"I've lost 10 of 14 sessions ... yet, I'm still ahead for the year."

I won't say they ARE rigged. I do say:
1. They CAN be rigged and
2. They HAVE been rigged.


Here's how it's done

My daddy always taught me-Where there is money there is cheating.

Casinos have cheated at cards. Does that mean that the card games are rigged?

Not as well known as "Volk".

The link will take you to the story of some hacks who reverse engineered VP to win a million or so.

Reverse engineered RNG Story

very interesting read there, roadtrip. is this how Singer knew to drop the three queens to keep three to the royal and hit? does he tap his foot when he plays?

and too bad the charges were dropped. I guess there is no official police report on this?

When you play blackjack you are at the mercy of the cards, how they were shuffled and if that guy hits his 13 against the dealers 3. In craps you are at the mercy of how the dice bounce.

In VP the RNG deals the cards and payout says how much you win.

In Slots the RNG picks a number and the firmware says how much you win. Any slot machine only has about a dozen or so different payouts. Maybe the fancy new ones have 2 dozen different payouts.

I'm not certain whether they actually broke any gambling laws, at that time, while playing the machines with the use of a pocket computer and reverse engineering the VP RNG. In those days, there may not have been laws on the books covering that sort of "thing", although they probably did break laws when they purchased the machine and took it home to reverse engineer. They built those pocket computer devices themselves. There may not have been laws on the books covering that. I don't believe I could personally call their play cheating. They outsmarted the wiseguys. :::shrug:::

I'm on their side, and happy they did well. I support card counting and dice control also. If someone is smart enough and capable enough to beat a casino and take their money, within the spirit and intent of gambling in a casino, than I am all for it. I'm even in favor of teams who play big progressives until they hit, even if it means I don't get "my" chance to find a machine to play.

Most people go to a casino with the hope to win money. I do. I do not lie to myself by saying I go for the entertainment value.

There are other incidents where customers beat casinos.

The only "major" publicized incident where "the casino" cheated the customers, as far as I recollect, is "Volk".

I have no doubt there are many others, and know of several. I've just never been interested in casino's cheating players, although I do profess an interest in players cheating casinos, or players cheating other players. As a semi pro poker player, I've always felt the need to protect myself, and learn as much as possible about "cheating".

I was also pretty good with sleight of hand. Learned my first "magic trick" at age 7. Was pretty good with a deck of cards once upon a time. Damn good. BUT, never used my skills to cheat. I've played in many home games, and like to think I've seen it all. Cold decks switched in, marked cards, seconds, etc. I worked in the casino business, mostly poker, for many years. Knowing what to look for, or listen for, has helped over the years. (Dealing seconds or bottoms usually makes a distinct sound)

thanks roadtrip.

you wrote: "I support card counting and dice control also."

Indeed, card counting and dice control are NOT against the law. But casinos can decide who they do business with and hence they can block card counters from playing and they can give dice INFLUENCERS the boot as well.

In fact the NGC has gone on the record that dice influencing (control) is an accepted part of the game but there are specific rules that must be followed (which Ive memorized after debating this with the MGM properties before they told me to leave:

1. the dice must be thrown in the air
2. the dice must hit the table surface at least once
3. the dice must hit the back wall

If you do those three things your throw is legal, but if the casino doesnt want you to play, well, its their casino.