Heat: Crowed or Empty Casino?

[Cardcounter]

I was just wondering if it is easier to get away with card counting in a casino that is crowed or Empty?

In a crowed casino the pit boss don't need your business as much because they have a lot of other customers. People winning in a crowed casino is a more common event. Think about it if there are 100 players in the casino and 5 of them win money that isn't all that unusally but if there are only 10 players in the casino and 2 or more of them win than that is more unusual. In empty casino the pit boss might fill more preasure to beat you.

[aslan]

Originally Posted by Cardcounter

I was just wondering if it is easier to get away with card counting in a casino that is crowed or Empty?

In a crowed casino the pit boss don't need your business as much because they have a lot of other customers. People winning in a crowed casino is a more common event. Think about it if there are 100 players in the casino and 5 of them win money that isn't all that unusally but if there are only 10 players in the casino and 2 or more of them win than that is more unusual. In empty casino the pit boss might fill more preasure to beat you.

It may be easier to go unnoticed in a crowded casino, I don't really know, but it is also much harder if not impossible to find a half full table where one could play three hands in high count situations. I, although admittedly a novice, prefer less crowded casinos. Lots of times the pit bosses and supervisors are smoozing and just taking it easy. Of course, you can't be wagering 30X in such situations--you need a lot of distraction as in a busy casino for that. But just for your day to day counting at 5X to 10X spreads, I like the less crowded scenario. Now, don't all of you jump on me at once!

[ihate17]

You definately will get less heat in a crowded casino. Most often you will also play fewer hands, play at tables with many other players and make less money.

If your bet sizes fall into the average range for that particular casino you likely could spread to your hearts content and never get any heat unless you do something to stand out or are a huge winner. The pits have many players to evaluate, more tables to watch, more fills to be ordered and watched, more markers to fetch and just more of everything. The eye unless alerted is just taping everything in case it has to be reviewed. You are playing at full or nearly full tables. Wonging in may be difficult, wonging out of a poor count when a dealer gives favorable pen may be something that you do not want to do, so you may be playing more negative hands. When the remaining cards are good, you must share them with a full table.

At the empty casino you might get a heads up game with a quick dealer and be playing three or more times the amount of hands per hour than you might have gotten in the crowded casino. You can much more easily pick the dealer you wish to play with. Wonging in or out becomes easier. When you have a favorable count you may not have to share with anyone.
The downside is the pit has little to do. You might get your own personal floorman and it might have nothing to do with your play, the guy may be bored. But, he now has the time to watch you play and evaluate you. Your sessions will have to be shorter (but a 1 hour session in an empty place may be equal to about 3 hours in a full one) and large bets are sure to get you some attention at least early on.

The answer to the original question is: It is easier to get away with cardcounting in a crowded casino but you should be able to make more money in the same amount of time in an empty one.

ihate17

[aslan]

Originally Posted by ihate17

It is easier to get away with cardcounting in a crowded casino but you should be able to make more money in the same amount of time in an empty one.

ihate17

All that you said rings true with my limited experience. I'm sure they already think I may know a little about what I'm doing, but betting 1-5X and 1-7.5X on a $10 table does not seem to attract much attention even when I'm winning good. Also, I never bet blacks, and if I do want to bet $100's, I will bet only greens. When I'm winning good, I always manage to stash chips in my pockets, so that when I finally leave it looks like I either lost or just got even. One way is to keep a stack of blacks/greens in your hand, so that when you leave between shoes for a break, it's easy to pocket the chips unseen. Also, the pit does not see these chips on the table in front of you when they are concealed in your hand. All of this may sound like overkill, but I have a penchant for detail. Also, I enjoy playing for long hours, and sometimes HAVE TO because of a run of bad luck. I feel I have to be careful not to wear out my welcome, since I enjoy playing in the same casino repeatedly and like the accompanying comps.