Here are all the comments posted on the site, with the most recent discussions listed first.
To participate in any of these discussions, you can reply on the article page.
If a cut card is used, then no issue. If they blatently use the “dealer’s count”, or shuffle based on a nod from the pit, the entire casino should be boycotted.
I hope the lawyer sues Mindplay out of existance. I totally agree that the casinos with the electronic Mindplay device are 100% able to alter the odds of the game. In addition, Mindplay provides them with a device which enables them to cheat the gamblers and leave no evidence. Once all of the cards are read into the computer and their order is known before they are dealt, the house has complete capability to cheat the gamblers without giving the gamblers or regulators an opportunity to detect it.
Here are just a couple of the many ways:
1. Signal someone at the table to “sit out a hand to change the luck of the cards” when sitting out will cause the dealer to get a blackjack.
2. Signal someone at 3rd base when to take a hit or stand so that the dealer makes a hand instead of busting.
This cheating doesn’t have to be widespread or happen all the time for it to be profitable. The casino could just concentrate on cheating the gamblers at the high limit tables. As far as the gamblers know, they are just having some bad luck and will blame it on the other player that is making dumb plays.
Here’s the real reason why Mindplay should be shut down. It’s not a matter of whether or not the casinos are signalling for shuffles or signalling to cheat the gamblers, it’s a matter of Mindplay creating the capability to change the odds and cheat the players. Mindplay gives the casinos absolute power to control not just the game, but the outcome of the game. We all know that absolute power corrupts, absolutely. If the capability to cheat exists, is easy, and hard to detect, some casino employee will do it, and then all hell will break loose.
The debacle regarding MindPlay is just another attempt by the casinos to BREAK the law. NRS 465.075 is VERY clear – “It is unlawful for ANY PERSON … to use, any device to assist”
Any person means JUST that. The Gaming Board’s contention that a casino is NOT a person is fallacious.
Remember the ill-fated SafeJack game at Ballys Vegas a few years ago? Has anyone ever thought to ask WHY that game seems to have been discontinued?
How have you been. I used to run the Bally’s-Tunica tournaments. First with Dan O’Conner and then on my own if you remember. I have since moved back to MN and gotten in the mortgage business.
I actually know Rob Winkler personally. Wow, this sounds like quite the debacle! I can’t beleive how badly things went and that they threw you off the property. That is crazy!
It is too bad our “crew” of solid casino guys got all broken up by mergers and acqusitions as we used to have one of the best groups ever with Mav, Adolph, Mike Smith, Barbara Williams, Kevin Munn, Skip Perry and on and on. Those were the good old days.
I have seen you on the Game Show Network. It looks like this Blackjack Tournament stuff is running strong.
I will say I don’t miss running the tournaments as it was a ton of work and quite a bit of stress. Rob had to be feeling a ton of heat on this one. Ouch!
Take care and put me on your email list for your stories and updates as I find them interesting.
Tim Rogge
former Tournament Director @ Bally’s Tunica
BJ21.com via Al Rogers 20 Oct 04 provides an entire transcript of the complaint. Well worth reading and speaks for itself.
If a cut card is used, then no issue. If they blatently use the “dealer’s count”, or shuffle based on a nod from the pit, the entire casino should be boycotted.
I hope the lawyer sues Mindplay out of existance. I totally agree that the casinos with the electronic Mindplay device are 100% able to alter the odds of the game. In addition, Mindplay provides them with a device which enables them to cheat the gamblers and leave no evidence. Once all of the cards are read into the computer and their order is known before they are dealt, the house has complete capability to cheat the gamblers without giving the gamblers or regulators an opportunity to detect it.
Here are just a couple of the many ways:
1. Signal someone at the table to “sit out a hand to change the luck of the cards” when sitting out will cause the dealer to get a blackjack.
2. Signal someone at 3rd base when to take a hit or stand so that the dealer makes a hand instead of busting.
This cheating doesn’t have to be widespread or happen all the time for it to be profitable. The casino could just concentrate on cheating the gamblers at the high limit tables. As far as the gamblers know, they are just having some bad luck and will blame it on the other player that is making dumb plays.
Here’s the real reason why Mindplay should be shut down. It’s not a matter of whether or not the casinos are signalling for shuffles or signalling to cheat the gamblers, it’s a matter of Mindplay creating the capability to change the odds and cheat the players. Mindplay gives the casinos absolute power to control not just the game, but the outcome of the game. We all know that absolute power corrupts, absolutely. If the capability to cheat exists, is easy, and hard to detect, some casino employee will do it, and then all hell will break loose.
The debacle regarding MindPlay is just another attempt by the casinos to BREAK the law. NRS 465.075 is VERY clear – “It is unlawful for ANY PERSON … to use, any device to assist”
Any person means JUST that. The Gaming Board’s contention that a casino is NOT a person is fallacious.
Remember the ill-fated SafeJack game at Ballys Vegas a few years ago? Has anyone ever thought to ask WHY that game seems to have been discontinued?
Sometime ago, I wrote an Op/Ed on preferential shuffling (See: http://www.borisbj21.com/Page21/page21e1.html).
Amazingly enough, that discussion is more pertinent than ever.
Has anyone actually had their play “pulled up” because of MindPlay? If so, please write me about it at: [email protected].
The preferential shuffling issue is FAR from over, don’tcha think?
– Ron Fitch (a.k.a. “Boris”)
http://www.borisbj21.com.
Well, its about time you fired up the blog again! zg
I’m so tired of barring and illegal gambling online etc. Honestly, what is the NEXT course of action for players?
kick
Hi Ken,
How have you been. I used to run the Bally’s-Tunica tournaments. First with Dan O’Conner and then on my own if you remember. I have since moved back to MN and gotten in the mortgage business.
I actually know Rob Winkler personally. Wow, this sounds like quite the debacle! I can’t beleive how badly things went and that they threw you off the property. That is crazy!
It is too bad our “crew” of solid casino guys got all broken up by mergers and acqusitions as we used to have one of the best groups ever with Mav, Adolph, Mike Smith, Barbara Williams, Kevin Munn, Skip Perry and on and on. Those were the good old days.
I have seen you on the Game Show Network. It looks like this Blackjack Tournament stuff is running strong.
I will say I don’t miss running the tournaments as it was a ton of work and quite a bit of stress. Rob had to be feeling a ton of heat on this one. Ouch!
Take care and put me on your email list for your stories and updates as I find them interesting.
Tim Rogge
former Tournament Director @ Bally’s Tunica