Counting at my favorite casino

[aslan]

I'm visiting LV for the first time as a card counter in October. Overall I don't have any problem with their more aggressive policy toward counters, but in one casino where I love to play, and where I always get comp rooms, I definitely don't want to be ID'd as a counter. What is the best way to play there and count, but still stay comfortably under the radar? Like I said, at other places I don't really care, but at this particular casino I would like to continue getting my room comps--without giving them my money to boot.

[blackwater1776]

Stay low...camo as much as you can and by all means, don't get greedy. Be warned though, if you walk across the street and nail one of the other casinos to the wall there is a good chance that you favorite house is gonna see your picture in their surveillance room. They all share information with each other. Now if you get ID'ed as a AP in one of the other places but the amounts aren't that big, then they might not even bother sending your photo out. Either way you look at it, it could be a gamble.

Have fun, stay safe and good luck

[AnIrishmannot2brite]

Well what does "not be too greedy" mean?

Does it mean stick it to them for low four figures or high three figures and then walk?

How about one or two quick scores of five hundred to a grand each and then walk?

Or a slow day winning thirty bucks an hour and go home like it's a regular job?

Just curious...

[shadroch]

Originally Posted by aslan

I'm visiting LV for the first time as a card counter in October. Overall I don't have any problem with their more aggressive policy toward counters, but in one casino where I love to play, and where I always get comp rooms, I definitely don't want to be ID'd as a counter. What is the best way to play there and count, but still stay comfortably under the radar? Like I said, at other places I don't really care, but at this particular casino I would like to continue getting my room comps--without giving them my money to boot.

If there is one casino you love to play in,why burn it. Play low/med stakes,don't spread a lot,socialize and enjoy playing the game.I never count in whatever casino I'm staying at,if I'm being comped.I might spread 1-3,and occasionally let a winning 3unit bet ride,but I'm rarely making a count dependant play,except insuring a good hand at a 3 unit bet.Plenty of other spots to play,why **** where you eat and sleep(for free).

[Automatic Monkey]

Originally Posted by aslan

I'm visiting LV for the first time as a card counter in October. Overall I don't have any problem with their more aggressive policy toward counters, but in one casino where I love to play, and where I always get comp rooms, I definitely don't want to be ID'd as a counter. What is the best way to play there and count, but still stay comfortably under the radar? Like I said, at other places I don't really care, but at this particular casino I would like to continue getting my room comps--without giving them my money to boot.

My recommendation is to treat them the way a frat boy treats a drunk girl passed out in his room, and pay cash for your rooms if necessary. Remember they can take your comps away from you any time they want, and even throw you out of your room in the middle of the night. But they can't take your cash. This isn't to say you should be oblivious to heat and the risk of backoffs, but you need to make your EV. Best cover is keeping your sessions in any one place short. Come back later.

Comps are nice, and I don't like to turn them down either, but they're really not worth giving up EV for.

[Bojack1]

Originally Posted by Automatic Monkey

My recommendation is to treat them the way a frat boy treats a drunk girl passed out in his room, and pay cash for your rooms if necessary. Remember they can take your comps away from you any time they want, and even throw you out of your room in the middle of the night. But they can't take your cash. This isn't to say you should be oblivious to heat and the risk of backoffs, but you need to make your EV. Best cover is keeping your sessions in any one place short. Come back later.

Comps are nice, and I don't like to turn them down either, but they're really not worth giving up EV for.

Although it is true that they could throw you out of the room in the middle of the night, that equates to extreme drastic measures by todays standards and will rarely happen. If you take them for mid 5 figures you might find they will be less than hospitable, but for the most part if you are not high rolling you will most likely get the tap and get restricted to flat betting or being allowed to play anythying else besides blackjack. A true 86ing might be the only instance where room seizing may actually happen. Honestly, if you get 86ed betting red or green in anything other than a true sweatshop, than you deserve what you get, because that would constitute more than just a counting back off, it usually would be compounded with an attitude or behavioral problem. Comps can be frozen or taken away, but more times than not it will not allow future comp perks, not take away from those being currently used. Most casinos that allow you to play on their floor after a back off will no more toss you out of your room then they will make you spit out the chocolate cake from your comped buffet. As always there are exceptions to the norm but many times it depends on you and your actions how the situation gets handled.

[ihate17]

There are two casinos in Vegas that comp me well and I consider them my home casinos. At these casinos my minimum bet is a bit lower (still high enough though to get comped) and my spread is not as aggressive but I still count. I have stayed there often enough that I know all the pits and always initiate conversations with them while keeping the count. The other thing is that I do toke there. These are also the only places that I put a little time in on VP machines.
Besides that, they both could back me off based on lifetime win but I do modestly consider myself a world class ratholer.

ihate17

[blackwater1776]

Originally Posted by AnIrishmannot2brite

Well what does "not be too greedy" mean?

Does it mean stick it to them for low four figures or high three figures and then walk?

How about one or two quick scores of five hundred to a grand each and then walk?

Or a slow day winning thirty bucks an hour and go home like it's a regular job?

Just curious...

I'd take a look around at some of the other tables and check out what other people are winning. Maybe stay in the green, and not be sitting at a table of ploppys with a rack or two of black in front of you, playing two hands at a couple of grand each and splitting tens. Just use some common sense is all. If you like the place, don't burn it down is all.

Good luck

[Knox]

Originally Posted by blackwater1776

If you like the place, don't burn it down is all.

Good luck

Sounds advice. If they won't let you play your game at all then the place is not worthwhile to begin with. You MAY want to even make a few bonehead plays just to convince the pit you are not a threat. Establish that, then they should let you do what you want. At one place I've gotten away with 1-30 spreads on DD games for extended periods. That was only because I had an early losing streak that established my "loserness".