Conspicous wonging

[Daysleeper]

I'm visiting AC in a few weeks and I am naturally planning to pay a visit to the casinos. My friend has suggested a strategy of conspicuous wonging based on the fact that you cannot be barred in AC. Simply speaking, we will stand behind a table, backcount it, and only bet when the EV is positive. Little or no attempt will be made at hiding this fact. I'm nervous about counting so conspicuously, and I wanted the opinion of the forum experts. Is this sort of openness typical of AC counters? Will we be inconvenienced, and if so, when and how? Much thanks for any reply and I will do my best to add my own contributions to this forum.

[LeonShuffle]

Personally, I wouldn't chance it. If you're a good enough counter, it's pretty easy to back-count inconspicuously, especially if you're with a friend. I've done it many times in A.C. and have had some good success. Just pretend like you're trying to figure out how the game works.

And by the way, if it IS obvious to everyone what you're doing, I'm not really sure what they'd do. They may shuffle as soon as you join, or I suppose they could tell you "no mid-shoe entry" even if there's no sign posted. Oh, and with 8 decks, you could be counting for a long time. Good luck either way.

[ScottH]

Even though they can't ban you for counting they CAN restrict you to a flat-bet, which is just as effective as banning you is. So you still should hide the fact that you are a skilled player.

[E-town-guy]

Flat betting wouldn't be so bad because he'd be jumping into the shoe at high counts so he'll likely be betting 2 or 3U just to start. But they will restrict you to no mid shoe entry.

I personally think if you're a decent player then you should take the effort to hide what you're doing.

[leshead]

i backcount but in the uk so it may be a little different. its just trying to act like your not doin it. im a bit more comfrotable because i have been learning to card count for about a year and in that time i been going to that casino watching and playing different games so i think the havent suspected me yat as i can get on with a couple of the dealers. im movin in a month so im goin to go for it. if i get barred i get barred. ill let you know how i get on

[SystemsTrader]

If it's just a one time visit, who cares go nuts! If your bankroll is small and your bets are low don't worry about it the casino won't care. I backcount a lot against 8 decks so expect a long night with few opportunities.

[Sonny]

Don't forget that many of these casinos are worldwide companies. Just because Harrah's can't bar you at any of their 4 casinos in AC doesn't mean that they won't bar you in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Uruguay (yup, I’m not kidding! ), or one of their 12 Nevada casinos. The Griffin book might be dying, but every casino keeps individual records of their “undesirable” players that they share with their affiliates. And lets not forget that Biometrica and ICSN are becoming a stronger force now that Griffin is sputtering.

I guess the moral of the story is, don’t sh!t on your neighbor’s lawn if he has relatives across the street (and down the block, and two houses down…).

-Sonny-

[Automatic Monkey]

Originally Posted by Daysleeper

I'm visiting AC in a few weeks and I am naturally planning to pay a visit to the casinos. My friend has suggested a strategy of conspicuous wonging based on the fact that you cannot be barred in AC. Simply speaking, we will stand behind a table, backcount it, and only bet when the EV is positive. Little or no attempt will be made at hiding this fact. I'm nervous about counting so conspicuously, and I wanted the opinion of the forum experts. Is this sort of openness typical of AC counters? Will we be inconvenienced, and if so, when and how? Much thanks for any reply and I will do my best to add my own contributions to this forum.

It all depends on your level. I'm a green chipper and it takes a long time at that level to get heat in AC. Backcounting works great with a partner because it looks like you are just socializing, not casing victims, stealing chips or other behavior that might make you a target of security (as opposed to surveillance). There are a lot of girls around in AC, so if you are young guys, disguising your hanging around as checking out/talking up girls will make it appear to the pit that you are "looking for good penetration" in the classic sense rather than the blackjack sense and you won't be perceived as a threat. It may also make your trip fun!

AC has a few stores vulnerable to ace sequencing and this has brought me major heat. The casinos are familiar with counting and I think they realize how hard it is to beat their game that way. When they see bets going up and down in a large ratio, and they see it isn't standard counting, they get nervous, especially if I'm winning.