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Rich,
Floor Supervisor, from A.C. New Jersey
In
the game of Roulette some people say that a dealer can hit a section of
numbers on the wheel. Do you believe this to be true and if so, what can
the manufacture do to raise the integrity of the Roulette wheel so a
Casino operator would not have any real concerns over any dealer
manipulation of the ball or wheel.
The alleged skilled is called ‘section shooting,’
and I don’t believe that it’s is possible, nor do I believe that it’s
even a close call. It’s, however, one of the most heatedly debated
topics in game protection.
Here are some of the basic reasons why many
gamers believe the skill exists (a lengthy segment appears in the book).
There are those who believe that section shooting is an
acquired skill, a manipulative skill that can be learned through arduous
practice, and no different than typing, golfing, juggling, etc. But there
are limits to human capability, which is why no one types 500 words a
minute, hits nothing but hole-in-ones, or can juggle 100 objects. Although
there’s no reason to doubt that muscle-memory may result in dealers
releasing the ball with similar velocities, that’s not enough
precision to accurately control the speed of the ball. On the first
revolution the error may only be a ½ pocket; after the second revolution,
experience has shown the error can jump to 1 pocket, then 2, then 4 and so
on. As you increase revolutions, a significant margin of error compounds
exponentially. With only 10-12 revolutions–considered very slow–it’s
not just 10-12 times harder, it quickly becomes impossible.
Another factor regarding the alleged skill,
and curiously, one that many seem to overlook, is that section shooting is
an act comprised of three questionably attainable skills, not just
one, and they must all occur simultaneously. The dealer must push the
rotor to a pre-determined speed, spin the ball with a pre-determined
force, and then factor in the ball’s bounce to have any chance of
controlling the outcome. Compare these actions to those of the baseball
pitcher, for example. He aims only once, and can take as much time as he
wants to warm up, evaluate, and calculate their actions. He may be able to
throw a variety of pitches, all at different speeds, and all with
incredible accuracy, but he doesn’t have to throw three strikes at the
same time!
Also, after you work in gaming over a
period of time, and perform the same actions day in and day out, many
convince themselves that they "should have" and therefore
"must have" control over these actions. I believe that every
wheel dealer has attempted to section shoot at one time or another. When
players start to win, many dealers will alter ball speed, rotor speed, and
change the starting point of the spin. Since very few players walk away
from the roulette table a winner, dealers falls into the trap of believing
that their intervention affected the outcome (bosses are just as guilty).
They take the credit and seem to completely forget about the 5.26% house
advantage.
It becomes easy to see how this kind of
thinking can perpetuate myths.
One last observation looks at the wheel’s
capricious nature and how the characteristics of individual wheels change
from day to day. Even the same dealer, same wheel, same ball and same
spin, practiced or habit formed, will get different results from day to
day. This begs the question: How can section shooting develop in the first
place?
In short, there are too many factors that
transcend section shooting past the point of a learnable, manipulative
skill. It’s for these reasons that I don’t believe we need the
manufacturers to come up with anything special to address this myth; we
need the casino mangers to better understand the physical process. And for
all who still have doubts, check out ‘The 17 Rule’ in the book for a
simple way to test the premise (first documented in Ed Thorp’s The
Mathematics of Gambling). Convince yourself.
If I may pull from one of my favorite
quotes regarding this subject, the following comes from Monte Carlo,
Facts and Fallacies (Sir Hiram S. Maxim, 1904).
"... the path through which the
ball travels, from the time it leaves the croupiers hand until it
finds a lodging-place in the roulette wheel, is so infinitely
complicated and depends upon so many unknown and unknowable factors
that no amount of skill on the part of the croupier can have the least
particle of influence in guiding the ball into any particular pocket
or group of pockets; it is simply and purely a matter of chance.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
David
Dual-Rate, Las Vegas, NV
As
per table games protection goes, do you have an opinion on the hiring of
dealers who speak little or no English? The reason I ask is that we have
Asian dealers who converse in native tongue on live games when the
opportunity presents itself. This drives me nuts. My shifty tells me not
to worry about it. In other words, it's a customer service thing. I smell
trouble.
David, I know of cases where dealers were fired, or not hired in the
first place due to problems with their English. I don't see anything wrong
with the requirement that all dealers speak conversational English.
Many years back the 21 dealers were tested by asking them the following
question. "You're dealing the game, you have an ace, you offer
insurance, and a player asks you to explain how the insurance bet
works?" Naturally they all knew how the bet worked, but communicating
the details was not easy for many.
I also remember an Asian gentlemen, a superb roulette dealer, but his
English was weak. His personality was magnetic, however, and every time he
marked the winning number he would give the players this big smile, and
they loved it. His skills were exceptional and his game was always jam
packed, so there's a case where a dealer was able to overcome his
handicap.
In Las Vegas we are 'employment liberal' with a work force that comes
from all over the world - not to mention an equally diverse customer base
- so being exposed to many different languages is to be expected. Dealers
talking in their native tongue with players on a live game is a little
discomforting, from a security standpoint, but it really depends on the
property, management, game, dealer, the action, and the circumstances. I
would defer to your shifty!
T.
J. Dealer, Las Vegas, NV
I
told my boss to look up the site and see the ad for this interview. He
did. He said the book should have been published 10-15 years ago.
T. J., your boss is right!
G.
G. Dealer, Atlantic City, NJ
What
benefit is there to me in knowing the methodologies, debunks, myths and misinformation
as described in a review of your book if I have no intention of getting
into management? To me it is all very simple. Go to work, deal by
procedure, smile and go home.
G. G., you're not alone. I have many friends who deal for a living and
they, too, don't have any interest to ever work in management. But as a
dealer, you still play an important role in the business, a crucial role
in the pit, and you can always benefit every time you expand your
knowledge. In fact, many of the myths and misinformation discussed in the
book, pertain to the dealer.
Bill
B., Surveillance, Macau
What
do you see as the main challenges facing Casino Table Operations on the
Game Protection front (and) what steps can be taken to meet these
challenges?
This is the best question asked thus
far, and it addresses the essence of what game protection is all about.
Unfortunately, the breath of this question makes it difficult to answer in
an interview format. It’s the kind of question more deserving of a
response in the form of a research paper. With this in mind, let me make a
couple of observations.
The pit faces many challenges on the
game protection front. They range from issues dealing with
security/protection, operations, even philosophical, and they differ based
on what part of the world you work in, what casino you work for, and what
level of security/surveillance exists in your property. One of the biggest
challenges in today’s environment is to avoid being complacent and just
assuming that the 24/7 surveillance coverage, shuffling machines, peeking
devices, and similar tools will take care of everything.
Another challenge is to keep game
protection an integral part of the business and not overlook the
importance of game protection training and all of its peripheral benefits
as discussed in a previous response.
And yet another challenge surrounds the
question, "How much knowledge should we demand from our pit
supervisors?" I know a talented supervisor who specializes in
roulette. He was a wizard when he was a dealer and he can hold his own in
any discussion about keys for payoffs, pushing checks, procedures, blind
spots, and even game protection to the extent of common industry
knowledge. But have one of his dealers hit a couple of straight up
numbers, and this same boss will whisper to the dealer "pick up your
wheel and ball speed." Now, all of a sudden, the dealer is spinning
the rotor and ball at ridiculous speeds. The boss doesn’t realize that
he’s doing anything wrong, on the contrary, his intentions are all you
could ask for, yet his beliefs about protecting the wheel are completely
unfounded. It never occurs to him that his intervention sends an obvious
message to the typical player: "In this club, we do everything we can
to beat the player?"
He never considers that his actions
might offend the player and risk losing his business, forever. He
overlooks the fact that the excessive ball and rotor speed do nothing but
lengthen the decision time and slow down the game. If this boss was well
versed in the fundamentals of roulette prediction, and the myths
associated with roulette prediction, he would move from competent
supervisor to exceptional supervisor. A bonafide working knowledge of
roulette and all of its nuances should be the goal of every supervisor or
surveillance operator who watches this game, but we rarely demand such a
comprehensive knowledge from our people.
And for one last example, consider the
continuing challenge to find the perfect balance between security and
productivity, and to implement procedures and controls that are truly
consistent with risk. Some game protection minded executives are far too
cautious, implementing too many counter-measures. This can often be a huge
mistake. When these decisions prove to be counter-productive and slow down
the game (not to mention creating a false sense of security), you can be
looking at a decision that costs money on every table, 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, 365 days a year. The potential loss of handle can be
staggering. Look at it this way, "Are there any scams that can ‘steal’
money from every table game, every hour, around the clock?
The only steps we can take to meet these
challenges, and many more, is to strive for a deeper understanding of
games, the procedures, the threat from cheaters and skilled players, the
pro and cons of our responses to cheaters and skilled players, etc. We
have to continue our research and encourage others to do the same. Then we
have to pass along this knowledge, with perspective. Whoever coined the
phrase "Knowledge is your best protection" was right on the
money.
B.H.
TGSM, Reno, NV
Staff
here participated in a recent game protection presentation. Not to take
anything away from the consultant, but I felt that the staff remembered it
more as entertainment than education and awareness. Have you addressed
this issue in your book?
Yes, I did briefly address some of the issues associated with game
protection lectures. If I may, again, let me just pull the excerpt.
Lectures and training programs can help fill many voids that often
hinder the progress of supervisors, surveillance, and upper management.
Most work their entire careers hearing terms like 'playing the bend,'
'dumping the game,' 'playing the turn,' or 'slug scams,' but never get the
opportunity to see these techniques, strategies, or devices demonstrated
and explained.
With these training programs comes a few caveats, as the lecture format
can be restrictive in many ways. First, time is an issue. It can be
difficult, if not impossible, to discuss any topic in any depth over a
short period of two to six hours. This can result in vagueness as topics
are presented quickly without substance. Second, audience size is another
consideration. Presenting an intimate subject matter to a large group can
be frustrating, at least for me. If at all possible, class size should be
as small as practical to help maximize the learning process and insure a
hands-on experience. Third, questions tend to be few and far between when
upper management and the floor personnel are all in the same group. Most
would rather say nothing than risk asking what may be perceived as a
foolish question. And, finally, not everyone cares to attend mandatory
lectures, especially after working eight hours; this can make for a
restless, less than captive audience.
I believe that lectures can be helpful, provided the content is
relevant and covers many bases, including scams, advantage play,
technology, procedures, weighing the pros and cons of security versus
productivity, and even some of the more controversial areas such as inside
collusion, manipulating the floor person, and targeting surveillance.
Rareness of all scams should be stressed and the material should be
presented without instilling paranoia.
Jia,
Dealer, Las Vegas, NV
Your
book talks about dealers and the supply and demand factor here in Las
Vegas. When the MGM and Bellagio opened for business, to the astonishment
of many they hired a number of break-in dealers. I know many old DI
dealers who claim they only wanted young faces, not experience. Do you
agree? Is it better to mix the experienced with the new when opening such
a big resort? My guess is that both casinos think if you train them your
way ..... To me this was a slap in the face to experienced professional
dealers.
I can't speak to the hiring practices of individual properties but, for
what it's worth, I can tell you that I have always been a big fan of
experienced help, especially when it comes to dealers.
If you put two bosses together, one who is exceptionally knowledgeable
and one with little or no experience, and the inexperienced boss is
careful to stay out of the way and not get into too much trouble, it can
be difficult to distinguish the two supervisors in term of experience and
knowledge.
Take two dealers, however, one with experience and one without,
and the differences are dramatic and instant. You can't fake the talents
of experienced dealers. As a break-in dealer I used to travel around town
and watch the best dealers for hours; they were always the old-timers.
Outside of a few properties, most notably the old Binion's Horseshoe
always had jobs for experienced help), the mentality of not hiring
experienced dealers still prevails in many clubs. The veteran dealer
sometimes get knocked due to his lack of enthusiasm, and I have often
heard that they're too stoic, hardcore, and jaded.
There are also those in management who believe that most players would
rather play against younger help. If this is true, it may be because most
players are novices and most novices are intimidated by our table games
(the pressure of making decisions, the speed of the games, etc.).
Perhaps, many novices would rather play against younger help because
they associate the younger dealer with less experience, and more on par
with themselves.
The argument has been around for some time, and is best illustrated by
the following question. When compared side by side, at the end of a year,
who will make more money for the house: a serious, experienced pro, or a
bubbly, outgoing break-in dealer? Assumptions are that the experienced
dealer will get more hands out per hour and make fewer mistakes, but may
have trouble attracting and holding the typical players. It should also be
factored in that many premium players prefer the experienced dealer.
For the younger, less experienced dealer, it's assumed that he/she will
deal a slower game, make more mistakes, but tend to get more of a response
jump starting dead games and holding the typical player longer. For a
cold-blooded comparison, the test could also look at the higher costs
associated with older employees.
This would be a fascinating experiment for someone like Professor Kilby
or Professor Eadington. Create the model, plug in some reasonable
variables and conditions, and see what happens.
Andy,
TGS, Las Vegas, NV
Mr
Forte, About the book Bringing Down the House and the MIT Blackjack Team
hitting Vegas casinos, what is your take on this story?
I
tip my hat off to the MIT Team, especially the original group of people
who started it all. Although there are more than a few blackjack teams who
could tell a similar story, you can’t deny their success or historical
impact in the game protection field.
I
enjoyed the book and I believe the story to be generally true, with the
occasional literary license taken by most authors trying to tell a story
... and hoping to turn that story into a movie.
M,
CSM, Laughlin, NV
Mr
Forte, are you allowed in casinos? Can you gamble? Just curious.
Yes,
I’m allowed in casinos, and I could gamble if I’d any desire to do so.
Quang,
dealer, Las Vegas, NV
From
a business standpoint, there is nothing wrong with casinos banning players
who are taking large amounts of money from them; it is their right. But to
attach the stigma of being a "cheater" to a person because they
count cards; is that right?
I
agree with you, we have the right to address any threat, but it’s unfair
to attach the negative stigma. It remains an industry decision to offer
blackjack to the public, even long after it was discovered to be a game of
skill and potentially vulnerable. We also write the laws that govern these
games, and they make it perfectly legal for the player to utilize all
information made available to him to the best of his ability–exactly
what the card counter attempts to do. In Nevada we even have legal
precedent, as seen in the case: Sheriff of Washoe County v. Martin (1983)
where a player was arrested for bending cards. In that case the court
stated:
"By
way of contrast, a card counter does not alter any of the basic features
of the game. He merely uses his mental skills to take advantage of the
same information that is available to all players."
The
popularity of blackjack is based primarily on the public perceiving it to
be a game of skill, and that perception is one of the most significant
factors contributing to the spread of legalized gambling throughout the
world. If we really want to tell it like it is, the only stigma we should
be attaching to these players is "the best thing to ever happen to a
casino table game."
Mark,
Dealer, Las Vegas NV
Steve,
With the implementation of the Mindplay system and RFID chip tracking
systems, do you think that casinos will become too reliant on technology ?
And try to cope (more so) without experienced staff ? ( I note from
reading a previous reply of yours that you favor experience , but not all
will share your view ) I am sure these devices/systems are not
flawless and could be open to 'attack' on a large scale, if/when the
system glitches/breakdown albeit with or without the help of a third
party.
In the ongoing technological debate between
the futurists who always claim that better and more exciting things are to
come, and the traditionalists who claim that the pit is beginning to look
like one giant slot machine, this is an important question. My response is
that I don’t believe that with the implementation of the systems you
refer to makes the casinos too reliant on technology.
Full fledged accountability systems that
(a) identify the player and (b) track each bet and playing decision for
computer analysis have been in development for some time. The same is true
for chip in chip technologies. Moreover, the industry has advanced to a
point in its history where technological innovation is expected, and no
longer scorned. I remember when the first peeking devices surfaced and the
traditionalists objected; then it was the shuffling machine that ran into
some initial resistance; and then many questioned the effectiveness and
accuracy of card counter detection software. Look at the industry now and
it should be patently obvious that technology rules!
When it comes to technology, if it aids the
identification of players, the evaluation process, or the accountability,
and/or automation of these processes, you can expect the industry to
continue to push the technological envelope. The implementation of the
RFID chip tracking system in the new Wynn property is a perfect example.
On the other hand, I wouldn’t expect to see any progress with
technologies that make playing a live casino game more like playing an
electronic casino game, as most table game players still need the social
interaction for the gambling experience to be fun.
Finally, although the modern casino
system/device can achieve almost bullet proof status, over time, I agree
with you that no system is flawless or immune from attack. It will be
interesting to see how these systems hold up against operator error,
operator/player abuse, internal failures, bugs, and sophisticated
high-tech cheaters and players.
Rob,
Gaming Manager. Africa
On
various forums and other resources on the web some surveillance experts
express very little regard for those who like yourself have gained your
knowledge by being on both sides of the table. They question the integrity
of those who have done this and would have all believe that the
information obtained from such sources must be tainted. How would you
respond to these views?
I
don’t respond ... I value my time too much! But given my promise to
answer all questions to the best of my ability, and as a courtesy to you
and CasinoDealers.Net, let me just say that it’s impossible to respond
to the mentality of anyone who questions the integrity of someone they don’t
know on a personal basis, based on a playing career that is almost two
decades old, while ignoring a substantial pro-industry career. Apparently,
people don’t change in their world.
As to the absurd contention made by these
same experts that the information in the book is tainted in some way, I
would consider the source(s). Better yet, have them submit something with
a bit more substance and specificity ... I welcome the opportunity to
debate any topic with them and I’m prepared to let the information in
the book speak for itself.
William,
Floor Supervisor, Las Vegas, NV
I
have read parts of your book. We have it in the office. I will purchase a
copy. I'll need to meet with my banker first :) - My question is this;
What was the most fascinating casino scam you ever heard about.
I
guess that all depends on what you mean by "fascinating."
One of the most amazing manipulative feats
I have ever seen was ‘The Shot,’ as described in the craps chapter. To
see a die thrown 2-3" off the layout with the illusion of tumbling
(in reality, it just hops and skips maintaining its lateral control) is
truly a sight to see.
One of the most diabolical scams I’ve
ever run into was the ‘Percentage Sorts,’ as described in the
Universal Scams chapter. To combine such a simple idea, and one that is
familiar to most knowledgeable bosses (Sorts), with a sophisticated
computer derived strategy based on acceptable percentages of intentional
reading errors, is a great example of combining an old scam with today’s
technology.
One of the most brazen scams I have ever
come across involved simply miscalling the dice. What made the scam so
interesting was that there was a surveillance camera on the game at all
times, and the operator(s) was not a participant in the scam.
One of the more unusual high-tech scams I’m
aware off involved marking the plastic cards with a radioactive isotope
and then reading the cards through the table with a dosimeter based
system.
I find all of these scams to be fascinating
in one way, shape or manner.
Greg,
ASM, Lake Tahoe, NV
As
an unofficial host of this website I would like to personally thank you
for joining us here Steve. Outstanding
book, I enjoy your style. You present a dry subject to most of us and find
a way rekindle the interest. The flow is nice and it is presented in such
a way that it also very entertaining to read. The beauty of it all, is the
sheer size and magnitude of materiel. Here is bonus feature I bet
you never thought about. Now each operations director has something
to slam on the conference table to the bean counters! Its a very big book.
My question is if you edited down from 1000 pages to 600, what did we
miss?
Greg, thanks for the kind words.
In an effort to get the book down to a
manageable size, a fair amount of quality information didn’t make the
final cut. In most cases, however, we’re only talking about more
examples of the concepts already presented. For every scam and strategy, I
tried to pick those ideas and moves that would best help illustrate the
spectrum of a particular technique or strategy. In the blackjack chapter
there were only so many mucks, peeks, and false shuffles I needed to help
make my points, yet I’ve collected hundreds of these moves. In the
advantage play chapter, the same can be said for slug tracking; any more
examples would have been overkill. I found a condensed format to handle
all of the novelty games, so much of the more game-specific information
was saved. The section on procedures and myths was also shortened
significantly, going with just enough examples to hopefully make a few
points. One chapter that could of easily been doubled in size was the
section on marked cards, as I have been collecting information on this
topic for years, and have always thought of publishing a book dedicated to
the subject.
I almost didn’t include the chapter on
card counting because so many quality books already exist, but there were
things I wanted to say that I’ve never seen in player titles. Whether to
keep or edit out the poker chapter was a last minute decision but, given
the current popularity of the game, the poker room is getting more
attention. Every time I added a new topic to the table of contents, in an
attempt ‘to cover all of the bases,’ I shortened and streamlined the
descriptions of the existing chapters and topics. For the same reason,
30-40 photos were edited out, too.
Finally, there was a fair amount of
information held back that never made it into any of the drafts, but it
was more of a commercial nature and, frankly, it didn’t fit the informal
text-book style format. This included interviews and biographies of some
notorious hustlers and players, a chapter called ‘Unsolved’ which
detailed a number of unsolved scams (I didn’t want to leave the reader
hanging), and so on. It was an easy decision to omit this material due to
size and general goals of the project.
On a related matter, if I may just take a
second and respond to numerous emails I have received asking about plans
for a second printing, the possibility of a second edition or expanded
edition, and when and if the book’s retail price be lowered.
There will never be an expanded edition (I
wouldn’t do this to the current owners of the book). At this time, there
are no plans to reprint the first edition. If I ever pursue a second
edition, it will include all new information. And the retail price will
remain at $200 until the inventory is depleted (unless you get the book
through an association, contributor, or volume discount)
Bruce,
Gaming regulator, New York
I recall reading that you were born on the East
Coast; how did you got involved in casino gambling in the first place ...
What brought you to Vegas, and how did you catch the"casino
bug"?
Anyone from the East Coast will tell you that gambling is
everywhere. In my neighborhood, the bookmakers openly walked up and
down the streets with cigar boxes filled with the betting slips from the
numbers, sports and the ponies. Poker, short card games, and dice
games were common. As a teenager, Las Vegas Charity Nights were
becoming popular, so I had the chance to deal poker and blackjack at an
early age.
Somewhere down the road I ended up with Scarne's Complete Guide to
Gambling (John Scarne) and Beat the Dealer (Ed Thorp). These books
further fueled my interests in the world of casino
gambling.
I took my first junket to Las Vegas when I was 18 years old and caught the
'casino bug' big time. I always knew that I would come back someday.
While attending school on a basketball scholarship, I couldn't shake my
desire to see what Las Vegas was all about so I moved there when I was 20,
immediately went to dealer's school, and started dealing craps two hours
after I turned 21. Today, I continue to find the same fascination
with the gambling business as I did when I was a kid.
John,
Surveillance Supervisor, San Diego, CA
Steve, what is truly more important to the success of a casino's table
games environment? Sweating the money or catering to the money.
I suspect that when you say "sweating the money" you're
referring to the game protection aspects of supervision (not
unprofessional conduct), and when you say "the money," you're
referring to the all customers. If I have this right, then we have another
customer service versus game protection question, which has been addressed
previously. Your terminology, however, raises an interesting
question of interpretation, and other points.
Your reference to "the money" could be interpreted by many to
mean a focus on premium players the money players. If so, it should
be noted that even the small players have proven to be invaluable
commodities in the biggest clubs. Individually, they may not
contribute as much to the bottom line, but they can be a significant
contributor as a group. They also help in ways we don't get from
premium play, especially in terms of the successful table game environment
you refer to. Smaller players tend to have more fun; they smile,
laugh, and converse more then premium players; they also provide a shill
like presence keeping the pit crowded. These factors all have a
magnetic quality that attracts more players.
If your reference to "sweating the money" actually refers to
sweating the money in the traditional sense, it happens to be one of the
most colorful topics in our business, but a practice that should be
avoided at all costs for one simple reason: There's absolutely nothing to
gain.
Sweating the money can come in many forms and from all capacities.
Classic examples include upper management changing the schedules of its
shift mangers after experiencing low hold percentages; the floor
supervisor keeping the 'unlucky' dealers off high limit games; or
thedealers changing the shuffle in an effort to get the game back on
track. In worst case scenarios, people lose their jobs. Some
even see many of our traditional controls as a form of sweating. For
example, when the floor counts the drop, bill by bill, the public is left
with the feeling that we are sweating every $20 bill understandable in a
500M+ club. Even watching the traditional custom of the dealers
'clapping out' has been construed as a form of sweating; it suggests to
the public that as an industry we're sweating the integrity of every
employee.
Sweating the money is obviously not conducive to an enjoyable casino
experience for players or employees. When upper management sweats,
it sends the wrong message to the floor and the dealers who begin to
associate losing with doing something wrong. When the floor/dealers
sweat the money, it can easily reach an offensive stage that reeks of
outright greed. Imagine the typical player who does nothing but
lose; he finally wins a bet or two and is confronted by sweaters; what
could be more insulting? Also, for many players, if they start
winning and sense the 'bleeding' from the floor, nothing makes them
happier than to get up and quit. They do it for spite, to insure a
win, and we as an industry lose the chance for the house advantage to do
its work ... we eliminate our biggest advantage: the long run!
Even against skilled players and cheaters, there is no justification for
sweating the money. Skilled player just play the 'iggi' and purposely add
cover to their play in an attempt to create doubt, making the evaluation
more difficult. Once they find a reason to leave, they may stay away from
your shift but not your club, or they can just have team members play your
shift. With cheaters, I remember an old-time hustler once explaining to me
the psychology of the sweater, "The closer they get, the less they
know ... but a boss who stands 10-15 feet from the game with a smile and
tries to give you enough rope to hang yourself, now he's
problem."
Although I could relay many stories of good people who were forced to
sweat the money due to issues of job security (an egregious practice),
sweating the money is generally a sign of ignorance. To make matters
worse, the practice usually starts at/near the top of the casino hierarchy
and it tends to be contagious. When the games are dealt honestly,
dealers and supervisors have no control over chance fluctuation, and
should never be given the opportunity to intervene in the process, or be
responsible for the outcome of these processes. They should focus on
dealing and supervising according to procedures, and let the games run
their course. That's why top management is always easy to spot; you walk
through the pit and everybody's doing the same thing with the same smile,
win, lose or draw.
I'll get off the topic with a true story, and one of the most extreme
cases of sweating the money imaginable. It involves a female 21 dealer in
a strip club many years back. She's dealing to limit action and
busting every hand. Each time she busts, the boss cringes and moves one
step closer to the game. It finally gets so bad that the boss is
practically standing on top of her. And then it happens. She busts again
sending the boss into an uncontrollable rage. He winds up and
suckerpunches the dealer right in the kidney! The cards go flying in the
air, the dealer falls straight back to the floor, and everyone comes to
her rescue. Lying on the floor, after a minute or two, the dealer's eyes
finally open slowly. She looks straight up into the sky and utters
three magic words that would grant her a prosperous early retirement:
"CALL MY ATTORNEY!"
T.
R. Table Games, Biloxi, MS
Mr.
Forte, Have any casino managers purchased the book in bulk and handed it
out to their floor supervisors? To me this would be an investment, not a
gift if indeed your book delivers only half as advertised.
Yes, a number of casino managers, vice presidents, and general managers
have purchased the book in bulk, but not nearly to the extent of ordering
enough copies for all floor supervisors.
If your fellow floor supervisors also have an interest in the book,
check with your boss. For any club with a desire to purchase enough books
for all floor supervisors, huge volume discounts are available.
Thanks for the plug. I, too, believe the book would make a great
investment for any property. And I do believe the book delivers as
advertised. It's generally pitched as the most in-depth study on casino
game protection ever revealed, but between you and me, this isn't much of
a stretch. Casino Game Protection - A Comprehensive Guide is the only
in-depth study ever devoted to the subject!
Scott, CasinoDealers.Net
Steve, this interview has made it clear to me how differently we all view
game protection, so as a final question, what exactly does the term mean
to you?
It's interesting how we come full circle to your question. At first
glance, the question seems so elementary, but it's
not.
First, the essential background. Prior to the 1960s, the term 'game
protection' specifically referred to the protection against cheaters
and internal theft. After the early 1960s and the publication
of Beat the Dealer (Ed Thorp, 1962), the term also included the protection
against card counters. In the early/mid 1970s 'advantage players'
were added to the list, as the industry learned of the tell players, warp
players, holecard players and, later, the shuffle trackers. Then,
over time, the sharpest operators began to realize that a number of
internal industry threats should be added to the list, as they could also
result in significant loss of revenue. These included problems associated
with incompetent help, weak and ineffective procedures, overreacting to
suspect play and backing off the wrong player, etc. Today, game
protection is best defined as the science and practice of protecting the
tables games from any threat to the bottom line.
The science of game protection is all about one's knowledge of theft,
scams, and strategies. The practice of game protection is all about
how we use this knowledge to better protect the games and insure optimal
performance (staffing, controls and procedures, game protection
philosophy, the relationship between the pit and sky, suspect play
guidelines, time and motion issues, game protection training, etc.).
When you combine the science with the practice, you get a subject
significantly wider in scope than many ever realize.
This was a very busy interview. Probably
more than you bargained for. We all appreciate the time and effort you put
into this. Any closing thoughts?
Let me just say thanks to all those who submitted questions, and a special
thanks to CasinoDealers.Net and Gamingfloor.com for the
opportunity.
Part
two with Ian Sutton of Gamingfloor.com
"Questions
for
Steve Forte from those who own the book"
Coming
later this summer
Good job everybody
(Thanks for your help Ian)
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