Gambling Reality TV Idea

What about Strip Poker After Dark ?

@gambler I don't think giving them fake money would make for a realistic event. Plus, what casino would want to dedicate that much extra time/staff to paying these people in fake chips? They would have to dedicate an entire table/staff just to the special chip people, and I'm not sure the publicity alone would make up for all the extra hassle for the casinos. I do like the idea of them all living together in the same space to up the drama/hook-up possibilities, though

Quote: Nareed

Just change the starting conditions:

Participants will receive $500 per month. They can't take a job, invet, day-trade, take loans, etc etc. All they can do to generate income is gamble. They ahve to pay all their expenses such as food, housing, transportation, clothes, etc. $500 a month just doesn't cover much.

Strategy would be simple. Make a $500 single number bet on roulette. If you win, don't play at all - pay your expenses from the winning and the additional $500 each month. If you lose this bet, quit the show and take on with your life.

The problem with this is, who would be interested in watching the contestants gamble - especially at slot / video poker machines? The only games that might be interesting for any particular length of time are poker and blackjack, and there are enough poker shows as it is (and these have players who know what they're doing). Maybe a Survivor-style show, where most of the time, the contestants are followed around Vegas (shows, clubs, pools, restaurants, that sort of thing), and they would each play the same game(s) every day, would work.

Fox tried a show about a casino (it was about the Golden Nugget after it was purchased in 2004); it crashed and burned pretty quickly.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned that British show where somebody had to sell everything he owned (I think the show gave him some clothes for the event), was flown to Vegas, and had to bet everything on one even-money roulette bet.

Quote: MangoJ

Strategy would be simple. Make a $500 single number bet on roulette. If you win, don't play at all - pay your expenses from the winning and the additional $500 each month. If you lose this bet, quit the show and take on with your life.

Better to put a $500 pass line bet. If you win with a 7 or 11, pocket the winnings and let the original bet stand. If you get lucky, you cna win two ro three come out rolls and you're done for the month :)

Even better, give the contestants $505 a month. That way you can place a $5 bet with $500 odds at Casino Royale.

Quote: ThatDonGuy

The problem with this is, who would be interested in watching the contestants gamble - especially at slot / video poker machines? The only games that might be interesting for any particular length of time are poker and blackjack, and there are enough poker shows as it is (and these have players who know what they're doing). Maybe a Survivor-style show, where most of the time, the contestants are followed around Vegas (shows, clubs, pools, restaurants, that sort of thing), and they would each play the same game(s) every day, would work.

Fox tried a show about a casino (it was about the Golden Nugget after it was purchased in 2004); it crashed and burned pretty quickly.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned that British show where somebody had to sell everything he owned (I think the show gave him some clothes for the event), was flown to Vegas, and had to bet everything on one even-money roulette bet.

I think only the truly degenerate would enjoy people they didn't know gambling for long periods of time. But, like any other reality show, the footage could be edited to show the peaks and valleys of each person's adventure. Whether it be losing a quick $200 in slots and then hitting a jackpot or the ups and downs (with a few pivotal hands) of blackjack/baccarat, I think that format could work. MTV or Fox Reality needs to grab a hold of this concept and run with it...

As for the British guy ... I think it has been discussed previously on this board, but wasn't that a double-zero wheel?

"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Revell" : he decided to do the challenge on his own. of course, the risk was lessened in that no doubt he was getting paid for the show and probably some writing afterwards if he lost.

He won after betting on Red. At the Plaza, downtown Vegas.

Quote: thecesspit

"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Revell" : he decided to do the challenge on his own.

He won after betting on Red. At the Plaza, downtown Vegas.

wow. He brings $135,000 to Vegas and chooses The Plaza to put it all on red??? Was El Cortez busy that night? Are London tourists coming halfway around the world and making The Plaza a destination resort? lol

Quote: Ashley Revell & Wikipedia

Ashley Revell (born 1972) is a London resident who briefly achieved fame for selling all his possessions (including all his clothes) and gambling US$135,300 on a single spin of a roulette wheel in the Plaza Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada on 11 April 2004. Revell placed his bet on red; the ball ended up on 7 red, and Revell had doubled his money. Everybody waited for new bets from him, but he gave $600 to a dealer as a tip, said "thank you!", and left the casino.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

If you want to sell ads on the show its got to be more interesting than watching paint dry or watching some slot machine go from 20 credits to 22 credits. Players have enough trouble with blackjack... you think a tv audience is going to sit with bated breath about 'he split 10s'.

This would be narrow casting but you would have to make as broad as possible.

You could use non-cashable chips with the weekly prize being to the highest winner.

Perhaps all contestants get the same game but at different times. Perhaps a question and answer period before and after so as the audience sees their knowledge or lack of it. Then some post game replays of major losses and major wins but here too I'd think you might be close to watching paint dry.

For a controlled environment you could use a gambling school but casinos are not that crazy about cameras, they just want their logo and main entrance sign getting airtime, not the businessman from Peoria in the background who is there with his partner's wife.

Teams might be: male and female or Neophyte vs. Sharpies.

Quote: zippyboy

Quote: thecesspit

"" : he decided to do the challenge on his own.

He won after betting on Red. At the Plaza, downtown Vegas.

wow. He brings $135,000 to Vegas and chooses The Plaza to put it all on red??? Was El Cortez busy that night? Are London tourists coming halfway around the world and making The Plaza a destination resort? lol

It was the only place that would allow him to film while making a single, big action bet. Or at least the only place he said he could find. It was going to be the Hard Rock, but they pulled out. Several places didn't want to give 135,000 in action when it was double or nothing.... not enough exposure to his bank roll for their tastes, with all the hassle of filming.

Quote: Ashley Revell & Wikipedia

Ashley Revell (born 1972) is a London resident who briefly achieved fame for selling all his possessions (including all his clothes) and gambling US$135,300 on a single spin of a roulette wheel in the Plaza Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada on 11 April 2004. Revell placed his bet on red; the ball ended up on 7 red, and Revell had doubled his money. Everybody waited for new bets from him, but he gave $600 to a dealer as a tip, said "thank you!", and left the casino.

A fool and his money are soon parted.