Q&A Session: How to Become a Casino Professional?

Have you ever wondered what a professional gambler is? Strictly speaking, pro gamblers make a living from gambling and spend most of their time at casinos. However, pro gamblers generate income by placing the right bets at live casino tables and online games. In today's article, I will highlight people's misconceptions about casino games.

I will also introduce real-world examples from several of my friends and colleagues who are professional APs (Advantage Players). Their identities will remain private, and I will not divulge too much information about their casino adventures. Nonetheless, this detailed account of their casino gaming exploits is truthful. Therefore, the information presented to you is a genuine account of what real-world casino gaming entails.

The high-stakes casino player lifestyle is routinely portrayed in Hollywood blockbusters and more frequently in casino commercials. As a result, we routinely see the glitz and glamour of casino whales living large and in charge. The gentlemen are nattily clad in tuxedos, looking swank and debonair, and the ladies are dressed to the nines with beautiful evening gowns and glittering jewellery.

Everyone seems to be having a grand old time. They are flush with cash, earning lots of money, dining at five-star restaurants, drinking MOET and Dom Perignon champagne, and partying into the early hours. Naturally, this attempts to entice average players to frequent casinos and gamble as much money as possible. But, unfortunately, the reality of casino gaming is a far cry from the glamorous portrayals we see on the big screen.

STEPS TO BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL CASINO GAMBLER 

First, forget everything you've seen about professional gamblers on TV, in commercials, and in movies. It's all nonsense. The story of the MIT blackjack team – the Hollywood blockbuster 21 based on the book Bringing down the House by Ben Mizrahi is purely for entertainment. Any correlation to real-life professional gambling is weak at best; it simply isn't an accurate portrayal of reality.

The fact of the matter is this: Anyone who has achieved success in any field goes through ups and downs. But scriptwriters aren't interested in facts; they're interested in creating a narrative that suits the studio's interests. Many gaming enthusiasts take artistic liberty when they do not know AP (Advantage Play). They concoct far-fetched stories that seem too good to be true.

You'll start noticing blackjack players all over the place when you begin with Level I of Advantage Play, known as card counting. Even during the graveyard shift in Sin City, a.k.a. Las Vegas, there's at least one table with card counters. These players have skills that vary from amateur to professional. Some use a strict blackjack basic strategy with a low bet spread.

Others employ a wide range of blackjack strategy plays, along with an aggressive bet spread. Other players may use the standard hi-lo blackjack card counting method. Look closely, and you'll notice players using advanced blackjack card counting systems. What's my point? There are multiple ways to approach casino games, notably blackjack. The more complicated the card blackjack strategies, the less likely the casinos will discover them.

There's lots of mystique around professional casino gamblers. There is some truth to this lore but lots of embellishments are going on. One particular story centres around a new casino player named el Gordito. As the story goes, Gordito, this iconic card counter, was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol for a traffic violation on his way back to SoCal from Las Vegas, Nevada.

It was one of his many Vegas weekend trips. He told the female officer that he was in a hurry to get home to tell his wife about a massive win at the blackjack tables. However, he inadvertently told the CHP officer that he was a semiprofessional blackjack player. Curious to learn what happened?

This story has plenty of twists and turns. Rumour has it that the officer quizzed him whether it was right or wrong to split a pair of 2s when double after split is permitted.

According to el Gordito, he pulled out a deck of playing cards and dealt a few hands onto the hood of his vehicle. The officer was holding a flashlight while the cards were being dealt. They played a few hands. Now, it's unlikely that this took place, but those who know el Gordito think it's perfectly feasible. He could talk the hind leg off a donkey!

Gambling is fun for many people. It's a way to play your favourite games and potentially win money in the process. Granted, you can play casino card games and table games for fun or low stakes and limit your losses. But the majority of players don't win – that's a fact.

When players lose, they tend to question their skills and abilities. I'll be honest with you; advantage play in gaming is a dull and dreary business when you're on a cold streak. You tend to speculate about which curve of which up or down fluctuation you were born. But when you're on the upside of the good fortune spectrum, it's as wonderful as you can imagine. The mentality of a professional advantage casino player is akin to that of a manic depressant.

As a newbie on the casino scene, you are going to be one of two things – very low or very high. Only a select few – the elite professional advantage players – are capable of separating their casino playing persona from other aspects of their lives. This distinction is important insofar as it allows rational gameplay, balanced moods, and peace of mind.

Blackjack mathematicians often refer to the standard financial journey of a card counter as a random walk with an upward drift. This seemingly complex definition applies to multi-deck shoe games of blackjack. However, it doesn't consider the ups and downs of single-deck blackjack games.

In fact, single-deck blackjack is similar to a disastrous trip through heaven and hell. There are such dramatic emotional ups and downs with single-deck blackjack that gambling will test your sanity. Granted, casinos offer a favourable chance of winning – that's the best an AP can hope for.

An encyclopedia of information exists for advantage play, laden with statistical formulas and complex techniques. Most of this literature is provided by professional casino players who bet at the black chip level. Or, it's from a growing body of academic gaming scientists. The data shared by these individuals is credible and sound. However, some authors make bold assertions that lack sound reasoning. It's important to take everything with a pinch of salt. It's also worth pointing out that the best advantage play techniques are typically shared with a few top-two players in the highest echelons of the gaming arena.

One of the most commonly asked questions is the following: What is it like for the average casino player? The vast majority of casino players are part-time gamblers. They're more like gaming enthusiasts or hobbyists. Therefore, it's worth reviewing the playing experiences and records of serious non-pro, amateur card counters. A now-retired player that I call Wild Bill donated a library of information to me detailing a full year's worth of records as a blackjack player. Take note that these records are over three decades old.

DETAILED INTERVIEW WITH A PROFESSIONAL GAMBLER

I sat down with Wild Bill and quizzed him about what he had learned after his first year as a blackjack player. He replied that he'd learned two invaluable lessons: The lesson of winning and the lesson of losing.

Wild Bill said you shouldn't be too greedy regarding the art of winning. He indicated that multiple small wins – incremental wins – are just as good as a big win. Even when a game is going well, you certainly don't want too much face-to-face interaction with the pit bosses. Your goal is to win and to get out. As a rule, you should always play while the going is good and cut your losses.

I would go further by playing as long as the game is good and you are not drawing attention to yourself. Maximize your advantage.

I'd like to know how you got the name Wild Bill. How does a professional gambler get a nickname like that?

He looked at me quizzically and responded, 'I'll answer the second part of your question first. Nicknames in gambling are typically given to you by other professional gamblers. These nicknames are usually given to you early on while starting. Make no mistake about it; I've had many different nicknames over the years. Tuscany Tom, Sahara Dave, and others have been my monikers. Wild Bill was a name given to me by a potential teammate I met while playing at Wild Bill's gambling saloon. Fancy that?'

How about the names Tuscany Tom and Sahara Dave – how did they come about?

'Believe it or not, the names Tuscany Tom and Sahara Dave came about similarly. Sahara Dave was a name I inherited through a friend with another professional casino player. We had a telephone conversation and decided to meet at Sahara Avenue in Las Vegas, Nevada.

When I met the man, I told him my name was Dave. When the meeting was over, I felt comfortable telling him my real name was Mike. He looked at me, baffled and said – sorry, but I've already entered your name into my phone as Sahara Dave. So that's how I got that name. It's a similar story for Tuscany Tom. LOL!'

How long have you been a professional gambler?

'I've been involved in pro gambling for at least 40 years. Initially, I used to gamble on vacation. Then I started gambling once a month. After that, I started gambling every weekend. By that point, I considered it a part-time vocation. By the time I was in my late 50s, I had transitioned into a professional gambler. Unfortunately, I had managed to squirrel away enough resources over the years, coupled with extensive knowledge, and I decided to give it a go.'

What's the game that you focus on as a pro gambler?

'As a professional gambler, it is essential to look for opportunities. Classic casino games like blackjack are a staple for professional gamblers. Despite this, it's becoming increasingly difficult to make money playing blackjack. Therefore, as a pro gambler, it's important to look elsewhere for moneymaking opportunities. Granted, any game is beatable under the right conditions, but it's up to the player to know exactly what to look for. This requires what I call game scouting. It's a time-consuming process.

There is a need to think of inventive ways to beat a casino game, then test their methodology – tactics and strategies – through computer simulations. Finally, it's necessary to write a computer program and see if it works. This approach is research intensive and requires lots of strategic planning. Unfortunately, there are limited resources that offer next-generation insights. Useful resources in the form of rare books are available at the University of Las Vegas Nevada library.

Generally, professional gamblers look for value propositions in betting activity. We stick to a solid mathematics strategy and always aim high. High-quality professional gamblers, or capable AP (advantage players), have tremendous resources because they understand that good games can disappear overnight, but other opportunities can present just as easily.'

What's it like as a professional gambler from day to day?

'Let me be clear – there is no typical or usual routine when you are a professional gambler. Your day is usually based on the game you are attempting to beat. When we play, it's important to blend in with other players so we don't attract too much attention. We look out for conventions and then blend in. Here is another exciting scenario that I have faced over the years – three card poker games.

When we play with a hole carding method, we typically spend some time – a day or two – scouting the dealers and the games to try and gain schedule information. I might say, 'You sure work hard – don't you ever take a break?' Some dealers will volunteer their schedules to players if you know how to ask them the right questions.'

Where do you prefer to gamble? Bricks and mortar casinos or online casinos?

I was surprised at his answer; this is what he said. 'I like to gamble everywhere. As a top-tier pro gambler, it's about identifying opportunities when they present themselves. You need to adopt a fluid approach to gaming activity. This requires critical thinking skills. It's about developing your talent by applying a system and flying beneath the radar. I do travel extensively to casinos the world over.

Most of the time, I spend my time playing at US casinos. I use virtual private networks (VPNs) to access online casinos when an opportunity knocks. These opportunities come in the form of sticky bonuses. You can get extra funds to play with if you play for real money. Certain bonuses are sign up bonuses, so you go where the opportunity presents itself. There are plenty of resources online and loads of opportunities for players.'

What did you do before you were a professional gambler, and how does it compare to your current vocation?

'I was an attorney and practised law for about 30 years. It's pretty easy for me to associate the two disparate career choices. Many folks see a strong correlation between stock traders and professional gamblers. It's clear because I can understand the value-seeking propositions and the fluctuations in fortune that can arise.

From my perspective, professional gambling has much more in common with my legal background, particularly as a defence attorney. I say that because there is a common objective in both career paths, namely exploiting loopholes in the system and maximizing opportunity. That's probably the same reason establishments generally despise attorneys and gamblers.'

What changes have occurred in the casino gaming arena over the years, and what will likely come for professional gamblers in the next decade?

'Of course, there have been plenty of changes over the years. It is increasingly more difficult for professional players to make a buck gambling. It's practically impossible to count cards straight up anymore. The same is true with Live blackjack games where continuous card shuffling machines are used. Throw in eight decks of cards, with the dealer cutting two decks – you get my drift.

Plenty of casino games are available at land-based and online casinos today. That presents professional gamblers with plenty of opportunities. However, we know that casinos are cutting back sharply on the number of comps they give players. This hurts professional gamblers' profits. In short, the changes have been detrimental to professional gamblers.

As we move into the future, I don't see a reversal of these trends. Nowadays, many Las Vegas casinos charge for parking and many other amenities. This eats into your bottom line. It means that players must think out of the box by working harder and smarter than ever. You must get ahead of the pack to keep generating money playing casino games.'