Most Unique AP maneuver

In 1999, Andres Martinez convinced a book publisher to give him a $50,000 advance on his first non-fiction piece. The deal was, he would go to Las Vegas and use the advance to go on a gambling spree.

If it sounds like an ultimate hustle, its not. Andres still had to deliver the book about his experiences. Of course, he did deliver (and we can assume got paid the next installments) and the result is the book, 24/7 - Doubling Down in the New Las Vegas.

As the book is over two decades old I don't know if it qualifies as the New Las Vegas anymore but it is interesting to see some of the things that were happening in that year. For example, the Venetian was just underway as a proposal and the author laughs at the idea of real gondolas for riding in the Venice-simulated waters which were promoted as one of the upcoming attractions.

On a day to day basis, we are treated to a log of Andres ups and down with his bankroll. There are quite a few humorous moments although I would not classify this book as laugh out loud. Besides the gambling action, we are also given historical info on Vegas and run-ins with the myriad weird people who he comes across on his travels. It might actually have made a good reality travel show in todays time.

Andres is not an advantage gambler. Although he plays basic strategy Blackjack and understands the concepts of card counting, he does not card count. He also plays roulette and baccarat (employing what he calls the "dopey" experiment at one point where he bets on a single number in roulette for 35 spins hoping that it will hit at least once so he breaks even at worst. Nonetheless, he manages to get quite lucky for most of his trip at one point being up over $17,000.

I won't give away his final results but the inevitable finally happens and to a large extent, it was all his own fault.

However, as an AP maneuver, convincing a book publisher to finance your entire bankroll may go down as one of the most unique AP maneuvers in history.

If he ran out of money or was close to it he could have just went to the Plaza

You won't give away the ending of the book? Why ? Because you don't share info? Or because it would effect the authors pocket?

Quote: Wizardofnothing

You won't give away the ending of the book? Why ? Because you don't share info? Or because it would effect the authors pocket?

For real, lol?

You're really grasping at straws now, aren't you?

I don't give away the endings to any book because people who want to read them want to be surprised.

It's not any different...
I'm not going to comment anymore on it... One day when you lose a play because someone outs it to more people then already know you will see.

Quote: Wizardofnothing

It's not any different...
I'm not going to comment anymore on it... One day when you lose a play because someone outs it to more people then already know you will see.

I don't do nationally advertised plays.

You will find that helps a lot with secrecy.

That was beyond a crazy statement do make,
You play for mail, I'll bet you every casino you play at nationally promotes their players club, are you saying you don't take advantage of the mail?

Quote: Wizardofnothing

That was beyond a crazy statement do make,
You play for mail, I'll bet you every casino you play at nationally promotes their players club, are you saying you don't take advantage of the mail?

The way that I do even the casinos have no clue. You certainly don't.

Ha. lol that's hysterical

Quote: Wizardofnothing

Ha. lol that's hysterical

I know you don't because if you were able to do lucrative plays like I do you would not waste 10 minutes making $11.50 vulturing ultimate X.

You think I vulture for profit? Loll loll now I give you less credit then I did before ..... Stay in New York you'll get rich on the plays in two or three casinos ,,;, just make sure you disclose them on here since it will help you sell that book, oh yea, forgot maybe there is a nyc bus hustle

Quote: Wizardofnothing

You think I vulture for profit? Loll loll now I give you less credit then I did before ..... Stay in New York you'll get rich on the plays in two or three casinos ,,;, just make sure you disclose them on here since it will help you sell that book, oh yea, forgot maybe there is a nyc bus hustle

You are quite right. You clearly are not profiting from vulturing.

Quote: darkoz

...However, as an AP maneuver, convincing a book publisher to finance your entire bankroll may go down as one of the most unique AP maneuvers in history.

If he convinced the publisher to subsidize his bankroll, then yes, AP play... If he was going to get paid the $50k either way and got an 'advance' on it, then he was still gambling this his own money... not really that AP.

Quote: Romes

If he convinced the publisher to subsidize his bankroll, then yes, AP play... If he was going to get paid the $50k either way and got an 'advance' on it, then he was still gambling this his own money... not really that AP.

Yea, its kind of both. He definitely got paid to write the book but the book's hook was he would receive the money so he could gamble and then document it.

So, its earned money that's his and also a unique way of obtaining a fifty grand bankroll for an gambling spree.

He got to keep the money left over after the 30 days no matter what the amount was to be.

The book was kinda boring, however there were a few nuggets in the book that lead to some really good plays.

It strikes me the publisher was the real gambler, hoping he had chosen an author capable of writing a story that would not only cover his investment, but provide a profit. Thanks for the post, darkoz. That's all. No mas.

Quote: BleedingChipsSlowly

It strikes me the publisher was the real gambler, hoping he had chosen an author capable of writing a story that would not only cover his investment, but provide a profit. Thanks for the post, darkoz. That's all. No mas.

You're quite welcome.

I finished reading 24/7 about a month ago and completely forgot to post here. I really enjoyed the book, some of the stories of the people he met didn't interest me much. The talk of "old" Vegas that I as a 25 year old never got to see was really interesting. I really enjoy the history of Vegas and how it came to be what it is today. It was cool how he is talking abou Paris, Mandalay Bay and Bellagio being built and Wynn and Venetian are not even a thought yet at this point. These are the parts of the strip that I can't imagine not existing. The only changes to the strip since I started going to Vegas are Bill's becoming Cromwell, SLS opening and Quad becoming the Linq.

TK Kenyon wrote a novella about the best AP move I've ever come across. It's called The Law of Large Numbers and while it's sort of based on a real event, names and circumstances have been changed to protect the moronic people involved.

Quote: billryan

TK Kenyon wrote a novella about the best AP move I've ever come across. It's called The Law of Large Numbers and while it's sort of based on a real event, names and circumstances have been changed to protect the moronic people involved.

Can you elaborate ? I looking it up and it sounded like financial story. found 1 review.....

logan stadnick rated it did not like it
Meh

"Kind of boring and lame if you ask me, this stupid review sh^t sucks serious balls too what the funk"

Are you sure you have the right book. There is a financial book with the same name.

Are you sure you have the right book. There is a financial book with the same name.
Google TK Kenyon, it's an ebook you can download for free.

Quote: billryan

Are you sure you have the right book. There is a financial book with the same name.
Google TK Kenyon, it's an ebook you can download for free.

Auto correct meant fictional.

These days, $50k on a book would be pretty good. Over the years, it can make some money; but getting it all at once gives a chance to make money with money. I'd give him props if he at least used it to get a loss rebate (maybe a tad low for that, but maybe in the form of discounts on debt.) Other than that, if he has a losing game; he'd be better off putting the money in real estate (1999 was a slow time for real estate, he could have made millions with leverage.)