Why Did Anthony Discontinue Advantage Blackjack Playing?

Why did Anthony discontinue advantage blackjack playing and does he ever play now in Las Vegas or other destinations?

You asked, we passed along the question, and here's Anthony's answer.

"The reason I rarely play blackjack is simple: I'm not allowed. Too much exposure from TV and other things. The only time I even try to play is when I'm checking out something new or maybe it's a late night in Reno.

"Actually, it's been a while since that's been the case, so it's possible I could sit down at a blackjack table in some casinos now, but I don't consider it worth the time investment relative to other things I do, with publishing at the top of the list. Playing professionally is fun and exciting in your 20s and 30s, but there comes a point where you have to decide on a direction. I chose publishing and have never regretted that decision.

"I still play a lot in other beatable areas: sports betting, video poker, advantage slots, and promotions among them. My blackjack playing has gone through a resurgence of late, but not in any house-banked games. Instead, I participate the new blackjack mini-tournament on Thursdays at 3 p.m. at Downtown Grand."

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rokgpsman Apr-26-2023

Casino blackjack offerings are poor

Another aspect is that casino blackjack games have changed so much from prior years that it is much harder to find a "good" game from the player's point of view. Nice single and double-deck games with player friendly rules are rare so advantage players have to spend a lot more time searching for them. That downtown and travel cost eats into the profits of your hourly-rate earnings. It's just not the same as it was years ago. Casinos are winning so much from the uneducated tourists they don't have to offer a good game anymore. Prime example is the 6-5 blackjack game that has plenty of players sitting down to play. Just not worth it trying to grind out a living for many players.

gaattc2001 Apr-26-2023

I was never a hard-core advantage player...

even if I did get backed-off once in Reno in 1968; but I definitely agree with rokgpsman: it's a dying game.
I played a lot of Blackjack in the "old days," from the late 1960's to the turn of the century. Then the "gimmicks" crept in--Super-Fun 21, Spanish 21, per-hand surcharges or "antes" (in Oklahoma), multiple-deck shoes, continuous shufflers, and especially six-to-five--and expanded and proliferated until they dominated the scene. 
Somewhere along the way rather than spending a lot of time looking for a good game and then becoming the center of attention when you found one, we gave up on Blackjack and switched mostly to poker tournaments. 
And now poker rooms are on the decline, too.

Lotel Apr-27-2023

That sucks

I was thinking of playing the mini black jack tourmnet at the D. for only 25$  i thought it would be fun as I thought only beginners and average BL players  would participate and    the pros and advantage players  would not play. Now I see Anthony and other pros playing like  pool hall hustlers  I will stay away. No chance. Just giving your money to them .  Its not the casinos/accountants  that killed black jack it is the pros and advantage players that killed black jack .

rokgpsman Apr-27-2023

Go for it...

Even in a game with a pro present there's still an element of luck involved. He could draw crummy cards and you can get good ones. He doesn't have any control on what gets dealt. And playing against someone better than you is a great way to learn and get better. Enter the game and have fun. If you lose but become a better player that's a win. Besides, in every tournament you're gonna be playing with strangers, you don't know who might be a pro and who isn't.

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