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Thread: How to look like a degenerate gambler?

  1. #1


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    How to look like a degenerate gambler?

    I am pretty much the mirror image of the profile of a counter. I am a young, white, middle-class male.

    What persona do you guys use, if any? Do you take on the persona of a gambling whale or do you go the other way and act like a poor degenerate gambler? Any advice for a young white male not to stick out like a sore thumb as a counter?

  2. #2


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    That's a tough one. You might want to try dressing down like a blue collar worker and act like a workingman that has to get his daily gambling fix. CAT (or Case) equipment hat, flannel shirt, 5:00 shadow, etc...

  3. #3


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    Quote Originally Posted by TAGR View Post
    I am pretty much the mirror image of the profile of a counter. I am a young, white, middle-class male.

    What persona do you guys use, if any? Do you take on the persona of a gambling whale or do you go the other way and act like a poor degenerate gambler? Any advice for a young white male not to stick out like a sore thumb as a counter?
    I am in your situation as well, except I’m barely legal. At least, to gamble I am. The one advantage I have is that my roommate and I go to the casino every other week and I take my dad there every other week, totaling four trips a month. I’m not a flawless card counter, but I am very good at subtly acting like a gambler and being social like one while I’m counting.

    My advice to you would be take someone with you, if possible, as I seem to get more heat when I’m alone. If this isn’t possible, my second piece of advice would be to not worry about it that much. The harder you try and sell the, “I’m an idiot gambler” persona, the more obvious it may get.

    Good luck!

  4. #4


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    Yes, the obviously non-obvious people are too obvious ;-)

  5. #5


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    Quote Originally Posted by Wave View Post
    I have had dealers complain to me about "crabby" players that show up every day and think they can make a living at blackjack. Most ploppies are there to have a good time... so have some fun! After all, winning is fun!

    The following is not for everyone and some more senior players than I will frown upon this, but the more you can look like that, the better...so, one of the things I do regularly during training is to have a beer or two. I'm not saying get shitfaced, but on Friday and Saturday nights in a crowd, having a real beer or two (IMO), makes you blend in better. If you can have 1 or 2 beers without it affecting you accuracy, then I say do it. A great excuse for not having anymore than that is either "one and done", or "two and I'm through" because "I have to drive home". No one yet has looked at me funny for saying that.

    I've even done it in the afternoon during the week and no one appeared to me to be suspicious...but again, I would make sure during training that it's not throwing me off.
    Am alcoholic (or a budding one) in denial! You could always go to the bar and get a non alcoholic beer. I used to have a secretary who thought a drink or two at work just made her more welcoming to clients. It progressed to where she started taking a break to drink in her car to eventual DUI convictions, losing her job and more.

  6. #6


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    Quote Originally Posted by TAGR View Post
    I am a young, white, middle-class male.
    I fit to none of you describe, and sometimes played hands like drunken sailor who plays inconsistency to BS or indices like 12v 2,3 or 16v 10. I get away with that for couple years in local stores but finally they catched up on me. All the advices here are good to the point but casinos evaluate you on how you bet and play, not your apparent. My 2cents

  7. #7


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    I don't like to be unshaven when I head out on a blackjack trip for the simple reason if I get pulled over by the cops for some reason I don't want to look like a degenerate. However if it is only a two day trip, I usually don't bother to shave for the trip back.

  8. #8


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    If you play at the same casino regularly, and your top bet is more than say a couple hundred dollars...then I think the blue collar act is hurting you.
    If you are gambling thousands of dollars every time the pit sees you...then my opinion is you need an act that is much wealthier. Remember you want them to think you are a net loser right?
    How much do they think a "blue collar" guy can afford to keep losing every week?
    If you are a red chipper...then I don't think your act matters whatsoever.
    Last edited by Counting_Is_Fun; 09-10-2019 at 10:32 PM.

  9. #9


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    If I was a young, white, male playing for local longevity I would do what a fellow big betting counter does that I run into.
    He plays mostly black and up to table max and I have noticed recently he is a counter. He let it be known quietly to other players etc (don't be too obvious) that he won some sort of car accident settlement and won a couple million in the lawsuit.
    Eventually the pit heard the story...and this guy spreads black on double deck like 1-20 with no issues.
    Last edited by Counting_Is_Fun; 09-10-2019 at 10:48 PM.

  10. #10


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    Quote Originally Posted by Counting_Is_Fun View Post
    If I was a young, white, male playing for local longevity I would do what a fellow big betting counter does that I run into.
    He plays mostly black and up to table max and I have noticed recently he is a counter. He let it be known quietly to other players etc (don't be too obvious) that he won some sort of car accident settlement and won a couple million in the lawsuit.
    Eventually the pit heard the story...and this guy spreads black on double deck like 1-20 with no issues.
    its “no issue” because he is not likely winning significantly. They keep track, evaluate, etc.

    Since I play in a state that does not allow back offs, after a while of taking counter measures, they now do it only in the HL room and only in DD. They know I count. To pass the time each day, I go to one of two casinos almost every day, play 6 deck games. Playing one hand of $10 at negative counts, Two hands of $10 each at neutral counts, going up to two hands of $75 at TC+4 . Over the last 30 sessions, I am up about $1k in about 100 hours. That is just $10 an hour. Biggest win is $500, biggest loss is $800.

    my point is that they track me, feel it’s a waste of time to counter measure someone, piss off other players when I am simply passing time, ploppies like me (and bet on my side bets) as do dealers. The amount I am winning is not sufficient enough for them to get concerned about.

  11. #11


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    Quote Originally Posted by ZeeBabar View Post
    its “no issue” because he is not likely winning significantly.
    agree

    Quote Originally Posted by ZeeBabar View Post
    my point is that they track me, feel it’s a waste of time to counter measure someone, piss off other players when I am simply passing time, ploppies like me (and bet on my side bets) as do dealers. The amount I am winning is not sufficient enough for them to get concerned about.
    Good for you that you found the formula to being tolerated near home and make a few bucks.

  12. #12


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    Quote Originally Posted by ZeeBabar View Post
    its “no issue” because he is not likely winning significantly.
    agree

    Quote Originally Posted by ZeeBabar View Post
    my point is that they track me, feel it’s a waste of time to counter measure someone, piss off other players when I am simply passing time, ploppies like me (and bet on my side bets) as do dealers. The amount I am winning is not sufficient enough for them to get concerned about.
    Good for you that you found the formula to being tolerated near home and make a few bucks.

  13. #13


    0 out of 1 members found this post helpful. Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Quote Originally Posted by ZeeBabar View Post
    its “no issue” because he is not likely winning significantly. They keep track, evaluate, etc.

    Since I play in a state that does not allow back offs, after a while of taking counter measures, they now do it only in the HL room and only in DD. They know I count. To pass the time each day, I go to one of two casinos almost every day, play 6 deck games. Playing one hand of $10 at negative counts, Two hands of $10 each at neutral counts, going up to two hands of $75 at TC+4 . Over the last 30 sessions, I am up about $1k in about 100 hours. That is just $10 an hour. Biggest win is $500, biggest loss is $800.

    my point is that they track me, feel it’s a waste of time to counter measure someone, piss off other players when I am simply passing time, ploppies like me (and bet on my side bets) as do dealers. The amount I am winning is not sufficient enough for them to get concerned about.
    Zee, good to see you are back in the black for the year. By the way, did you ever make that Midwest trip you were planning on making. My biggest win for this year is only $790 and biggest loss $860. Making about $20 an hour.

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