BDTH

[Roy]

I just finished reading "Bringing Down the House" which I found to be quite entertaining. Is the majority of this book actually based on fact or is there some play with the truth? The amount of money they supposedly won is simply staggering. The one part I find hard to believe is the intimidation, threats, and violence that the casinos used against members of the team toward the end of the book. It would seem to me that the risk of lawsuits and bad publicity would make casinos refrain from such behavior.

Also, I would like some opinions as to whether team play using spotters and the BP is even viable in today's casino environment. It would seem that casinos, after this book came out, would be watching carefully to deter such play.

 

[LV Bear]

Crimes against patrons by casino employees *LINK*

The one part I find hard to believe is the intimidation, threats, and violence that the casinos used against members of the team toward the end of the book. It would seem to me that the risk of lawsuits and bad publicity would make casinos refrain from such behavior.

Casinos routinely engage in intimidation, threats, and violence against skilled patrons. It is particularly rampant in Nevada, due to the corrupt court system and casino-controlled corruption at all levels of government. It happens elsewhere, too, though not as often. Casinos, particularly in Nevada, are not deterred by lawsuits and bad publicity. Maybe when a jury awards millions to a victim of this type of thing, the casino bosses will take notice. It hasn't happened yet, though there are several pending lawsuits in Clark County. Hopefully, one of the juries will punish the casino criminals with a high enough award so that this behavior will stop.

You may also want to take a look at the DVD, Casino Abuse of Skilled Players, for more insight into the casino employee mentality. (Link below)

Here are a few links to recent news stories about crimes committed by casino employees against law-abiding, honest patrons. None of the casino employees were ever prosecuted for their crimes. There are many, many more such cases. In Nevada, the law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies are so corrupt that there is no chance of the casino employee criminals being prosecuted. The civil courts are the only remedy for the victims of casino crimes in Nevada, and it's tough for the victims/plaintiffs to get a fair hearing there, either.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Jul-06-Sun-2003/news/21616613.html (Archive copy)

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Sep-05-Fri-2003/business/22070526.html (Archive copy)

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Dec-25-Thu-2003/business/22871776.html (Archive copy)

 

[Rob McGarvey]

Team play is very possible with the right players. Since playing with MIT has its own stigma, you would expect all players to be str8 shooters. It is an honor to play with the big boys, and you wouldn't want to tarnish yourself by ripping them off, unless you are a rip off master and get greater pride an publicity from that end of your stick. The $ is real, the methods are real, but the writer also has the flair of the pen on his side. If you see the movie The Hot Shoe you will see the MIT is a bunch of geekmiesters or hoods that speak terrible english, say ahh, every second, and can't take their eyes off their stinky running shoes when they talk to the camera. It does make you wonder how the heck it all comes together. I guess it is a good act at the tables. No one would dream that some of these guys could get into University let alone your local high school.

 

[Kevin Blackwood]

History Versus Hollywood *LINK*

The MIT team definitely existed and have had a very successful run. The number I have heard kicked around is that they won $20 Million over the years.

However, I think BDTH doesn't give a very balanced and realistic portrayal of how teams operate. They rarely mention losing in the book and parts are definitely embellished. Without trying to sound like a shameless promoter, I would recommend my novel THE COUNTER. It offers a more balanced picture of the true ups and downs of high stakes play, as well as the numerous pitfalls that can strike a group of young men surrounded by bags of cash.

I understand the History Channel is planning to do a show in its "History Versus Hollywood" series on the MIT team. I believe that will air in April, although I don't know what slant they will take on the book.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Re: History Versus Hollywood

Sounds like a good book. I had an idea about a counter movie. A counting team much like the MIT team encounters a rhinestone-studded playboy type counter in LV, and the way they interact with each other. You can't make it too realistic because then it would be boring to anyone but counters, and most counters will be too cheap to buy the book or the movie.