LC Larry said:
These machines don't group anything. People like you are dangerous and should be banned from here.
This is flat out ridiculous, LC Larry. These machines have the capability to group cards. It is fairly common knowledge that they have the ability to re-arrange cards back into sequential order. Knowing that, why would anybody think they don't have the capability to arrange cards in any particular order desired?
Once I had witnesses this occur for 100's of shuffles at not one but 2 different locations (now more), there was no question in my mind that these machines had this capability. The only question that remained for me was did machines have this "mode" built in, as they leave the factory or does it require an adjustment/re-program?
I initially thought they were pre-programed that way. Acquiring a machine and tinkering with it, has proven that assumption wrong. It does require a very minor reprogram that takes very little technical knowledge. It
almost (<-
) seems like the manufacturer made this adjustment as easy as possible, while still protecting themselves to where they can say
"the machines don't come programed that way and we have no liability".
For those that argue that a positive card clump could be cut to the front of the shoe, making it advantageous for the player off the bat, yes this is
possible. But unless a player (card counter) knows that, he can't really take advantage of it.
Look, I don't know what the exact "best" order is that would maximize the house advantage. But the casino industry or at least some in it probably does. With computers and simulation, it wouldn't be hard to figure out. Players use computers and simulations, why do you think the casino industry wouldn't as well? That is pretty naïve. Knowledge of the most advantageous order of cards and a shuffle machine with the
capability to do so is a dangerous combination. Anyone thinking there won't be
some in the casino industry that cross that line is pretty gullible.
I don't think it is very wide spread, as I have seen 4 locations I believe do or have done this and two no longer do. One removed this model machine and one no longer offers the game in question. And of the 2 locations that I spent a great deal of time observing and I am convinced have done this, at one only put the machine in this mode at certain times, and rather blatantly so with the pit guy punching in the code right before my eyes.
I think and hope chatter about this on forums, and some videos posted online (usually suggestive rather than definitive proof of anything) has been the reason this has been slow to grow. And even though, I now know how to play such a situation when I am able to identify it, I hope it remains an isolated occurrence. But if it becomes more widespread at some point this story
WILL come out, when some gaming commission (probably Nevada as they usually lead the way) decides they can no longer look the other way.