D Day in Vegas

I figured the comment was an attempt to out ZenKing and figured ZK wouldn't want that. But if he's okay with people publicly knowing his name, all the power to him. But I suspect when he gets a few more entries added to OSN or some other database he may think differently.

Quote: RS

I figured the comment was an attempt to out ZenKing and figured ZK wouldn't want that. But if he's okay with people publicly knowing his name, all the power to him. But I suspect when he gets a few more entries added to OSN or some other database he may think differently.

That is exactly what I thought. Made no sense that someone he knows would come on here like he did.

Quote: GWAE

That is exactly what I thought. Made no sense that someone he knows would come on here like he did.

Yea I told him to edit it out and he didn't and then I just thought it wasn't worth it to take it off, since i dont even know if it can be traces to my name, but I guess its better if admin just edits it out

Quote: ZenKinG

Yea I told him to edit it out and he didn't and then I just thought it wasn't worth it to take it off, since i dont even know if it can be traces to my name, but I guess its better if admin just edits it out

Did you not read my PM?

Quote: RS

Did you not read my PM?

He doesn't read PM's the casinos might be monitoring his PM activity or worse you might be working for the big corrupt casino companies. He's too smart for your tricks RS.

I edited out Adam's inadvertent privacy breach from everybody's posts at ZK's request. I took Adam's initial post just as you two did; it appeared ominous, not friendly, which is what generated my first equivocal post. Apparently there were enough members flagging the first one that it died without my needing to edit. However, it's all good now, and we'll move on from here.

-8500 now after 40 hours LOL. Yea vegas is legit for sure.

Quote: ZenKinG

-8500 now after 40 hours LOL. Yea vegas is legit for sure.

You have, of course, cranked back your average and max bets to (50,000-8500)/50,000 or 83% of what you started out at, as per kelly optimisation?

Based on starting BR of, IIRC 50,000

No. Thought not.

Yes. I know you can only round down chips so far.

Quote: speedycrap

Haha, in 2 weeks............
800+300+300=16.8K plus others, than over 20K.

20K

At the end of the day, I don't even care anymore. Skill and talent is irrelevant. I might as well go play big six wheel. I can't even see the cards as well. To still be up 35k even with casinos cheating me, you got to be blessed. I'm not even bothered anymore. Like I always said I got to work twice as hard as the next guy to be even. That's my objective in life, it wouldn't be fair otherwise.

Quote: ZenKinG

-8500 now after 40 hours LOL. Yea vegas is legit for sure.

Because they build casinos to give money away, right? Some have found ways to beat them in spite of the built in house edge, but they are smarter than you and open to finding multiple ways. All while knowing the casinos don't need to cheat. And they certainly don't have the negative attitude you do. You have found a way to get members rooting for the casinos to beat you. And as long as I have been on here, that puts you in rare territory along with a few guys, most of whom are long gone. Stop bitching and go out and refine your game. Or don't, keep bitching and losing.

Congrats to ARIA. They actually have cards that come in order and are spread face up. Geez, its like pulling teeth in this town, but yeah that's how you run a business. Glad some casinos have some integrity.

Its also no coincidence ARIA is one of the few places on the strip I'm actually doing really well at. Hmmm.

Negative variance sucks but you need to keep your cool. It is highly unlikely that a casino would be dealing with a short shoe or dealing seconds. You need to get a couple hundred hours to start eliminating the bad variance. Basically you could play the whole summer and still be down, but ultimately you will reach EV. Try to vent in other ways. Stay positive and disciplined and you will make it!

Quote: ZenKinG

Congrats to ARIA. They actually have cards that come in order and are spread face up. Geez, its like pulling teeth in this town, but yeah that's how you run a business. Glad some casinos have some integrity.

Its also no coincidence ARIA is one of the few places on the strip I'm actually doing really well at. Hmmm.

IT'S actually a total coincidence that you're doing well at Aria.You should already understand about variance ,how many hands have you played at Aria?
Your results are almost meaningless, you have such a small sample size.

Quote: Hunterhill

IT'S actually a total coincidence that you're doing well at Aria.You should already understand about variance ,how many hands have you played at Aria?
Your results are almost meaningless, you have such a small sample size.

Hunter you can't use logic, you need to talk in unicorns and rainbows for him to listen to you. He knows better than to listen to logical math.

I don't know about all this cheating stuff going on, I think it's unlikely, but I guess it's not impossible.

We are sick of hearing about it, and it's falling on deaf ears. Until someone(YOU ZK) can provide some good hard evidence, we are chalking it up to good old fashion bad luck( call it variance if you want to be all mathie and s*it).

Thank God for the variance, if not for variance everyone and their brother would be counting cards and there wouldn't be any countable games available.

Again, we are tired of hearing about it. You know damn well what people are thinking everytime you bring it up, that is why I had advised just keeping that stuff to yourself and use some self-control. I shutter to think you might actually be using some self-control(?).

Come on, you have an open forum with lots of people following. Why waste this opportunity talking about something that does nothing but makes you look like a joke, freak etc?

let's hear about some other more positive things.

How have you been saving money on food and various expenses?
What other stuff have you done since you have been in Vegas?
Are you running into other counters?
How do you like the weather?
Speaking of weather, have you had any casino heat?
How is your place, does it seem safe, quiet, clean?
Are you looking for other opportunities along the way?

Quote: AxelWolf

I don't know about all this cheating stuff going on, I think it's unlikely, but I guess it's not impossible.

We are sick of hearing about it, and it's falling on deaf ears. Until someone(YOU ZK) can provide some good hard evidence, we are chalking it up to good old fashion bad luck( call it variance if you want to be all mathie and s*it).

Thank God for the variance, if not for variance everyone and their brother would be counting cards and there wouldn't be any countable games available.

Again, we are tired of hearing about it. You know damn well what people are thinking everytime you bring it up, that is why I had advised just keeping that stuff to yourself and use some self-control. I shutter to think you might actually be using some self-control(?).

Come on, you have an open forum with lots of people following. Why waste this opportunity talking about something that does nothing but makes you look like a joke, freak etc?

let's hear about some other more positive things.

How have you been saving money on food and various expenses?
What other stuff have you done since you have been in Vegas?
Are you running into other counters?
How do you like the weather?
Speaking of weather, have you had any casino heat?
How is your place, does it seem safe, quiet, clean?
Are you looking for other opportunities along the way?

I guess that's true, but putting the idea of cheating out there opens peoples' minds. I've always said I'm sure it's an honest game, but don't understand the shady procedures going on. Why can't all casinos just do what ARIA does and others off strip? Why only the pitch games in order and spread face up? If it's some type of profit strategy to waste less time, they're really splitting hairs and focusing on the wrong things. It's not something as concrete and profitable as getting an ASM: now that's a legitimate profit strategy as that significantly makes a difference in the long run for the casino in getting more rounds an hour.

I'm always on the lookout for hold carding opportunities, but it seems to be more of fairy tale and exaggerations that people actually can hole card. It would have to be a really sloppy or inexperienced dealer that hates their job in the moment. Maybe scouting more 6:5 games might be a smart thing to do or some CSMs as they don't put the most qualified dealers on those games and if I were to find a hole carding opportunity on there, the game wouldn't be hawked by the pit since it is of course a 6:5 game and a non-countable CSM game. I'm also guessing most people who hole card are doing it on things such as TCP or some other other carnival game. Blackjack HC'ing seems to be well protected and like i said heavily exaggerated on the forums. Just doesn't seem that plausible anymore finding a hole card game on blackjack, but I guess never say never.

Haven't run into any other counters, maybe 1 at the most as I saw someone looking like a blatant wonger at one point. Food wise been eating mostly take out and need to start learning how to cook or I'll eventually drop dead on a blackjack table with a heart attack one day as I double down with a max bet. While we're on the food discussion, are there any good food deals in town like buffet specials etc? Breakfast specials? (Yes pokergrinder and Monet, I'm asking for advice, I never said I know it all, I'm just very set in stone in my opinions at times, but of course I don't know it all and never claimed to).

Regarding Vegas, it's pretty much what I envisioned it to be. I've been here twice before and have done some hit and run as well. So far in vegas I've had no heat, I've been pretty disciplined to get out within 30 minutes to an hour and not show my spread much maybe 2 times max, but mostly one time and I'm out the door. Weather is ridiculous, probably hotter than I thought it would even with me knowing it would be hot, its kinda surprised me a bit, I guess cause its the summer in a desert.

I just really wish I got off to a better start so I can settle in a bit better, even a small loss wouldve been fine, because its pretty much destroyed my mood to be able to enjoy the experience. I guess the universe gives you what you 'need' and not what you 'want'. I've had to be a lot tighter with my money until my bankroll can crawl back up and so has killed the vegas experience a bit and haven't done much. I'm also looking to move out as well after this first month is up and getting a roommate or renting a room in someone's house as crazy as that sounds so I can cut my rent in half and have a nicer place to live at the same time. Paying 800 right now doesn't really seem to be worth it or smart with many cheaper options available.

Finished up nicely last night and am now down -5200 to date. Much better than -8500 that's for sure. I hope the tide is finally turning. I also hope this thread shows other future aspiring counters the truth about being a counter and how hard it really is and the rollercoaster that it is.

I've experienced this rollercoaster already in the past, but like Ive said before, it's not the 'losses' per se, but the 'unknown' of possible cheating and shady procedures going on due to lack of playing experience in this town. PA was similar, but I at least had the experience of coming out the other side so I knew it was most likely just variance. The timing of it all to get rocked right off the bat threw up more red flags. Being in a new town and something like Vegas, your mind begins to wonder about the legitimacy. Call me crazy whatever, but as I've learned in my life, you can never be too sure about anything and the cats not out of the bag yet, but do feel a lot more hopeful that its in fact just variance after seeing a big store like ARIA showing some integrity. Hope to see more casinos like ARIA so I can finally just put this to rest with no doubts in the back of my mind. I also guess if a casino were to cheat, it would be something that's a lot harder to trace other than stacking the deck, so maybe I've been a bit naive as well. Im aware of some other ways they could, but won't go into that.

Quote: ZenKinG

I guess that's true, but putting the idea of cheating out there opens peoples' minds. I've always said I'm sure it's an honest game, but don't understand the shady procedures going on. Why can't all casinos just do what ARIA does and others off strip? Why only the pitch games in order and spread face up? If it's some type of profit strategy to waste less time, they're really splitting hairs and focusing on the wrong things. It's not something as concrete and profitable as getting an ASM: now that's a legitimate profit strategy as that significantly makes a difference in the long run for the casino in getting more rounds an hour.

I'm always on the lookout for hold carding opportunities, but it seems to be more of fairy tale and exaggerations that people actually can hole card. It would have to be a really sloppy or inexperienced dealer that hates their job in the moment. Maybe scouting more 6:5 games might be a smart thing to do or some CSMs as they don't put the most qualified dealers on those games and if I were to find a hole carding opportunity on there, the game wouldn't be hawked by the pit since it is of course a 6:5 game and a non-countable CSM game. I'm also guessing most people who hole card are doing it on things such as TCP or some other other carnival game. Blackjack HC'ing seems to be well protected and like i said heavily exaggerated on the . Just doesn't seem that plausible anymore finding a hole card game on blackjack, but I guess never say never.

Haven't run into any other counters, maybe 1 at most as I someone looking like a blatant wonger. Food wise been eating mostly take out and need to start learning how to cook or I'll drop dead on a blackjack table with a heart attack one day as I double down with a max bet. While we're on the food discussion, are there any good food deals in town like buffet specials etc? Breakfast specials? (Yes pokergrinder and Monet, I'm asking for advice, I never said I know it all, I'm just very set in stone in my opinions at times, but of course I don't know it all and never claimed to).

Regarding Vegas, it's pretty much what I envisioned it to be. I've been here twice before and have done some hit and run as well. So far in vegas I've had no heat, I've been pretty disciplined to get out within 30 minutes to an hour and not show my spread much maybe 2 times max, but mostly one time and I'm out the door. Weather is ridiculous, probably hotter than I thought it would even with me knowing it would be hot, its kinda surprised me a bit, I guess cause its the summer in a desert.

I just relly wish I got off to a better start as i settled in even a small loss wouldve been fine, because its pretty much destroyed my mood to be able to enjoy the experience and have had to be a lot more tight with my money until my bankroll can crawl back up.

Finished up nicely last night and am down now only -5200 to date. Much better than -8500 that's for sure. I hope the tide is finally turning.

The tide may turn when you least expect it, or it may even turn when you expect it to. Who knows? Just put your time in, in good situations, if you can hang in long enough it should work out.

While some people may not understand why I can't write correctly, I will never understand how some people can't cook, It comes very easy for me. There you have it, go take a cooking class of some kind.

Take out gets expensive day after day. Do it every day 2 times a day for a month and it will cost you at lease $900. I have done it before.
Check all the free magazines in town for coupons, usually in the back of the magazine: Whats On, The Sunday, Vegas Rocks etc. There is usually a rack of them at the front of different stores or the library.

Unfortunately for you, you live in a place that probably doesn't receive the mass mailers the casinos and other places send out.
I mentioned on a different thread, Stations had just sent out one of their mass mailer coupon books. It had lots of food discount coupons including 50% off buffets and even 2 $10 match plays. It should be good for next month as well. I will see if I can scrounge one up, I even asked my neighbor if he wanted his, he was more than happy to let me have it. I'm not sure why I even asked him, I doubt I will ever use it anyways.

There may be some daily swipe and win promotions around town where you win free play or discounted/free food.

Check out the Crown and Anchor bar http://crownandanchorlv.com/restaurant.html.


There are actually quite a few bars around town that comp food fairly easy with not much play on VP. Some places have very good food, it's not your typical bar food.

Check online there are lots of 2 for 1 coupon deals.

The Sunday Paper is worth getting, I think you can get it at the 99c store on Mondays for 99c.

Last week, I listened to a guy in High-Limit lecture a friend on how no one wins in casinos, professional gamblers don't exist, etc...
Always listening to "pros" complain about how slot machines are not random, cheating, etc...
ZK's rants are very common.

Even people who've made seven-figure winnings complain to me about how they think certain games are cheating, illegal, threatening to call the gaming board...

----
Here's a fun example from 2016-2017:

CJ released some must-hits (Major $5,000, Minor $500) with interesting behavior.
The progressives are 2.07% of the return (rather than 2% or 4%), so they are designed to fall very close to the must-hit value (rather than half-way).
Not sure what distribution they use to decide the drop point (and whether the drop point is decided at reset or on-the-fly).
4% would be a uniform distribution.
2% would be always goes to the max value.

Many APs (and ploppys) got whomped on the CJ games before rumors started spreading that some new "cheating" machines had appeared.

It's a new variation on the "fake must-hit".

Always claims of "cheating". Not usually. Just a new game with unexpected rules.

-----
My favorite of "slimy" casino tactics is preferential BJ "pitch game" dealers who shuffle up on good counts.

ZK, if you think it has been hot in Vegas the past month you are in for a big surprise. This has been the coolest year I remember in the 27 years I have been here.

Quote: DRich

ZK, if you think it has been hot in Vegas the past month you are in for a big surprise. This has been the coolest year I remember in the 27 years I have been here.

The past couple of days have been good, but the first week I was here it was 100+ every day. I knew it would be hot but was thinking around 90 not 100+

Just wait until we get 30 straight days above 110 again.

When I was there for the WSOP this time in 2015, it was 107° when we stepped off the plane. And that was at 7am!

But it's a dry heat.
Ill take 107 and no humidity over a 90 degree Long Island with 70% humidity.
Shade negates heat, it does nothing for humidity.

Quote: billryan

But it's a dry heat.
Ill take 107 and no humidity over a 90 degree Long Island with 70% humidity.
Shade negates heat, it does nothing for humidity.

Both suck a$$!

Quote: billryan

But it's a dry heat.
Ill take 107 and no humidity over a 90 degree Long Island with 70% humidity.
Shade negates heat, it does nothing for humidity.

We sold at a flea market today in pittsburgh 84 with 75%, my clothes are soaked

Quote: DRich

ZK, if you think it has been hot in Vegas the past month you are in for a big surprise. This has been the coolest year I remember in the 27 years I have been here.

It's been a pretty awful summer, I agree.

100 in Vegas, even dry, is unbearable in a different way. More than 10 minutes in that heat will suck everything out of you. You have to keep cool and hydrated.

Quote: boymimbo

100 in Vegas, even dry, is unbearable in a different way. More than 10 minutes in that heat will suck everything out of you. You have to keep cool and hydrated.

Nah growing up in the southwest one can cope for a few hours, if not a day, with some water around. Thousands of american kids and young adults are doing two and three-a-days in this heat getting ready for the season. Then, November comes and one needs long sleeves the first week it gets below 75 degrees.

Quote: ZenKinG

The past couple of days have been good, but the first week I was here it was 100+ every day. I knew it would be hot but was thinking around 90 not 100+

My Apple weather app is showing 116 degrees next Tuesday.

Quote: boymimbo

100 in Vegas, even dry, is unbearable in a different way. More than 10 minutes in that heat will suck everything out of you. You have to keep cool and hydrated.

When I "lived" in Vegas, I went elsewhere for 3-4 summer months.

Two useful trick for keeping AC bills down in desert areas:
(1) Open windows & doors (if safe) at night to let in cool air. Look at temperature forecasts to see when in the morning you should wake up to close windows & doors (i.e. if you like 69 degrees, look for when outdoor temperature rises past 69).
-> For tomorrow 6/13/17, it will be 69 or below...12 am - 7 am.

(2) During day, don't stay home, go to other places with free AC - casinos, hotels, shopping malls, libraries, grocery stores, college buildings, gyms, etc...

Note: If you have temperature-sensitive items (like photographs, musical instruments, or drugs), you might need a temperature-controlled storage space (or an insulated cooler...possibly powered).

A radical way to reduce electricity bills is not to run a refrigerator. Just get food from grocery stores & farmers markets every day.
In many apartments, the refrigerator can be 1/3 the electric bill. (For the radically "frugal" person - There's a movie about a couple who tried to live without electricity in NYC).

Is this thread supposed to be closed since ZK is in town?

Quote: mamat

When I "lived" in Vegas, I went elsewhere for 3-4 summer months.

Two useful trick for keeping AC bills down in desert areas:
(1) Open windows & doors (if safe) at night to let in cool air. Look at temperature forecasts to see when in the morning you should wake up to close windows & doors (i.e. if you like 69 degrees, look for when outdoor temperature rises past 69).
-> For tomorrow 6/13/17, it will be 69 or below...12 am - 7 am.

That works fine until the middle of June when the lows are still above 80 degrees.

Quote: speedycrap

Is this thread supposed to be closed since ZK is in town?

Perhaps there will be a post trip report.

Quote: IndyJeffrey

Perhaps there will be a post trip report.

Probably post mortem!

Cut my Vegas to date total to -700 And in the same night I give back 5900 in a span of 3 hours LOL.

I'm really close to not playing in this rigged ass town anymore. This is an absolute disgrace. I swear to god the truth is gonna come out one day.

To date total now is --6675 after 51.5 hours

Quote: ZenKinG

Cut my Vegas to date total to -700 And in the same night I give back 5900 in a span of 3 hours LOL.

I'm really close to not playing in this rigged ass town anymore. This is an absolute disgrace. I swear to god the truth is gonna come out one day.

To date total now is --6675 after 51.5 hours

I'm not sure you have the nerve to stomach bankroll swings. Idk what your average bet is, but I bet people here doing well at AP will attest swings well beyond +/- $6k.

Keep your bankroll separate from your personal finances. Pay yourself what you need to live out of your bankroll each week. The casinos aren't cheating. If you are actually playing correctly and have an edge, your bankroll will grow over time in spite of negative variation.

Quote: ZenKinG

Cut my Vegas to date total to -700 And in the same night I give back 5900 in a span of 3 hours LOL.

I'm really close to not playing in this rigged ass town anymore. This is an absolute disgrace. I swear to god the truth is gonna come out one day.

To date total now is --6675 after 51.5 hours

So you had a ~$4k+ swing in the positive then a ~$6k swing back to the negative? With the limits you're betting this is your life. This is what you signed up for. You're going to swing back and forth all the time, and in the end you'll have a few more positive swings than negative that come out to your 1-2% advantage.

GET MORE HANDS.

Quote: Romes

So you had a ~$4k+ swing in the positive then a ~$6k swing back to the negative? With the limits you're betting this is your life. This is what you signed up for. You're going to swing back and forth all the time, and in the end you'll have a few more positive swings than negative that come out to your 1-2% advantage.

GET MORE HANDS.

8k positive swing in 10 hrs and 6k negative swing in 3 hrs.

Quote: ZenKinG

8k positive swing in 10 hrs and 6k negative swing in 3 hrs.

And your point is?
ZK, You just don't have the attitude needed for your adventure.

ps. You never did answer: Did you lower your wager along with your reducing BR as per Kelly?

Quote: ZenKinG

8k positive swing in 10 hrs and 6k negative swing in 3 hrs.

2K +ve swing in 13 hours = Hourly rate of $153. Strikes me as reasonable.

Quote: ZenKinG

8k positive swing in 10 hrs and 6k negative swing in 3 hrs.

I've lost 2k in ONE $10 shoe betting no more than $150!

Quote: OnceDear

And your point is?
ZK, You just don't have the attitude needed for your adventure.

ps. You never did answer: Did you lower your wager along with your reducing BR as per Kelly?

No i did not want to lower my betsize, my ROR is still reasonable and less than 0.5% so whatever. If i was to drop to 45k or less that's when ill consider dropping it.

I honestly dont even want to play anymore. I made 35k in these 883 hours ive played so about 40 bucks an hour. I've underperformed and EV was over 60k. I made another 2k red chipping as well before i had a decent bankroll.I dont even care anymore. TO be as cursed as I am and cheated and still come out ahead, just goes to show you how good i really am. I cant imagine if i was lucky as everyone else. It almost wouldnt be fair so i guess thats why god does this to me. Going to just get a job. Came out a winner like everything i do in life. Thanks for the 37k casinos. Keep stacking the deck. Vegas is a joke. The truth will come out and this corrupt state that sits on their ass and doesnt enforce shit will get what's coming to them.

He don't need no Kelly. He's the king!

Of all the card counters in Vegas, he's the only one being cheated lol.

Quote: Ibeatyouraces

Of all the card counters in Vegas, he's the only one being cheated lol.

No,no,no,no no!!!!!!!.
We are all being cheated. We are just not smart enough to see it.

Quote: ZenKinG

No i did not want to lower my betsize, my ROR is still reasonable and less than 0.5% so whatever. If i was to drop to 45k or less that's when ill consider dropping it.

I honestly dont even want to play anymore. I made 35k in these 883 hours ive played so about 40 bucks an hour. I've underperformed and EV was over 60k. I made another 2k red chipping as well before i had a decent bankroll.I dont even care anymore. TO be as cursed as I am and cheated and still come out ahead, just goes to show you how good i really am. I cant imagine if i was lucky as everyone else. It almost wouldnt be fair so i guess thats why god does this to me. Going to just get a job. Came out a winner like everything i do in life. Thanks for the 37k casinos. Keep stacking the deck. Vegas is a joke. The truth will come out and this corrupt state that sits on their ass and doesnt enforce shit will get what's coming to them.

Of course you are playing perfectly with zero mistakes.A mere mortal might want an experienced player to watch them play for a bit to make sure they aren't making errors.
But definitely not necessary for you the Zenking.

ZK, remind me again... What count and how many deviations are you using?

Same story... dfferent day and city. We heard this all before after ZK got a letter in the mail from PA Casinos. He was supposed to quit back at that time up 35k. He is never gonna quit playing. I know players like this. They cry rigged games when they win and lose. They tell me how rigged the NBA is and keep making bets on the NBA every day. They tell me how rigged the blue game kings are from a certain year but keep playing them. This is just how he is. Some people/players get along with this type but it's annoying to me. He already told us he wasn't going to bet with any game/house that didn't show all the cards. It appears he broke that rule. My wife doesn't cry like this... if she did I'd divorce her.

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