Our guest this week is attorney Bob Nersesian. Bob answers legal questions from you our listeners.
We welcome your questions – send them to us at [email protected], or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/GamblingWithAnEdge.
podcast – https://www.spreaker.com/user/7418966/ners03302023
Show Notes
[00:00] Introduction of gambling attorney and Blackjack Hall of Fame member, Bob Nersesian
[00:39] The future of GWAE
[03:39] Unusually high progressive amount shown, backup pool
[09:46] Prosecution of mistakes
[13:33] Strategy for exploiting errantly programmed machines
[19:55] Leeching, structuring
[25:13] The right to record police
[29:00] Casino refusing to return ID
[34:55] Commercials
[38:01] Cashing chips with an outstanding market, call instruments
[40:32] Getting pulled over by tribal police, criminal jurisdiction
[46:20] Cashing TITOs, change vouchers, cashless transactions
[52:35] Recommended: Bob Nersesian Interview with Colin Jones, The Reckoning by John Grisham, Farnham’s Freehold by Robert Heinlein
Sponsored Links:
http://BlackjackApprenticeship.com
Recommended:
http://Youtube.com/WFlISbpQntg
The Reckoning by John Grisham – https://amzn.to/3ZyxLtY
Farnham’s Freehold by Robert Heinlein – https://amzn.to/40s28U5
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I was deeply disappointed to learn that the GWAE podcast will coming to an end. This is one of the best AP-related resources I have found, and I look forward to listening to each new show. I honestly don’t know where I’ll get the same quality of current information on the AP world.
Is it possible that the podcast could continue with a new hosting team? It won’t be the same without Richard and Bob, but perhaps someone else could continue in their place. If lining up enough high-quality guests has become more difficult, perhaps the frequency of the show could be decreased to bi-weekly.
Alternatively, perhaps another format could be added into the mix along with the mailbag and guest-interview shows. Perhaps a technical deep dive on a particular game, a book review, a general news update on topics related to AP and/or Las Vegas, an occasional live call-in episode, etc.
Regardless what the future holds, I am very thankful to Bob and Richard (and past hosts) for the tremendous work they’ve put into this podcast over the years. It’s a fantastic contribution to the AP community and is much appreciated.
NEW submission please:
I dealt single deck blackjack to Kreskin in 1979 on the graveyard shift at Harolds Club in Reno. He was doing a show at Harrah’s and decided to play blackjack afterwards. The table was empty and he came up to my table and bought in with a $100 bill. Kreskin hardly said a word and spread $5-$20 and won a couple of hundred dollars.
From seeing his shows, I was wondering if Kreskin could read my mind while peeking under a ten card or ace, looking for the dreaded dealer blackjack. Kreskin said he does not read minds and plays blackjack to unwind after a show. He also said that Harrah’s barred him from playing blackjack and was welcome at Harolds Club playing this small amount.
The Amazing Kreskin is a true blackjack aficionado and from my own empirical analysis, one of the best 21 players in the world. He uses playing cards for a living as a mentalist and probably is as close to Ray from the movie “Rainman” in his ability to remember cards as anyone in the world.
On an another occasion at Harolds Club, a pit boss gave me a tap on the shoulder while dealing craps and instructed me to deal 21 to a high roller who was winning big. The whale turned out to be blackjack legend Ken Uston who was playing $500 chips and torching the table. The superstitious pit felt that a craps dealer can put an end to Uston’s winning streak. I happened to be on a winning run for the house and beat him until he finally surrendered after losing much of his winnings back. Maybe the other dealers weren’t protecting the game such as exposing hole cards and delivering tells to Uston when checking for blackjacks. In Uston’s book “Million Dollar Blackjack” he refers to “Barbara, the Harolds Club front-loader” (front loader – a careless dealer who exposes the hole card in the process of dealing) and maybe I was sent to replace Barbara who was dumping house money.
While working at the Sahara Reno in August 1978, a cheer was heared among the pit when it was announced that Uston was beat up by security at the Mapes Money Tree. Didn’t know who Uston was until the pit bosses claimed he was a cheat and deserved the thumping. Others said he was a card counter and this was a message to card counters all over the world. This perked my interest in card counting and the challenge it provides.
While dealing craps in Las Vegas in 1980, a casino called The Treasury (now Hooters) on Tropicana Avenue displayed Uston’s name on its marquee. He was giving lessons on card counting at this casino! Did he sell his soul to the enemy or want to see his name in lights? Is card counting bunk and a scam was my first impression during the sight of this marquee.
Recalling Kreskin’s skill at winning at blackjack has stuck to this day. Kreskin did not use weak dealers to gain an advantage and probably used his knowledge of excess aces and tens to win. Bet with your head instead of over it and don’t worry about “cheaters justice” (from the movie Casino) because the corporations running casinos now are smart enough to avoid the old tactics.
Whenever I read about card counting issues , people being barred, casinos being worried, b-j paying 6:5, surveillance doing play analysis, etc. I find it a bit funny what the whole thing is all about. If the casinos are so afraid of card couting teams why are they still offering games that technically encourage this kind of play? On one hand they are offering it, on the other hand they’re afraid that somebody might be counting the decks and then if somebody gets on a winning streak they’re going through the motions.
At roulette some casinos came up with another (3rd!!!) zeor, which puts the house edge over 7 per cent, we all know that. With 6:5 on a b-j in place and cutting the deck at 35 to 40 per cent on average, the rules have become so bad that the game itself should not be recommended to play. Just like tripe-zero roulette. People still play on.
I see more and more casinos on the Strip dealing black jack off a shuffle-machine. This takes away all worries of having a counter at the table, and at the same time, the casino is offering a faster game. All these shuffle interruptions can become annoying and every break costs the house money, after all. Offering 3:2 on all natural black jacks and offering good rules overall but dealing off a shuffler would definetely the way to go. And then all worries and discussions about possible counting bla bla bla would be a thing of the past.
In Europe you don’t find any double deck games. Most casinos have shuffler-black jack and if there’s a shoe game in place the cut is so deep that it’s not worthwile even thinking about attacking the game.
From Switzerland
Boris
Sad to hear about GWAE coming to an end. Hope you guys find some other host to pick up the mantle. What a valuable resource for the AP community. THANK YOU for all you’ve done; I’ve learned a lot.
I’d like to add my thanks. I can’t imagine what a grind it is to get interesting guests and produce a show every week. Thanks to both of you for all the information and insight, and best of luck in whatever future endeavors you undertake!