Professional gamblers wage war on the casino industry

[clevfan]

Counter culture: Professional gamblers wage war on the casino industry

By David Hare

In the backyard of a private residence, Cotton is talking to Harry B. about the heat. Not the kind that comes from the omnipresent Mojave sun, but the other source of light and sustenance familiar to the valley: the casinos.

Cotton is telling Harry about the time last year he was caught counting cards at the Bellagio and subsequently 86'd from the property -- persona non grata.

Adios, Cotton.

Other invited guests at Oct. 11th's ultra-secretive Green Chip party: Old Hippie, Saint, DD' and the master of ceremonies Ad-hoc.

No real names are allowed at this party, only handles, though some people are willing to be photographed. Others aren't as receptive to the media.

"I wouldn't want my picture taken unless I had a paper bag over my head," says Cotton to Harry B.

This is the seventh meeting of the Green Chippers -- and exclusive and very private club of card players. It's the first time they've allowed outsiders, namely reporters, to attend. The biggest fear among this crowd is infiltration by the casinos through a plant or a snitch.

"The casinos are becoming increasingly violent in how they're dealing with professional card players," says Al Rogers, a semi-retired gambler. He's one of the few people here willing to use his full name, though he tells me later it's the not the same name he uses when playing cards.

"Since the casinos have declared war on us," Rogers continues, "we're declaring war on them."

Advantage players. In gambling parlance, card counters. A pit boss' nightmare in the flesh. Players who keep track of the cards being dealt at a blackjack table, waiting for a rich deck.

The roughly 60 players gathered under the stars on this cool Las Vegas evening are waiting to hear from the panelists -- prominent authorities on high-stakes gambling, including Anthony Curtis, owner of Huntington Press, and Stanford Wong, author of several gambling books and founder of BJ21 (an online blackjack community).

Behind a table, Curtis and Wong are seated next to Las Vegas attorney Robert Nersesian. Nersesian is perhaps most noted for successfully defending professional gambler James Carey, who was jailed overnight last year in Laughlin for refusing to identify himself to a Gaming Control Board agent.

Seated at a different portion of the table are DD', MathProf and Harry B. -- three men who couldn't be more dissimilar from each other. DD', in a baseball cap and wraparound shades, is introduced as a professional gambler; he is in his 30s.

As the name suggests, MathProf -- a pudgy man with gray hair and a beard -- teaches mathematics at a Catholic university in Detroit. Middle-aged Harry B. is a psychiatrist, and also a teacher, who lives in Baltimore.

All three men say they've been subject to harassment and intimidation by overzealous casino employees who don't like their style of play or "action." At least two of the players -- MathProf and Harry B. -- are planning lawsuits against the casinos.

MathProf's case is against Mandalay Bay. Harry B. was handcuffed and detained about a year ago at the Frontier, after sitting down for a few hands of blackjack.

During his presentation, Harry B. played a copy of the surveillance tape of his actions in the casino. The tape shows him being lead through the casino to a backroom, where he's interrogated before finally being let go.

These players want the public to know the level of enforcement the casinos use against them is reaching fascist levels, some incidents resulting in violence against the players. And all for no reason, they say.

"Card counting is not cheating," Nersesian says near the end of the presentation.

It's true. Keith Copher, chief of enforcement for the Nevada Gaming Control Board, says card counting is not against the law.

"Using your brain is not illegal," Copher says; however, he acknowledges that casinos have the right to refuse service to any player at any time.

Nersesian says it's become his goal to put a stop to the casinos' bullying tactics.

After the panel discussion, Nersesian is overheard talking with several players. They are asking him what they should do if they're apprehended in a casino.

"Fight back," Nersesian says.

David Hare is CityLife's senior staff writer. He can be reached at 702-871-6780 ext. 396 or dhare@lvpress.com.

[hockeystl]

I'll post a link in case anyone is interested in becoming a Green Chip member. Only $12.25 per quarter. However, in order to get into one of the GC parties, you must be 'referred'.

Unfortunately, the majority of the playable opportunities for BJ players in LV have dried up over the past 2 years and counting isn't nearly as profitable as it used to be. Many counters have taken their game to the HoldEm tables in LV.....

BJ21.com Green Chip

[Conrad]

I don't get it. Why don't some of these guys travel to casinos in Europe for instance where the chance of them being spotted are minimal compared to Vegas?

[SlipperyPete]

So what are they gonna do, not go there anymore? Only go to Indian casinos now?
Their choices are kinda limited, so they should just shut the f up

[hockeystl]

<< I don't get it. Why don't some of these guys travel to casinos in Europe for instance where the chance of them being spotted are minimal compared to Vegas? >>



The games is Europe are shit for the most part.

[Conrad]

How did you come to that intelligent conclusion? Care to elaborate?