Counting Stories

New thread as I suspect other videos out there .... this one has to be shared

When I saw "counting stories," this is the first thing I thought of (it's from the end of an episode of Modern Family that takes place in Vegas; one of the plots is, Jay (the character in the clip) keeps trying to get a room at the top level of the hotel, only to keep discovering that there's a higher level)



Bonus trivia: this is the only episode in the series where none of the "kids" appear at all

Quote: odiousgambit

New thread as I suspect other videos out there .... this one has to be shared

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Richard always has good stories.

Losing your cash horror stories

Quote: odiousgambit

Losing your cash horror stories

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That was a good video. Most of my carelessness with money has had to do with having a trip stake in my pocket before laundry day. So far the FBI hasn't come looking for me, for... you know...

For carrying money I go with a money belt worn down my pants. Any $100s that are not in a pocket with a button or zipper are in there. I can carry $50K without too much trouble in that. My play doesn't call for a trip BR of more than half that, but due to very good trips I have had more than that. That's when having an account at any interstate bank where you will be playing comes in handy. BofA, Wells Fargo, Chase. Then you can use that to moderate how much cash you are carrying to and fro, and if you have some kind of a jackpot that gets paid by check you have a place to put the check.

One of the benefits of the down-the-pants method is it's easy to physically defend. For someone to take that out of there, he would have to be standing right next to me, with his head somewhere near my shoulder level, and with his hands down. Anyone who is good at violence knows what is going to happen next. But don't count on deterrents because violent criminals can be remarkably stupid at fighting and will do things like that, or reaching through a door at someone or trying to go under a toilet stall at someone, all the stuff where you lose a body part to a prepared opponent. So be prepared to actually do something in response to an attack rather than just deterrence.

The thing he touched on a little but maybe not enough is being too friendly with people you meet in a casino. Specifically going to room parties (drugs), or bringing girls back to your room. Being an older guy I have a filter for that; girl in her 20s starts chatting me up, and I'm like "Yeah OK missy, what are you looking for?" But if I was also around the same age it could be just a girl likes a boy, totally innocent, and I might not be able to tell the difference. Likewise if I meet a lady my age she's probably just looking for someone to lay in bed and watch Hawaii-Five-O with, also totally innocent, but it's very unlikely a woman of age is involved in a robbery or badger crew in a casino so it is not symmetrical.

I had to look a little more closely at a frame in that video where the Canadian side only allows $10,000 Can.or at a $1.4085/$1 USD exchange rate around $7,100 USD. I saw another video where Canada recently outlawed purchases of over $10K-$15K in cash with their new AML rules. People can't buy a car for over that amount with cash. I don't know how that affects people walking into casinos with large amounts of cash. But $14.1K CAN is around $10K USD. You'll need some type of international bank access to shuffle large amounts of cash up there. I don't know if banks such as HSBC fill the bill or if there are other American bank branches still in Canada. Somebody mentioned to get a Wise card, but that's for smaller transactions.

Discovery channel has a show that has episodes with Munchkin talking about his exploits

Hustlers, Gamblers, Crooks .................... new episode tonight I think

I've been watching it and [so far] love all of it, including the Hustlers and Crooks episodes. I suppose if you don't like too much sordidness you might feel different. Evidently you can watch videos from the link below. Season 2 episode 1 has Munchkin

https://go.discovery.com/show/hustlers-gamblers-crooks-discovery-atve-us .

More Hustlers, Gamblers, Crooks

Season 2, episode 8 just ran. Has a good story about a dealer who discovered a glitch in a roulette e-game

Unfortunately they also have Mikki Mase spilling his BS.

I have a feeling this topic is not well received in this forum because the whole business is dominated by a few Hustlers, Gamblers, Crooks.

Quote: aceside

I have a feeling this topic is not well received in this forum because the whole business is dominated by a few Hustlers, Gamblers, Crooks.
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I agree you come away a bit soiled just by watching these shows, especially if you could, what's the word, relate? on a certain level, ha ha. I think the ones that are about gambling are worth posting about here, and in any episode there is usually at least one such included. That Mase's bit got included is a disappointment, but I did watch it

Quote: odiousgambit

Quote: aceside

I have a feeling this topic is not well received in this forum because the whole business is dominated by a few Hustlers, Gamblers, Crooks.
link to original post

I agree you come away a bit soiled just by watching these shows, especially if you could, what's the word, relate? on a certain level, ha ha. I think the ones that are about gambling are worth posting about here, and in any episode there is usually at least one such included. That Mase's bit got included is a disappointment, but I did watch it
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A straight counting game is very monotonous, as most of us know, and I've found that some dirty tricks add enough fascination and adventure to make it bearable.

Beating the Casino | Hustlers Gamblers Crooks | Discovery - Nov 20, 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Wc7SWrAI-k

Successful counters don't have many stories to tell. If it is done right, counting is boring. I could tell about the time at the EC where a pitcritter was braying about his ability to detect counters as I was spreading 1-12. Or a time when the count justified me taking a hit, only it caused the dealer to get an 8 to make 21 instead of busting with the 10 I drew, and how a formerly friendly table turned against me but after a few such stories, they all blur together.

Quote: billryan

Successful counters don't have many stories to tell. If it is done right, counting is boring. I could tell about the time at the EC where a pitcritter was braying about his ability to detect counters as I was spreading 1-12. Or a time when the count justified me taking a hit, only it caused the dealer to get an 8 to make 21 instead of busting with the 10 I drew, and how a formerly friendly table turned against me but after a few such stories, they all blur together.
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Not only that, most of us have the same stories. I had almost exactly the same conversation with a supervisor who told me how he can identify counters. "They never drink, they just lock in on the cards, staring, never talking." I look at him, take a sip of my martini- "Wow, no kidding?"

But I have kind of a unique one, and it was actually at the EC where I figured something out. I used to come to Vegas maybe once or twice a year max, not enough to get well known, but it seemed every time I was in Nevada it was one aggressive backoff after another. Multiple armed guards, threats, attempted backrooming. All totally uncalled-for stuff. Seriously, all they have to do is quit dealing me cards and watch how quick I leave on my own. So as I'm being booted out the door at the EC by a well-known and generally respected pit boss he told me what was going on: he realized I wasn't him, but apparently there is a counter who looks just like me and who is bad news, banned from everywhere for his violence. So I changed a few things before going back out and, no more trouble, no heat at all.

Not a counting story, but a blackjack story:

Many years ago I was playing a 6D shoe game on a full table (don't ask me why). I had already acted on my hand and so was leaning back in my chair waiting for the others to play. A very attractive young lady wearing a crop top and low-slung jeans approached the table to look in vain for a seat at the full table. Not seeing any vacancies, she then leaned over the table, perhaps to see if anyone's chip stack was nearing depletion. I, being a guy, naturally took the opportunity to peek down the back of her jeans and noticed she was wearing white panties sprinkled with little red hearts.

She left the table and the game continued. Perhaps 10 minutes went by when I noticed she was again approaching. As she reached the table, I glanced at my cards, a 7 and 8 of clubs, and, pointing to the shoe, politely requested that the dealer, "Give me that 6 of clubs." She complied, much to the amazement of the VAYL, who turned to me and asked, "How did you know that card was the 6 of clubs?" I replied, "Oh, I have x-ray vision." I then stared rather impolitely at the zipper of her jeans, then (even more rudely) pointed and said, "White with little red hearts, right?" The VAYL turned the cutest shade of pink as she hurried away.

Dog Hand

I like the story about after a very successful session at an Indian casino, the counter returned to his car and it was gone and fresh blue lines painted around the spot. I think I've read it in two different firsthand accounts.