I am forwarding this personal email with the author's permission.
====================================================================
>
>Mr. Jacobson,
>
>I apologize for the length of this email. Thanks in advance for bearing
>with me.
>
>I've spent the last couple of days reading posts and Podiums on your site
>and I have to say that I find it all very interesting. I would welcome any
>thoughts you might have on my recent experience.
>
>I have gambled for about 15 years, but I am not as skilled as any of your
>posters. I understand the precepts of card counting and own a couple of
>books on the subject. But gambling for me is only an entertainment and I
>treat it as such. I enjoy poker, blackjack, and roulette. I can win at
>medium limit poker and that almost makes up for what I lose elsewhere. My
>blackjack play is basic strategy mostly at $25 tables. In the last 5 years,
>I have played regularly at three casinos near my home and I visit Las Vegas
>and/or Biloxi a couple of times a year. I always use a player's card.
>Though I don't lose THAT much, I have never been turned down for any
>requested comp. Other than the occasional horrific loss, I have never had
>any negative incident in a casino. In short, I can afford this gambling
>lifestyle and I enjoy it.
>
>On July 11th, everything changed. My wife and I, along with two friends,
>had spent the day playing at Caesar's Palace. My friends played mostly
>craps and were a few hundred ahead, my wife won $500 at roulette, and I got
>slaughtered at blackjack. I couldn't buy a hand and, for the day, was down
>around $3000. About 7PM, we cashed out and were standing around trying to
>decide on dinner plans. While we were standing there, a suited casino
>employee addressed me by name and asked if he could speak to me. I said
>sure and he motioned me to follow him for a few steps. Suddenly, I was
>surrounded by uniformed guards. The suit told me that my "action was no
>longer wanted." At first I thought it was a joke or simply a mistake, but
>he made it clear that it was not. He demanded my driver's license and I
>asked what he needed it for, considering that he already knew my name. He
>replied that if I did not turn over my license, he would take it from me. I
>wasn't exactly in a position to refuse his request. He then demanded the
>names and addresses of the people with me. I told him it was none of his
>f...ing business.
>
>My wife tried to walk over and ask what was going on, but was refused access
>to me. I continued to press for an explanation and was told only "you know
>why we're doing this." The suit pulled out a card and copied information
>from my license. He then had the uniforms escort me a few yards away while
>he made a phone call, all the time keeping my wife away from me. He walked
>back up and read me the trespass act, which I assume you are very familiar
>with, and asked me to sign the card. I demanded to know why this was
>happening; he refused to answer any questions, saying only that I would be
>escorted from the premises and arrested should I set foot on any Park Place
>owned property ever again. I refused to sign the card and again demanded an
>explanation or a phone number where I could reach someone with more
>authority. A security supervisor handed me a card and told me to call the
>casino manager on Monday if I wanted an explanation. I was then escorted to
>the valet parking area and kept surrounded until the car showed up.
>
>On Tuesday, I called the casino and was connected with the casino shift
>manager who had been on duty during my dismissal. I explained that I simply
>wanted to know the reasons why I had been treated this way. He told me that
>my ejection was a "management decision" and was irrevocable for life. When
>I kept pressing, he assured me that further inquiries would get me nowhere.
>I asked if I would be allowed to shop in the Forum or eat at Caesar's
>restaurants. He said I would be arrested for criminal trespass if I set
>foot on any of their properties. I mentioned that I had a reserved room and
>a booth at an August law enforcement conference at the Las Vegas Hilton that
>was already paid for. He again told me that I would be arrested if I
>attempted to enter the property.
>
>I have never had a bad experience in many years gambling at Caesar's. I had
>no problems with casino personnel or other players during play that day. I
>did not drink alcohol. I was not cheating in any manner. I can only assume
>that security somehow pegged me as a card counter. Other than a continuing
>chain of letters toward the top of Park Place Entertainment, I am not sure
>how to proceed. I am not concerned about playing in their casinos again; I
>am concerned about being placed in a database of "cheaters" and being barred
>from other places. I am also concerned about the Harrah's takeover of Park
>Place as Harrahs is one of my local casinos. Will this limit my options
>even further?
>
>I'm sure this is a textbook case of mild casino harassment. I have tried to
>give a complete transcription of events and would appreciate if you have any
>questions, comments or suggestions. Four days later, the entire event seems
>like a dream. But I don't relish the possibility of no place to play on my
>planned January Vegas trip. Once again, thank you for your time. I wish
>you and your posters well, especially at Caesar's.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>[signature deleted]
====================================================================
>
>Mr. Jacobson,
>
>I apologize for the length of this email. Thanks in advance for bearing
>with me.
>
>I've spent the last couple of days reading posts and Podiums on your site
>and I have to say that I find it all very interesting. I would welcome any
>thoughts you might have on my recent experience.
>
>I have gambled for about 15 years, but I am not as skilled as any of your
>posters. I understand the precepts of card counting and own a couple of
>books on the subject. But gambling for me is only an entertainment and I
>treat it as such. I enjoy poker, blackjack, and roulette. I can win at
>medium limit poker and that almost makes up for what I lose elsewhere. My
>blackjack play is basic strategy mostly at $25 tables. In the last 5 years,
>I have played regularly at three casinos near my home and I visit Las Vegas
>and/or Biloxi a couple of times a year. I always use a player's card.
>Though I don't lose THAT much, I have never been turned down for any
>requested comp. Other than the occasional horrific loss, I have never had
>any negative incident in a casino. In short, I can afford this gambling
>lifestyle and I enjoy it.
>
>On July 11th, everything changed. My wife and I, along with two friends,
>had spent the day playing at Caesar's Palace. My friends played mostly
>craps and were a few hundred ahead, my wife won $500 at roulette, and I got
>slaughtered at blackjack. I couldn't buy a hand and, for the day, was down
>around $3000. About 7PM, we cashed out and were standing around trying to
>decide on dinner plans. While we were standing there, a suited casino
>employee addressed me by name and asked if he could speak to me. I said
>sure and he motioned me to follow him for a few steps. Suddenly, I was
>surrounded by uniformed guards. The suit told me that my "action was no
>longer wanted." At first I thought it was a joke or simply a mistake, but
>he made it clear that it was not. He demanded my driver's license and I
>asked what he needed it for, considering that he already knew my name. He
>replied that if I did not turn over my license, he would take it from me. I
>wasn't exactly in a position to refuse his request. He then demanded the
>names and addresses of the people with me. I told him it was none of his
>f...ing business.
>
>My wife tried to walk over and ask what was going on, but was refused access
>to me. I continued to press for an explanation and was told only "you know
>why we're doing this." The suit pulled out a card and copied information
>from my license. He then had the uniforms escort me a few yards away while
>he made a phone call, all the time keeping my wife away from me. He walked
>back up and read me the trespass act, which I assume you are very familiar
>with, and asked me to sign the card. I demanded to know why this was
>happening; he refused to answer any questions, saying only that I would be
>escorted from the premises and arrested should I set foot on any Park Place
>owned property ever again. I refused to sign the card and again demanded an
>explanation or a phone number where I could reach someone with more
>authority. A security supervisor handed me a card and told me to call the
>casino manager on Monday if I wanted an explanation. I was then escorted to
>the valet parking area and kept surrounded until the car showed up.
>
>On Tuesday, I called the casino and was connected with the casino shift
>manager who had been on duty during my dismissal. I explained that I simply
>wanted to know the reasons why I had been treated this way. He told me that
>my ejection was a "management decision" and was irrevocable for life. When
>I kept pressing, he assured me that further inquiries would get me nowhere.
>I asked if I would be allowed to shop in the Forum or eat at Caesar's
>restaurants. He said I would be arrested for criminal trespass if I set
>foot on any of their properties. I mentioned that I had a reserved room and
>a booth at an August law enforcement conference at the Las Vegas Hilton that
>was already paid for. He again told me that I would be arrested if I
>attempted to enter the property.
>
>I have never had a bad experience in many years gambling at Caesar's. I had
>no problems with casino personnel or other players during play that day. I
>did not drink alcohol. I was not cheating in any manner. I can only assume
>that security somehow pegged me as a card counter. Other than a continuing
>chain of letters toward the top of Park Place Entertainment, I am not sure
>how to proceed. I am not concerned about playing in their casinos again; I
>am concerned about being placed in a database of "cheaters" and being barred
>from other places. I am also concerned about the Harrah's takeover of Park
>Place as Harrahs is one of my local casinos. Will this limit my options
>even further?
>
>I'm sure this is a textbook case of mild casino harassment. I have tried to
>give a complete transcription of events and would appreciate if you have any
>questions, comments or suggestions. Four days later, the entire event seems
>like a dream. But I don't relish the possibility of no place to play on my
>planned January Vegas trip. Once again, thank you for your time. I wish
>you and your posters well, especially at Caesar's.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>[signature deleted]
