Holy Rollers discussion thread

Hello,

Has anyone seen the documentary Holy Rollers? I personally rented it via youtube's streaming service, $2 for 24 hours. It's about the "church team", who won more than a million dollars as a blackjack team. Many of the players were pastors and had other roles in Christian ministry. I thought it was very interesting, and it shows Christians who are genuine. Many people, at first glance, would think they are insincere and compromising from their faith's teachings, but when you really look, you see people that truly value their faith while being culturally different than more fundamentalist Christians.

I've seen it twice. BTW the other night when there was the discussion with Max Rubin he mentioned that he fears their disciples. I assume he means people who have been trained by them. I also know that they would have not done it if they thought it went against any Biblical teachings. (I'm an agnostic BTW.)

I liked the movie and have met Colin and Dave. Nice people too.

Ben and Colin were on Gambling with an Edge on Oct 11th.

I never got the sense that Ben or Colin were "faith-first" type people, which is fine. I appreciated hearing the other players talk about their faith and how it related to blackjack. I still can't believe they got investors and that they lasted as long as they did with basically no safeguards against lying/stealing.

I have seen it twice and didn't believe it.
If you are going to make it card counting it has to be with team play.

When you had that guy going round Chicago being kicked out of places after 8 minutes winning $1500 he was not counting, there was insufficient time to get an accurate count. He was probably doubling up until he won and then going back to his original stake. If you have deep pockets you can win lots this way and Casinos do not like it and will kick you out.

Quote: snowleopard

He was probably doubling up until he won and then going back to his original stake. If you have deep pockets you can win lots this way and Casinos do not like it and will kick you out.

Casinos don't like it....They LOVE it and will certainly not kick you out if they are convinced you are just doubling up to chase losses.

Quote: snowleopard

I have seen it twice and didn't believe it.
If you are going to make it card counting it has to be with team play.

When you had that guy going round Chicago being kicked out of places after 8 minutes winning $1500 he was not counting, there was insufficient time to get an accurate count. He was probably doubling up until he won and then going back to his original stake. If you have deep pockets you can win lots this way and Casinos do not like it and will kick you out.

With the amounts these guys were betting yes you could make that much or they just could have hit a winning streak.

Quote: surrender88s

Hello,

Has anyone seen the documentary Holy Rollers? I personally rented it via youtube's streaming service, $2 for 24 hours. It's about the "church team", who won more than a million dollars as a blackjack team.

Yes, they are well known to many pockets of the industry. Personally, I view this with a very skewed eye, and think it is both bizarre and unholy, in a "scamming Casinos for Jesus" sense. I know they're not Mormons, as they do not gamble but may work in gaming, and almost always on the casino's side enforcing game protection. Quiet a showdown that would be, Mormon casino execs versus Holy Roller AP players, the gaming industry's equivalent of sectarian strife. Wow, just what the industry needs, a scriptural justification for AP, possibly resulting in a scripture beat-down in the pit. Or a back room Bible study. We just need to worry about what it says in our pit operations manuals, not worrying about the Holy books as it relates to casino ops.

To use religion was a justification for gambling participation, no less AP play, is asinine, it is extremely misguided - and pure "stretch justification" using religion as a basis.

Quote: surrender88s

Many of the players were pastors and had other roles in Christian ministry.

I wasn't aware that casino AP play had a role in the Christian ministry. I still think it doesn't. But I guess it's official for them, now. If there's anything like this, I would be quite fascinated.

Quote: surrender88s

I thought it was very interesting, and it shows Christians who are genuine.

I think Christians who are genuine don't pretend to make gambling, - especially an AP brand, as something Holy. Getting backed off on Good Friday isn't walking in His footsteps, neither is it religious persecution. It's Gambling Hall business, with nothing Holy about it.

Quote: surrender88s

Many people, at first glance, would think they are insincere and compromising from their faith's teachings....

And also upon further examination. I think they are both insincere and have compromised greatly their faith's teaching. Many do.

Quote: surrender88s

but when you really look, you see people that truly value their faith while being culturally different than more fundamentalist Christians.

Or devalued the faith in front of many to see.