Card Counting in Laughlin

For some reason I had some better luck at a recent trip to Laughlin. At the Riverside casino they had $5 minimum single deck games. The rules were not great: only double on 10 and 11, and no doubling after splitting. However, they did let me "Wong" in and out anytime I wanted in the game. As a result I was able to win a hundred dollars. I wish I had read The Wizard's review of Laughlin and tried out The Pioneer which apparently has even better rules.

I also played at the Edgewater where they had the same rules except it was a $10 minimum and they did not let me Wong in and out. I was indiscriminately raising my bet proportional to the count through the whole game. At one point I went from a $10 bet to $80 when the count was around +8. The dealer suddenly started to shuffle mid-deck. I assume that she took my bet raising as a sign that I was card counting. I simply took the bet down to $10 again but continued playing as before. Evenutally I was able walk away with another hundred dollars profit.

This card counting success seemed to come in two major ways:
1) Getting black jack when having a larger bet out
2) Taking insurance when having a larger bet out

In comparison, deviating from basic strategy really didn't seem to ever signifcantly help me otherwise.

Overall I think I might like Laughlin even better than Vegas. The dealers and gamblers are nicer and I think the river setting is nicer than the strip.

Quote: paisiello

At one point I went from a $10 bet to $80 when the count was around +8. The dealer suddenly started to shuffle mid-deck.

Aha! Strategy suggestion (not guaranteed to work): If the count goes too negative for your liking, raise your bet so that the dealer gives that early shuffle that you need. ;-)