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I have two distinct lives. One in the trenches of low-budget film and television, the other in professional gambling. Because of the feast-or-famine nature of show business I need a reliable income... gambling. So here you will read about both worlds. Enjoy!



Monday, May 5, 2014

Ben Affleck & the Vegas casinos

If your friends and family know you are interested in blackjack, then I'm sure by now you have been emailed, texted, and facebook tagged with articles about Ben Affleck being backed off at The Hard Rock in Las Vegas for counting cards. Ben's problems started a couple weeks ago when, according to Radar Online, Game Protection Manager at the Wynn and Encore casinos Rob Olivetti sent out an email to the other casinos in Las Vegas saying that Affleck was moving his money with the count. Ben, this is called "getting fliered." Welcome to my world.

A few days after  this flier went out Affleck was playing at the Hard Rock. He was surrounded by security, and barred from ever playing blackjack again at that property. I have a few questions.


Dear Hard Rock,

This story has received international attention. It is in over 100 newspapers, and numerous TV shows. Do you think that people reading this story are more likely or less likely to want to visit the Hard Rock?

Do you think there is value in having Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner in your casino? I hear that people like Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian are paid 6 figures to show up at Vegas nightclubs. How much would your marketing department  be willing to pay to have them play for a few hours?  So what if you said to him, "Ben, you are obviously a very good card counter, and we'd love to let you keep playing, but we can only let you spread 1-5 on this double deck cut in half. So if he plays 2 hands spreading from 2k to 10k he is making $6,000 per hour. Is it not worth $24,000 to have Batman and Elektra in your casino for the evening? That is his win rate if he doesn't make any mistakes. If he plays perfectly. Remember this is a guy who uses chips to help him keep the count. Now betting that much he may win or lose $300k. If he wins your marketing people get the headline..

Ben Affleck wins a MILLION DOLLARS while partying like a Rock Star at the Hard Rock!

(we all know you're going to inflate it)  And if he loses you get

Ben & Jennifer party like Rock Stars at the Hard Rock.

And Ben, what a wasted opportunity. Have you not read the stories about Don Johnson winning $15 million? If you had just hooked up with some real pros we could have got you more ev than Don Johnson had.  I shudder to think what you could have won with the right people behind you.

9 comments:

Radek said...

You're so right :)
I would add that no one should blame somebody who uses his brain.

Anonymous said...

Apparently the D has invited Ben to play all he wants.

Anonymous said...

He needs a better act....

WRX said...

ROTFL, well said!

Anonymous said...

Once again, munch takes an opportunity to take a self righteous shot at card counters with the real pros comment.

Croce said...

I thought the exact same thing. What a lost opportunity for the Hard Rock. You are spot on Munch with this call.

Anonymous said...

Well said, Richard. It just confirms, for the nth time, how brain-dead casino executives are.
21forme

Unknown said...

I suspect banning him generated much more publicity than letting him play and inflate any win. Stories about the rich getting richer and a hollywood star partying in Vegas are not going to generate worldwide news stories like one wherein a star is banned for card counting. As the saying goes, "there is no bad publicity."

Richard Munchkin said...

I agree this was not bad publicity for Ben. In fact I think it is good for him. But I think it was horrible publicity for the Hard Rock.