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Thread: Less heat playing rated

  1. #1


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    Less heat playing rated

    Does anyone experience less heat when they're playing rated? There are 2 chains I play rated at locally, everywhere else I play unrated. I've noticed everywhere i play unrated I am always watched a little closer and the pit boss hangs around just a little longer, got backed off a couple weeks ago as well. Playing rated, it's as if I dont exist. I can get away with murder and spread whatever I want without even a glance. Anyone else notice anything like this?

  2. #2


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    Quote Originally Posted by PlayTheSystem View Post
    I can get away with murder and spread whatever I want without even a glance
    Until you can't, and your name is toast.

    It's a tradeoff.

  3. #3


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    Quote Originally Posted by PlayTheSystem View Post
    Does anyone experience less heat when they're playing rated? There are 2 chains I play rated at locally, everywhere else I play unrated. I've noticed everywhere i play unrated I am always watched a little closer and the pit boss hangs around just a little longer, got backed off a couple weeks ago as well. Playing rated, it's as if I dont exist. I can get away with murder and spread whatever I want without even a glance. Anyone else notice anything like this?
    Its what I thought. The pit bosses greeted me, the dealers knew me, I played rated, the hostesses warmly asked me if I needed anything. They just noted my play, did not seem to know my ratholing. Things went well for about 4 years in one place until one day, the pit bosses were not as friendly, looked away, the dealer would not meet my eyes, even the hostess seemed to stay away. I was in a no ban state but the cut card got placed into half the deck, less on DD, and when I did not leave the table, they cut off 4 out of 6 decks, ploppy asked why and the dealer shrugged, said “they think someone is counting cards”.

    They have algorithms and it could be your life time earnings or the number of sessions you won in a row or simply your recent record but word comes from “upstairs” and you are toast.

    Playing with a card was very valuable as well because there is a palpable reduction in heat. I would only use it when traveling if the heat was great and directed at me or if I was in a losing session and down, so I could book losses. However, now heat is greater when I show a card because they seem to have noted something with my name. Now, they quickly back me off, say I cannot play BJ in their casino.

    I still have cards from certain chains but am in trouble at others.

    I would suggest you keep a check on your record at the casino, ask for win/loss record at the reward center. Ensure you have a lot of small losing sessions. Down a couple of hundred, take a break, book a loss, come back for a winning session. Increase ratholing. Ask for comps when you have a losing session so they remember you lost. Ratholing when dealers change is good because the new dealer is not aware that you were winning.

    When playing out of town, use card to disperse heat but otherwise play anonymously. You can always “find” your card if heat gets intense.
    Last edited by ZeeBabar; 01-12-2020 at 10:34 AM.

  4. #4


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    I shredded all of my players cards. I don't even use them on slot or video poker plays, as you can and will be tracked back to them.

  5. #5


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    Playing rated might reduce heat until you go nuclear in OSN and Bio, then in most cases, playing rated does nothing but bring you problems. Many of us go great lengths to conceal our identity.

    I just had a BO recently where I was playing unrated and at a casino I’ve never been officially backed off from. After playing for a while, I was approached by several casino personnel and I was addressed by name and some shift manager walked up to me while holding a blown up photo of my face. This is what playing rated gets you.

    I will say this though... if I had to do it all over again and I knew then what I know now, I’d still play rated, but only a select few places. Not all casinos/casino chains update the major database companies. I’ve gained a ton of value from my comps. I’ve had at least 10 comped flights, stayed almost exclusively in comped hotel rooms for the entire year of 2016, 2017, and part of 2018, tons of comped food and lots of free play. Hell, I’m writing this post from a comped hotel room at a property that I haven’t played rated (and no longer can) in over 2 years. But that obviously came at a cost. If I could do it all over, I’d still play rated, but I’d do it the right way next time. Who knows... maybe if I ever get a name change lol.

  6. #6


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    Quote Originally Posted by Ryemo View Post
    Playing rated might reduce heat until you go nuclear in OSN and Bio, then in most cases, playing rated does nothing but bring you problems. Many of us go great lengths to conceal our identity.

    I just had a BO recently where I was playing unrated and at a casino I’ve never been officially backed off from. After playing for a while, I was approached by several casino personnel and I was addressed by name and some shift manager walked up to me while holding a blown up photo of my face. This is what playing rated gets you.

    I will say this though... if I had to do it all over again and I knew then what I know now, I’d still play rated, but only a select few places. Not all casinos/casino chains update the major database companies. I’ve gained a ton of value from my comps. I’ve had at least 10 comped flights, stayed almost exclusively in comped hotel rooms for the entire year of 2016, 2017, and part of 2018, tons of comped food and lots of free play. Hell, I’m writing this post from a comped hotel room at a property that I haven’t played rated (and no longer can) in over 2 years. But that obviously came at a cost. If I could do it all over, I’d still play rated, but I’d do it the right way next time. Who knows... maybe if I ever get a name change lol.
    Totally agree. I was backed of a major chain, told I cannot play BJ at any of their properties and Zi just booked comped rooms at one of their properties.

    Like you, I still reap benefits from having played rated but do it judiciously.

  7. #7


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    Thanks for the insight. I forgot to mention I rathole everytime I play rated. I think I'm going to keep doing that but at 1 chain instead of 2, (the smaller one). The heat is just so much less its unbelievable.

  8. #8


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    Depends on your strategy and priorities. I play rated locally and I'm pretty sure that's the only reason I still can play at all; well, that and rat-holing while playing rated. See this thread for more: https://www.blackjacktheforum.com/sh...-my-local-game

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