever.
I have since stayed at the Bellagio a couple of times without incident. For extra protection, I've had a friend who plays -EV gambling, get a discounted room for me, and he checks in for me under his name.
Reply With Quote