Questions for the Pros

[Jimmy the Saint]

Hey,

I've been playing Blackjack as a hobby for the past couple of months. I've had alot of fun playing a marginally above-break-even game, but the rules in UK casinos are extremely poor. ENHC, Insure Blackjack vs Dealer Ace Only and usually 6 decks.

As a professional Blackjack player, do you stay on the road and live from hotel room to hotel room or do you move to an area where there is good games within reasonable distance?
Would you recommend moving to the US? Are the best games in Vegas?
What's the minimum bankroll for a pro, in your opinion? I've currently got £5000/$8000 but my goal is to save until I have £20'000/$32'000. My intention is to play with no RoR. This was what Flash advised me to do. It could take a few years to save this much, and it's funded from any excess in my wages and other advantage play that I've been doing.

I'm interested in what you pros have to say about this kind of lifestyle.

[wookets]

It's always a good idea to minimize travel expenses, so moving is probably not a bad idea if it's in the cards. Many pros do spend weeks on the road in hotels, but typically both the rooms and food are comped. If card counting is your thing, Vegas isn't a bad place to be because the rules are decent, but most importantly you'll have plenty of places to rotate your play through so you don't get burned as fast. I can't stress enough the value in striving to learn new techniques and being on the look-out for new opportunities. They will make your life a lot easier. Building a network of AP friends will help a lot with this.

Hey,

I've been playing Blackjack as a hobby for the past couple of months. I've had alot of fun playing a marginally above-break-even game, but the rules in UK casinos are extremely poor. ENHC, Insure Blackjack vs Dealer Ace Only and usually 6 decks.

As a professional Blackjack player, do you stay on the road and live from hotel room to hotel room or do you move to an area where there is good games within reasonable distance?
Would you recommend moving to the US? Are the best games in Vegas?
What's the minimum bankroll for a pro, in your opinion? I've currently got £5000/$8000 but my goal is to save until I have £20'000/$32'000. My intention is to play with no RoR. This was what Flash advised me to do. It could take a few years to save this much, and it's funded from any excess in my wages and other advantage play that I've been doing.

I'm interested in what you pros have to say about this kind of lifestyle.

[Jimmy the Saint]

It's always a good idea to minimize travel expenses, so moving is probably not a bad idea if it's in the cards. Many pros do spend weeks on the road in hotels, but typically both the rooms and food are comped. If card counting is your thing, Vegas isn't a bad place to be because the rules are decent, but most importantly you'll have plenty of places to rotate your play through so you don't get burned as fast. I can't stress enough the value in striving to learn new techniques and being on the look-out for new opportunities. They will make your life a lot easier. Building a network of AP friends will help a lot with this.

With the kind of bankroll I'm hoping to go into battle with, will they even be interested in comping me? It's just that here in the UK you have to bet ALOT just to get a free drink, such is the level of customer service we have here.
And I'm aware of certain coupon deals and free bet promotions that some casinos do? I'm sure I read that in one of Kevin Blackwood's books.

[stopgambling]

20k pounds does not seem enough! There are expenses and are whole lot things to consider.such as opportunity cost, future condition ,longevity..etc...

[Jimmy the Saint]

20k pounds does not seem enough! There are expenses and are whole lot things to consider.such as opportunity cost, future condition ,longevity..etc...

What's meant by opportunity cost?

[moo321]

I certainly would not consider becoming a full-time card-counter, unless you have a lot of money or are joining a team. Even then, you may be better off as a real estate investor.

[moo321]

I certainly would not consider becoming a full-time card-counter, unless you have a lot of money or are joining a team. Even then, you may be better off as a real estate investor.

Also, I don't think there are any pros on this board, at least not anyone who making their living counting cards.

[Jimmy the Saint]

I certainly would not consider becoming a full-time card-counter, unless you have a lot of money or are joining a team. Even then, you may be better off as a real estate investor.

Bear in mind that I only have a high-school education, no specialist skills and will probably never make big money. Scratching out a living at card counting is on par with the salary I can expect to bring in working the kind of jobs that are available to me. I have other reasons for wanting to move to the US, also.

[blueefficacy]

Bear in mind that I only have a high-school education, no specialist skills and will probably never make big money. Scratching out a living at card counting is on par with the salary I can expect to bring in working the kind of jobs that are available to me. I have other reasons for wanting to move to the US, also.

Moving to US and A without education or skill could be problematic.

[Jimmy the Saint]

Moving to US and A without education or skill could be problematic.

In terms of gaining a Visa?

[WRX]

Also, I don't think there are any pros on this board, at least not anyone who making their living counting cards.

You're very wrong on both points, although the number who make a living counting cards is very much smaller than the total number of pros.

[KJ]

Also, I don't think there are any pros on this board, at least not anyone who making their living counting cards.

Well, this is not true, moo. Although this year, I have branched out just a bit to play a second casino game and have incorporated some bonus chasing into my attack, card counting is my primary vehicle and responsible for the majority of my income.

[ZenMaster_Flash]

What you are unaware of is that BJ in the USA varies considerably. From dreadful table conditions to drool-worthy delight.

The problem is that surveillance in the USA compared to surveillance in Gr. Br. is orders of magnitude stronger and more efficient.

I have met innumerable persons playing BJ in the USA who are at first amazed by the opportunities - and then are appalled

that they are being treated as stealthy vulpine criminals.