Gambling With an Edge - guest academic Mark Johnson

This week's guest is Mark Johnson.  Mark was a recent post-doctorate at UNLV’s Center for Gaming Research. His research is ongoing, looking at the similarities, and differences between Esports professionals, and professional gamblers.

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Show Notes

[00:47] What was Mark Johnson doing at UNLV? Why UNLV?

[03:55] What books other than Richard’s Gambling Wizards has Mark used in the research?

[05:40] Considering how young eSports is, was Mark able to find literatures on eSports?

[07:35] Differences between professional gamblers and professional eSports players

[13:51] How is the way gamblers earn money different than eSports players?

[17:00] How much can top eSports players make?

[18:51] Gambling on eSports through skins?

[23:14] Challenges of estimating how much other gamblers made outside of tournaments.

[26:03] eSports Players disguising themselves and the “barcodes” players.

[33:49] Love of the game and the learning curve

[34:56] Intrinsic talent indicators in eSports.

[41:24] Cheating, hustling, and doping in eSports

[48:30] The dramatic value of a single pixel glitch in a tournament.

[53:23] Handicaps in eSports

[58:17] The different issues between gambler teams and eSports teams

Gambling Wizards: Conversations with the World’s Greatest Gamblers:  http://amzn.to/2wBanDn

Mark’s podcast: http://www.roguelikeradio.com/

Mark's website: http://www.ultimaratioregum.co.uk/

Twitter: @UltimaRegum

Gambling With an Edge - guest Anthony Curtis

Our guest this week is Anthony Curtis, owner of The Las Vegas Advisor and Huntington Press publishing.  We discuss NFL contests, and current Vegas news.

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Show Notes

[00:37] A successful poker & VP player wants to start counting cards. How should he start?

[03:15] Do you have to pay outstanding markers if the casino isn’t actively collecting it?

[06:30] Anthony’s take on Cromwell Casino’s competing via better gambling opportunities

[14:03] What makes a great game?

[15:01] Low price rooms disappearing on the Strip

[18:55] The Comp City slot app

[25:24] Football contest 2017

[30:54] Mayweather vs McGregor 

[40:31] Why is the money in shoes when the DD games offer better odds?

[44:07] How do you know when to play 2 hands?

[48:20] Comp City app and new gambling books coming out

Olaf Vancura - Knock-Out Blackjack: http://amzn.to/2wadccT

Arnold Snyder - Blackbelt in blackjack: http://amzn.to/2wBtA7v

Casino Verite: http://amzn.to/2xF6gmd

Rick Blaine -  Blackjack Blueprint: http://amzn.to/2ggQpqr

Bryce Carlson Blackjack for Blood: http://amzn.to/2wAwNUK

Standford Wong Professional Black Jack: http://amzn.to/2vjfJmk

Jeff Hwang episodes: 

https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/gambling-with-edge-guest-jeff-hwang-on

https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/gambling-with-edge-guest-jeff-hwang-2

Jeff Hwang article: https://www.fool.com/investing/2016/09/20/the-millennial-problem-the-problem-with-the-casino.aspx

LVA casino: https://play.lasvegasadvisor.com/account/login/

Gambling With an Edge - guest blackjack player Phoenix

This week's guest is card counter named Phoenix.  We discuss how he started in blackjack, and his life as a road warrior traveling the country trying to earn a living counting cards.

podcast

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Show Notes

[01:03] Where can I find the most accurate Blackjakck strategy? Would the Phoenix recommend Frank Scoblete’s Speed Count?

[03:35] How to increase the counting speed?

[10:02] How did he come up with the name Phoenix? Did it come from Blackjack?

[12:05] How did he get started with the AP game? How long has he played?

[17:16] Staying at where you play and how the Phoenix decides where to stay when playing Black jack

[18:33] Playing in a team v.s. solo playing

[22:56] How the Phoenix doubled his bankroll in 6 weeks playing Blackjack

[29:41] Being a road warrior and playing overseas 

[36:41] Creative ways that the Phoenix passed counts to his teammate

[41:40] Dealing with the emotions of winning and losing

[43:05] The longest streak that the Phoenix had with Blackjack

[46:17] Interesting back off stories

[54:11] Life on the road and how to deal with hotel maintenance staffs

[55:13] How did the Phoenix go from learning Blackjack from the bootcamp to teaching Blackjack

Blackjack Apprenticeship https://www.blackjackapprenticeship.com/

Brian Zembic episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo9WJ38tbIs

Don Johnson episode 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tgPXLMpoGg

Don Johnson episode 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpJ7djdrm_c

The Phoenix’s interview on the Blackjack Apprenticeship:

Part.1 https://www.blackjackapprenticeship.com/podcast-interview-the-phoenix-1/

Part.2 https://www.blackjackapprenticeship.com/podcast-interview-partii-with-blackjack-pro-the-phoenix/

Gambling With an Edge - guest Cartwright #4

This week's guest is Cartwright. We discuss the blackjack games in CO which had a new side bet called 21 Magic.  Cartwright did the analysis of this bet, and then with a partner named Spence,  crushed the games. In addition we talk a little bit about credit card churning in the second half of the show.

podcast

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Show Notes

00:37 What was the 21 Magic side bet on the Buffalo Black Jack Bonus?

02:02 How different are the 6D strategy and the infinite deck strategy? How difficult is generating a strategy?

12:26 Paying tips and longevity

15:32 If an unknown player requested a game analysis, how can this player get in touch with Cartwright?

19:51 Is this game still available?

22:17 Benefits of side counting aces for the 21 Magic side bet.

25:31 How did Cartwright get other players off the table?

30:47 Towards the end, how big was the AP community at the casino that offered this game?

33:35 Unusual anecdotes and closing thoughts

36:06 His Black Jack analyzer and the serendipity of timing.

40:51 Credit card AP for mileage

47:56 Cartwright’s latest favorite trick for airline points

54:50 What’s the overall advantage from the game that Cartwright played? 

Wizard of odds: https://wizardofodds.com/

Michael Shackleford: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Shackleford

Buffalo Blackjack article: https://wizardofodds.com/games/buffalo-blackjack/

Gambling With an Edge - guest Rich Muny of the PPA

The guest this week is Rich Muny of The Poker Players Alliance. The PPA lobbies for legal regulated poker in the US.

podcast

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SHOW NOTES

[00:55] What is Poker Player’s Alliance (PPA)?

[01:27] Does the PPA lobbyists?

[01:56] How does Sheldon Adelson’s oppositions against online gambling affect PPA’s effort?

[05:54] How has online poker changed since your last episode in October, 2013?

[12:15] Why was Nevada able to make a compact with Delaware but not New Jersey?

[15:59] Is PPA involved in helping online sports betting as well?

[19:05] Other than online poker, what else is PPA involved in?

[20:45] do you coordinate with ATA?

[21:34] How do you join the PPA?

[22:17] WSOP LV just ended. How is Chris Ferguson’s winning the player of the year received?

[24:25] Aria’s September poker event with a dress code and a decision time limit. Will the event be televised?

[29:04] Does Rich Muny still play poker?

[35:29] How would you tell if you’re up against the bot?

[37:54] Does playing keep you grounded with PPA?

[39:35] Is Rich Muny’s weekly radio show still going on?

[41:57] This year’s Hall of Fame induction and Phil Ivey’s case.

[45:19] A player with over $60,000 in chips was thrown out of tournament because he was barred years ago for playing Black Jack. Does the casino have the right to do this?

Rich Muny Episode Oct 25, 2013 https://youtu.be/Bj5_0YZmcmY

Poker Player’s Alliance (PPA) https://theppa.org/

Sheldon Adelson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheldon_Adelson

Rich Muny’s weekly radio show, On Tilt Radio 

Website https://ontiltradio.otr.network/

Twitter @OnTiltRadio

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ontiltradio/