Gambling With an Edge - guest Maria Romano on American Coin

Our guest this week is Maria Romano, the widow, daughter, and brother of the three principals of American Coin company --- the video poker company that was cheating players in the late 1980s. We discuss the book by her deceased husband, Frank Romano, called "American Coin."

We welcome your questions - send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com, or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter.

podcast
Click to listen - Alt click to download

Show Notes

[00:00]  Introduction of Maria Romano

[00:48]  How is Maria related to the owners of American Coin?

[01:36]  American Coin's history and business model

[05:09]  Nevada Gaming Control Board investigates American Coin's program

[14:10]  EPROM gaffes and testimony

[17:38]  The murder of Larry Volk

[27:05]  South Point Casino December Promotions - half price when paying with points until 12/24

[27:57]  Predictit.org - place bets on political events, $20 deposit match for GWAE listeners

[29:02]  VideoPoker.com - Gold Membership offers correction on most games

[30:27]  Frank Romano's lawsuit

[35:15]  Frank Romano's book, American Coin:  A True Story of Betrayal, Gambling, and Murder in Las Vegas

[36:45]  Maria and Frank's financial recovery

[39:38]  Additional book discussion

[44:14]  What is Maria doing now personally and professionally?

[48:11]  Recommended - The Las Vegas Improvisational Players, A Public Fit

SouthPointCasino.com

Predictit.org/promo/edge

VideoPoker.com/gwae

LoveKnotsLV.com

LVimprov.com

APublicFit.org

American Coin by Frank Romano https://amzn.to/34ulDOW

Gambling With an Edge - guest Buddy Frank and G2E

Bob and I get a return visit from long time slot director Buddy Frank, and this was taped immediately after the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) show, the biggest casino industry trade show of the year. We spend a lot of time talking about the new things we saw. Although there were a few somewhat interesting new video poker games presented, more interesting were the new bar-top boxes put out by IGT, Aristocrat, and Scientific Games. There is one feature of the SG box that will lead many of our listeners to avoid these machines whenever possible.

We welcome your questions - send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com, or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter.

podcast
Click to listen - Alt click to download

Show Notes

[00:00]  Introduction of slot consultant, Buddy Frank

[00:41]  New IGT bar top machine with a curved screen

[06:37}  New Aristocrat bar top machine with Buffalo

[09:50]  New Scientific Games machine with a camera to track players

[18:00]  Privacy law discussion

[20:32]  Stack 'em High game

[24:13]  Ulimate X Gold

[27:14]  New versions of Wheel Poker, IGT Slant Poker, Class 2 and Class 3 machines

[32:11]  South Point November Casino Promotions - Amazon gift cards

[32:57]  Predictit.org - place bets on political events

[34:00]  VideoPoker.com - Pro membership offers correction on Quick Quads and regular 3 to 5 play Ultimate X

[35:44]  Ernie Moody, founder of Action Gaming and inventor of various video poker variations

[44:44]  Shuffle Master shuffler that rotates cards

[46:39]  Electronic table games

[49:44]  Other thoughts on G2E, facial recognition, trends,and sports betting

[55:03]  Recommended - Mary's Hash House

SouthPointCasino.com

Predictit.org/promo/edge

VideoPoker.com/gwae

Gambling With an Edge - The Inside story of Mattress Mack part 2

Bob and I continue the interview of Anthony Curtis and Frank B talking about Mattress Mack. When we finished last week's interview (which you should listen to before this one), we didn't think we'd be doing a second. But we had a lot of things we hadn't spoken about and everyone was present and available to tape another hour, so we went back at it. You'll be glad we did!

We welcome your questions - send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com, or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter.

podcast
Click to listen - Alt click to download

Show Notes

[00:00]  Introduction of Huntington Press Publisher, Anthony Curtis, and pro sports bettor Frank B.

[01:24]  Cash, cashier's checks, and bet execution

[09:26]  Hedging various playoff scenarios, opportunity value

[15:35]  Las Vegas Advisor "Mattress Mack and the Astros Hedge" blog

[20:26]  Could money have been left on deposit at the casinos?

[22:10]  Circa Sports, price matching, Unibet angle shooting

[27:22]  Did Mattress Mack consider offering a customer buy-out option?

[33:33]  The value of PR and its effect on the perception of sports betting

[36:30]  Compensation for Anthony and Frank B

[39:20]  Did Mack change prices as the Astros advanced in the playoffs?

[42:05]  South Point Casino November Promotions - Amazon gift cards, Thanksgiving Day Hot Seat

[43:02]  Predictit.org - place bets on political events, $20 deposit match for GWAE listeners

[44:07]  VideoPoker.com - Gold membership offers correction on most games, Pro membership includes correction on Ultimate X

[45:45]  How much in comps did the bets generate?

[49:57]  Recommended - The Crown and Anchor, Tim Ho Wan

Links

SouthPointCasino.com

Predictit.org/promo/edge

VideoPoker.com/gwae

LasVegasAdvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/mattress-mack-and-the-astros-hedge/

Palms.com/eat-and-drink/tim-ho-wan-dim-sum

CrownandAnchorLV.com

Gambling With an Edge - The Inside story of Mattress Mack

Our guests this week are Anthony Curtis, and Frank B. about the Houston Astro mega-fan who needed to get more than $10 million bet on the Houston Astros to win the World Series for insurance purposes. Note that we had originally scheduled Buddy Frank for this slot. We have that interview safe and sound, but it has been postponed until November 21.

We welcome your questions - send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com, or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter.

podcast
Click to listen - Alt click to download

Show Notes

[00:00] Introduction of Huntington Press Publisher, Anthony Curtis, and pro sports bettor Frank B.
[00:40] Who is Mattress Mack?
[04:00] Betting options at the beginning of the playoffs
[07:37] Scaling issues and other logistical concerns
[11:10] Betting at the Mirage window and the South Point
[17:48] Bookmakers and dressmakers; betting in Nevada, New Jersey, and Mississippi
[26:28] Messenger betting discussion
[30:18] Would Anthony and Frank help Mack again in the future?
[31:51] Would make have been better off if the Astros won or lost?
[36:36] Mack joins the Las Vegas Advisor and gets a steak at Ellis Island
[38:36] South Point Casino November Promotions - Amazon gift cards, Thanksgiving Day Hot Seat
[39:13] Predictit.org - place bets on political events, $20 deposit match for GWAE listeners
[40:10] BlackjackApprenticeship.com - blackjack training site
[40:57] VideoPoker.com - free pro membership trial for GWAE listeners
[42:01] Were all of the bets placed on the Astros?
[51:14] Game 7 of the World Series line movement, pitcher scratches
[55:48] Recommended - Phantom's of the Card Table by David Britland, street magician Gazzo at the Linq

Links
SouthPointCasino.com

Predictit.org/promo/edge
BlackJackApprenticeship.com
VideoPoker.com/gwae

Wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_L._Heston

Phantom's of the Card Table - Confessions of a Card Sharp by David Britland and Gazzo

https://amzn.to/2JYrvrr