I've never been to an underground casino with blackjack, but I've played poker at home games in which the house illegally rakes the pot. The home game I play in rakes 10% uncapped (so a $200 pot would have $20 raked out of it). Despite that huge rake (and no rakeback) the game is like an ATM for me since it's full of donks that treat their money like play money. It's 1/2 NL, and I could get several callers with a $25-50 preflop raise if I have a premium hand. Some people straddle and restraddle $100+ or even all in! I've only seen 2 other players consistently win, and they play well. My strategy for beating that game is to play tight, and be aggressive when I have the nuts or near nuts, and make people pay to chase straights or flushes which some people will always do. And it's amazing that people don't even notice that I haven't played a hand in an hour, then I open with a $50 raise and still get action.
I'd suggest not counting cards at an underground casino. The owners could just not pay you and break your legs. At a legal casino, the most they can do is trespass you, but they have to pay your winnings. I realize I'm taking a risk beating a home poker game, but I've always been paid and welcomed back, probably since I'm not "stealing" from the house and I calculated that I've paid more than $500 in rake in total (a high price to play poker, but as long as I'm crushing the game I'll keep playing).
I'd suggest not counting cards at an underground casino. The owners could just not pay you and break your legs. At a legal casino, the most they can do is trespass you, but they have to pay your winnings. I realize I'm taking a risk beating a home poker game, but I've always been paid and welcomed back, probably since I'm not "stealing" from the house and I calculated that I've paid more than $500 in rake in total (a high price to play poker, but as long as I'm crushing the game I'll keep playing).
:laugh::grin: