Advice for a AP Newbie

Hi all,

I am a long time lurker, hesitant to post in the forums since they seem a tad intimidating... But, I'm not posting a crazy betting system or publicizing a lucrative play, so hopefully everyone will be nice :).

I am looking for advice as a newcomer to Advantage Play. This subforum doesn't seem to get much traffic, but "Advice" sounded like the best heading for this sort of post...

I am a PhD student with a strong background in discrete probability who wants to play on a small bankroll for recreation and to accumulate status/comps efficiently (e.g. Caesars Diamond in a Day without too much loss). I have started by learning strategies for high return Video Poker. Though I'm certainly open to learning to count cards or other games, this seemed to be the easiest place to start and train. Thus far, I have almost 100% accuracy on FP JoB, NSUD, DDB, JWD, and Pickem. I have gone through about 20k practice hands between the wizard of odds trainer and videopoker dot com (guess I can't post links?), but have not yet hit a real casino (in the past I only played traditional poker). I consistently read the posts here and the vpfree yahoo group and listen to the Gambling with an Edge podcast.

Are there any other resources I should be looking at? I'd appreciate any advice! I will be making a Vegas trip in July for sure, though I may visit a more local casino sooner.

Also, I would like to contribute to the community. I have already coded some tools for video poker analysis for fun, but nothing that has functionality beyond what is already on the wizard of odds site. Are there other areas where this sort of programming could come in handy?

Cheers!

Welcome to the forum.

Start by reading books by AP's. Card counting books are the obvious place to start.

You can also read some AP stories on this forum. I have a few articles called the Tales of the Hustling Wars on here. Also, I have done some book reviews that might help you choose a book to get started with.

You can find my articles here: https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/general/25496-darkoz-articles/#post529686

Aside from generic advice don't expect too much workable stuff from the AP's here though. It's a secretive community and those who blast out secrets are usually maligned (never happened to me, :) )

Thanks!

Checking out your articles.

Of course, you would know nothing about that ;)

Quote: djtehch34t

Hi all,

I am a long time lurker, hesitant to post in the forums since they seem a tad intimidating... But, I'm not posting a crazy betting system or publicizing a lucrative play, so hopefully everyone will be nice :).

I am looking for advice as a newcomer to Advantage Play. This subforum doesn't seem to get much traffic, but "Advice" sounded like the best heading for this sort of post...

I am a PhD student with a strong background in discrete probability who wants to play on a small bankroll for recreation and to accumulate status/comps efficiently (e.g. Caesars Diamond in a Day without too much loss). I have started by learning strategies for high return Video Poker. Though I'm certainly open to learning to count cards or other games, this seemed to be the easiest place to start and train. Thus far, I have almost 100% accuracy on FP JoB, NSUD, DDB, JWD, and Pickem. I have gone through about 20k practice hands between the wizard of odds trainer and videopoker dot com (guess I can't post links?), but have not yet hit a real casino (in the past I only played traditional poker). I consistently read the posts here and the vpfree yahoo group and listen to the Gambling with an Edge podcast.

Are there any other resources I should be looking at? I'd appreciate any advice! I will be making a Vegas trip in July for sure, though I may visit a more local casino sooner.

Also, I would like to contribute to the community. I have already coded some tools for video poker analysis for fun, but nothing that has functionality beyond what is already on the wizard of odds site. Are there other areas where this sort of programming could come in handy?

Cheers!

Some real advice: Donate them books to charity or something, and don't waste any more money on them.

*Meet someone who knows much more than you do, show them you're , honest, trustworthy and loyal. Show them you're helpful and a possible asset. And you keep your mouth shut, especially if it's something you learned from them.

Learning strategy and new games is definitely a plus(you can get all of that for free online). However, I would rather work with and help someone who knows absolutely nothing, but has the qualities mentioned above.



If you can do that, you'll be on the fast track and only be limited by your personal limits.

Work your way up be willing to do more than expected.


A motivated attitude help.

If you're planning on learning everything with books and online and doing it solo good luck. It's possible but not probable.

Welcome and good luck.

Thank you for the "real" advice :).

Quote: AxelWolf

Some real advice: Donate them books to charity or something, and don't waste any more money on them.

I have not and do not plan to purchase any books.

Quote: AxelWolf

If you're planning on learning everything with books and online and doing it solo good luck. It's possible but not probable.

Given the stigma around gambling, the secrecy of people on this forum, only being a recreational player, and my distance from casinos, it seems difficult to find someone to work with/learn from... Though, I agree it would be easier and more fun. It would not be ideal, but I do think I have at least the necessary technical skills and background to succeed solo.

Are there any resources beyond the forums I mentioned to connect with a community of APs?

Quote: djtehch34t

Thank you for the "real" advice :).

I have not and do not plan to purchase any books.

Given the stigma around gambling, the secrecy of people on this forum, only being a recreational player, and my distance from casinos, it seems difficult to find someone to work with/learn from... Though, I agree it would be easier and more fun. It would not be ideal, but I do think I have at least the necessary technical skills and background to succeed solo.

Are there any resources beyond the forums I mentioned to connect with a community of APs?

Well, the biggest resource to connect with AP's beyond forums are the casinos themselves.

As far as books go, it really depends on what AP angle you are going for. I neither learned from books nor other AP's. I learned from experiences and observations and yes, I needed to be in a casino to do that.

However, I had no interest in say, card counting or poker. If you intend to do AP moves in those areas, you really should read some books. Especially card counting.

Even if they are not how-to books, you should read the memoirs of successful AP's. (Not a plug for my book which is not even being published for many years - just a legit suggestion). These books will enlighten you in many ways on what to do and what not to do.

Hi Dj,
Welcome to the forum.

Axel is a skilled AP team leader. he speaks from experience as such. I understand that Darkoz is more of a singleton Ap'er. As such they have different approaches. Correct me if I'm wrong guys.

Best advice I can give is to not expect to make much money unless you are prepared to work minimum wage and already have a significant bankroll. Be a recreational AP while playing for recreation is your best bet. Card counting BlackJack is fun but grindingly tedious too if you want to do it for profit. Other games, offer other opportunities. Some games offer no (legal) opportunities.

Your PhD Student status and 'strong background in probability' is a bit of a red flag here. Do you think for one second that those qualifications are what will help you be an AP? Do you anticipate 'inventing' the next great 'system'. I hope not.

What you need to be an AP is the mind and observational skills of a hustler/opportunist. Maths barely comes into it.

And then you need a location where opportunities are many, such as Vegas or one of the gambling regions. You won't get far as an AP if you live in the wrong place.

Regards,
OD.

Quote: OnceDear

Hi Dj,
Welcome to the forum.

Axel is a skilled AP team leader. he speaks from experience as such. I understand that Darkoz is more of a singleton Ap'er. As such they have different approaches. Correct me if I'm wrong guys.

Best advice I can give is to not expect to make much money unless you are prepared to work minimum wage and already have a significant bankroll. Be a recreational AP while playing for recreation is your best bet. Card counting BlackJack is fun but grindingly tedious too if you want to do it for profit. Other games, offer other opportunities. Some games offer no (legal) opportunities.

Your PhD Student status and 'strong background in probability' is a bit of a red flag here. Do you think for one second that those qualifications are what will help you be an AP? Do you anticipate 'inventing' the next great 'system'. I hope not.

What you need to be an AP is the mind and observational skills of a hustler/opportunist. Maths barely comes into it.

And then you need a location where opportunities are many, such as Vegas or one of the gambling regions. You won't get far as an AP if you live in the wrong place.

Regards,
OD.

Close enough for me.

I actually do have a team but it is a team of independents. Each person has his own bankroll and makes his own profit. Each person operates their way and in different locations.

However we share all info, update on new techniques, and are ready to cover for the other person immediately. If someone was to suddenly get "hot", the next day a person who the casino has never seen or hasn't seen in a long time will be doing everything instead. Any difference in income is made up financially or through labor at an established price point.

( And of course I always have my disguises as a last resort :) )

Quote: OnceDear

Best advice I can give is to not expect to make much money unless you are prepared to work minimum wage and already have a significant bankroll. Be a recreational AP while playing for recreation is your best bet. Card counting BlackJack is fun but grindingly tedious too if you want to do it for profit. Other games, offer other opportunities. Some games offer no (legal) opportunities.

I guess it wasn't clear in my post, but I'm not looking to make a living off of this... Just for recreational purposes. Though I am aware a number of people on this forum are professional APs, I just enjoy figuring things out for the sake of it...

Quote: OnceDear

Your PhD Student status and 'strong background in probability' is a bit of a red flag here. Do you think for one second that those qualifications are what will help you be an AP? Do you anticipate 'inventing' the next great 'system'. I hope not.

What you need to be an AP is the mind and observational skills of a hustler/opportunist. Maths barely comes into it.

I think mathematically inclined posters including the Wizard himself would be surprised to hear that their skills are a "red flag" rather than an asset...

Quote: OnceDear

And then you need a location where opportunities are many, such as Vegas or one of the gambling regions. You won't get far as an AP if you live in the wrong place.

Again, I guess I'm not looking to "go far as an AP" but rather to take occasional casino trips for recreation, and maybe earn some comps on the way. Any advice/resources towards this goal would be greatly appreciated. For instance, the great posts on the Wizard of Odds site have already been very instructive despite my lack of proximity to casinos.

I think there are some semantics here, which I am getting used to. For many, "advantage player", or AP, assumes that you are a professional. My assumption was that an AP would be someone who has an edge when they happen to gamble. So when you say that you are interested in advantage play, and they say, no you should try it recreationally, you're really saying the same thing.

Also, everyone started somewhere and grows. I wish there'd be a little more respect for the process. Most people start with low experience and an insufficient bankroll. Anyway at this point I'm just ranting. As I said in my prior post, welcome and good luck.

Quote: surrender88s

I think there are some semantics here, which I am getting used to. For many, "advantage player", or AP, assumes that you are a professional. My assumption was that an AP would be someone who has an edge when they happen to gamble. So when you say that you are interested in advantage play, and they say, no you should try it recreationally, you're really saying the same thing.

Also, everyone started somewhere and grows. I wish there'd be a little more respect for the process. Most people start with low experience and an insufficient bankroll. Anyway at this point I'm just ranting. As I said in my prior post, welcome and good luck.

That is certainly how I started.

So, maybe we should call Recreational AP's RAP's? We could say a casino is getting a bad RAP?

Quote: surrender88s

I think there are some semantics here, which I am getting used to. For many, "advantage player", or AP, assumes that you are a professional. My assumption was that an AP would be someone who has an edge when they happen to gamble. So when you say that you are interested in advantage play, and they say, no you should try it recreationally, you're really saying the same thing.

Also, everyone started somewhere and grows. I wish there'd be a little more respect for the process. Most people start with low experience and an insufficient bankroll. Anyway at this point I'm just ranting. As I said in my prior post, welcome and good luck.

This distinction would certainly explain many of the posts and my resulting confusion. I intended the second definition.

Thanks for your warm welcome and for pointing this out.

Perhaps we should also distinguish Professional AP's by calling them PAP's?

Then when PaiGowDan and BlackHole go on a disparaging tirade about Professional AP's, we can call that campaign a PAP Smear?

Quote: darkoz

Perhaps we should also distinguish Professional AP's by calling them PAP's?

Then when PaiGowDan and BlackHole go on a disparaging tirade about Professional AP's, we can call that campaign a PAP Smear?

Okay, I'm done with the bad puns. There was nothing Punny about it (Oops, there I go again.)

Quote: djtehch34t

This distinction would certainly explain many of the posts and my resulting confusion. I intended the second definition.

Thanks for your warm welcome and for pointing this out.

Ok if you want to do it recreationally just do what you are doing now. Learn to weed out bunk information given from people like Rob Singer, search various gambling websites and follow along.

Go get your diamond in a day and play suggested games at suggest casinos.

Take advantage of all the little promotions, coupon books and promotional offers. You sound as if you know enough to break even or make a little in the long run. Just don't expect to find any real juicy information or guaranteed bankroll growth.

For instance: you could lose a nice chunk of change chasing DIAD. You may or may not recover your investment.
If it's just value you're seeking there's lots of stuff you can grind out some value on.

I think Stabworld just posted up a few ideas he had about grinding out some +EV here in Vegas.

Mission has some articles about grinding out free money in Vegas such as the EC ATM free play thing.( But I don't suggest signing up for a card just to get $20 in free play)

Knowing what kind of risk tolerance and bankroll you're working with would help.

PS. Buy some books or whatever if that's something you're interested in.

Hi DJ,

In deference to s88's rant, I'll re-welcome you with a bit less negativity.

Nothing at all wrong with learning a few AP tricks of the trade, to make your sessions maybe longer and more enjoyable. As Axel points out, you'll save yourself a lot of grief if you learn to weed out the bunkum advice and bad games.

My reference to your PhD studies being a red flag. Well, as you read forum posts you might note a few newbies who call themselves maths whiz's or graduates of one sort or another. Some spout loblocks about how their systems can shift variance cycles by 1 or two Standard deviations etc. I don't disparage such worthy education, but somehow, we do seem to get a share of maths experts who claim to have found or are working towards the Holy Grail of a winning system. I guess you are not of that ilk.

Enjoy playing, enjoy the ups and downs of whatever games you play and of course, enjoy the comps.

Incidentally, I reckon you'll gain more from this forum than any collection of books.

Regards,
OD.

Quote: djtehch34t

I am looking for advice as a newcomer to Advantage Play. This subforum doesn't seem to get much traffic, but "Advice" sounded like the best heading for this sort of post...

I am a PhD student with a strong background in discrete probability who wants to play on a small bankroll for recreation and to accumulate status/comps efficiently (e.g. Caesars Diamond in a Day without too much loss).

I was in a similar position once -- I was in school, taught myself to count cards, and then spent a long weekend heads down at a blackjack table. I learned two things. One is that I didn't like being heads down in a casino setting, and two is that I prefer a smoother ride when I'm trying to make money.

My advice would be this: Given your small bankroll and infrequent play, calculate your expected annual loss based on your current knowledge, and then find the difference with your expected annual loss based on what you hope to learn. If it's on the order of a few hundred dollars, ask yourself whether it's financially worth your time. Learning for the sake of learning is commendable (that's why I did it) but if you have a financial motivation, I'd make sure it's actually a good investment. It's all the same bankroll, after all.

In my case, spending time studying other AP techniques would never be financially worthwhile because I'm not willing to put in the hours in the casino environment to realize the gains. Not only do I not live in a casino location, but I don't like spending long hours in smoky rooms. Gambling for me is just an entertainment expense with a roughly-known theoretical cost. I go to Vegas a *lot* on business (heh, I'm on the plane right now using Southwest's Wifi), and I probably gamble on less than half of my trips. (I'm likely to shoot dice tonight though...) I figure my ADT is less than $100, and it seems to me that anything less than daily travel costs is just a rounding error. If I were a black-chip player maybe I'd care, but even at green chips for a few hours a day a few times per year, the difference between AP and not AP is a few hundred bucks at most. If you're betting $5 or $10/hand, it's really a minor amount.

In short, my advice for someone who is only going to be an infrequent, casual player is "learn it because you're interested, not for the money." Making real money from AP requires much more time and handle than most casual players are willing to commit.

Just so you know there a lot of people on this site that consider themselves part time AP's. Some play once a week, once a month, or even just a couple times a year. It sounds like you already understand that even if it is not a serious undertaking you can get free vacations with airfare, rooms, and food by just playing smart.

Quote: djtehch34t

Thus far, I have almost 100% accuracy on FP JoB, NSUD, DDB, JWD, and Pickem. I have gone through about 20k practice hands between the wizard of odds trainer and videopoker dot com (guess I can't post links?), but have not yet hit a real casino (in the past I only played traditional poker). I consistently read the posts here and the vpfree yahoo group and listen to the Gambling with an Edge podcast.

Get yourself some practice software. Don't just learn from stuff available on the internet, get some real software. Don't scrimp. WinPoker, Wolf, VPfW, they're all great and each a little different. Btw, 20K hands ain't squat. Get the software, it's an investment in your future. And get Dancer's Winners Guides, not the cards, the books, for intensive study.

My personal opinion is to forget about blackjack. Don't get me wrong, I love the study of blackjack. Video poker is more realistic if you want to be an AP. That's just my opinion, and no doubt a bunch of guys here would disagree.

Another btw, Pick'em may be a waste of your time studying. You missed that boat by basically 15 years. But that's ok, once you learn it, it's like riding a bicycle, in case you do need it some day.

Quote: darkoz

Perhaps we should also distinguish Professional AP's by calling them PAP's?

Then when PaiGowDan and BlackHole go on a disparaging tirade about Professional AP's, we can call that campaign a PAP Smear?

Shh! Don't summon the dark side.

Quote: bobbartop

Get yourself some practice software. Don't just learn from stuff available on the internet, get some real software. Don't scrimp. WinPoker, Wolf, VPfW, they're all great and each a little different. Btw, 20K hands ain't squat. Get the software, it's an investment in your future. And get Dancer's Winners Guides, not the cards, the books, for intensive study.

As an example of how my background can come in handy, I have no need to purchase software that I can easily replicate myself for free.

Quote: djtehch34t

As an example of how my background can come in handy, I have no need to purchase software that I can easily replicate myself for free.

I am reminded of a poster who once sought advice on JW2, an extremely difficult video poker game to learn. I suspected he was young, probably a college 20-something, I just got that feeling about him. I told him essentially it was imperative to get software for that game, and he insisted that he was smart enough to learn it without the software. I told him that no one is that smart, and he'd be wise to get the software. He got argumentative, as if I was going to pocket the money for the software myself, and again insisted that he didn't need the software to learn this extremely difficult game. I asked him if he was "Rain Man". That about ended the conversation.

And the real kick was that he was talking about playing JW2 for DOLLARS. Yet wanted to save 40 bucks on software. Geez, was I that stubborn when I was 24?

I am not implying that this story fits you, because I don't even know you. But you did ask for advice. I gave some, and I'm sticking with it. Good luck.

Quote: djtehch34t

As an example of how my background can come in handy, I have no need to purchase software that I can easily replicate myself for free.

Many people have written VP analyzers but very few would consider that an easy job. If you do, I may have work for you. First, a few questions:
a) Roughly how many hours did it take for you to write your VP game analyzer, and
b) How many seconds does it take your code to run a full analysis of DDB (and what are your machine specs)?

Quote: bobbartop

I am reminded of a poster who once sought advice on JW2, an extremely difficult video poker game to learn. I suspected he was young, probably a college 20-something, I just got that feeling about him. I told him essentially it was imperative to get software for that game, and he insisted that he was smart enough to learn it without the software. I told him that no one is that smart, and he'd be wise to get the software. He got argumentative, as if I was going to pocket the money for the software myself, and again insisted that he didn't need the software to learn this extremely difficult game. I asked him if he was "Rain Man". That about ended the conversation.

And the real kick was that he was talking about playing JW2 for DOLLARS. Yet wanted to save 40 bucks on software. Geez, was I that stubborn when I was 24?

I am not implying that this story fits you, because I don't even know you. But you did ask for advice. I gave some, and I'm sticking with it. Good luck.

The first VP software I bought was the only one I could find it was recommend by the gamblers bookstore. It was endorsed by a recognized VP guy. It had lots of flaws in it. You couldn't even edit paytables. It went directly into the trash. I told someone about it being wrong and non editable, they got me a copy of VP Tutor, I felt like a kid on christmas.

Quote: AxelWolf

... they got me a copy of VP Tutor, I felt like a kid on christmas.

I still love WinPoker. Probably use it more often than the others.

Y'know what sucks? When you've been blowing your brains out for real money at the casino and then you come home and sit down with your practice software and pop a royal right out of the gate. I wish I had a dollar....

Quote: bobbartop

I still love WinPoker. Probably use it more often than the others.

Y'know what sucks? When you've been blowing your brains out for real money at the casino and then you come home and sit down with your practice software and pop a royal right out of the gate. I wish I had a dollar....

I don't use win poker I probably would if it was ok to use in a casino.

I have never hit a RF on practice software but I hit a bunch of them on a short session of 10 play checking out a new game on VP.COM. First and last time I played that site.

Yes I know it's doesn't matter but it's definitely annoying when you get zero money.

I got a RF playing a VP tournament and got zero.

I recently had a 3 card RF I tapped all 3 cards hit draw and one didn't hold. the next 2 came in. THAT'S ANNOYING to miss 4K.

Quote: AxelWolf

I have never hit a RF on practice software but I hit a bunch of them on a short session of 10 play checking out a new game on VP.COM. First and last time I played that site.

Yes I know it's doesn't matter but it's definitely annoying when you get zero money.

I got a RF playing a VP tournament and got zero.

I recently had a 3 card RF I tapped all 3 cards hit draw and one didn't hold. the next 2 came in. THAT'S ANNOYING to miss 4K.

I've hit a royal while practicing Pick'em. That ain't easy to do.

On your flubbed 3-card-hold, couldn't you have tried to sweet-talk the management into looking back a hand? I know it can work with quads sometimes, I don't know about a 4K royal. Did you even try? Or did you know it was a foregone "NO"? Better luck next time, sir.

Quote: bobbartop

I've hit a royal while practicing Pick'em. That ain't easy to do.

On your flubbed 3-card-hold, couldn't you have tried to sweet-talk the management into looking back a hand? I know it can work with quads sometimes, I don't know about a 4K royal. Did you even try? Or did you know it was a foregone "NO"? Better luck next time, sir.

It was my first time in that casino out of state with no history, I'm sure they would've said it was my responsibility to make sure I held the cards. I tested the button afterwards and it was a bit lame but nothing outrageous. Had I not been playing so fast it probably would have held. I was fairly certain they wouldn't pay. Who knows had I put the proper pressure it took to hold it properly I may of not gotten the RF anyways.

Hey djtehch34t, welcome to our obviously very friendly forums =P. Sorry for the late reply, as I don't post much on the weekends (wonder what I'm busy with).

It all starts part time... then IF you actually find a healthy edge in something and have the mathematical background (which it appears you do) to realize it's true potential, then you'd basically consider yourself stupid for NOT taking full advantage of it (i.e. putting in full time hours when you can). It's funny... If you don't figure out what you're doing or find a huge edge you'll probably lose interest in AP'ing. If you do, then you'll probably gravitate more towards full time. At least with my programming and math background that's what happened to me =).

It all depends on what you want. Do you want to take vacations to Vegas, get free rooms, have a certain status to enjoy the benefits, etc? Do you want to do this while playing +EV games, or do you want to "play for the comps" and try to break even? Do you want to make an extra $10k per year, or some other number? If you found out you could make $X per year, would you be interested in pursuing it further? Your goals will dictate your course of action.

It sounds like if you figure a few more things out you'll want to be a "Weekend Warrior," which is where I started. I learned to count cards and would go to the casino on the weekends to try to make a little extra money. This is fine and dandy, so long as you fully understand EV and how much you're expecting per hour... As well as have the proper bankroll to pull off such a feat.

I'll say this...

1) You can AP slots.
2) You can AP VP.
3) You can count cards.
4) You can pretty much beat every other game in the casino with the right 'conditions.'

Unfortunately no one (maybe darkoz?) is really going to give you any information other than the well publicized things... Such as Must Hits in VP, full pay or promotional VP, and counting cards in blackjack. I'm certain you can search online & this forum for the first 2. As for card counting, just having your mathematical background I'm sure you'd enjoy reading the analysis of the game, but after that you could decide if it's right for you. Check out my 3 A to Z articles published here on WoV in the Articles Section:

https://wizardofvegas.com/articles/A-to-Z-Counting-Cards-in-Blackjack/
https://wizardofvegas.com/articles/A-to-Z-Counting-Cards-In-Blackjack-2/
https://wizardofvegas.com/articles/A-to-Z-Counting-Cards-in-Blackjack-3/

p.s. Darkoz, just a playful jab of a current topical post... I don't have a dog in that fight =P.

Quote: Romes

Hey djtehch34t, welcome to our obviously very friendly forums =P. Sorry for the late reply, as I don't post much on the weekends (wonder what I'm busy with).

It all starts part time... then IF you actually find a healthy edge in something and have the mathematical background (which it appears you do) to realize it's true potential, then you'd basically consider yourself stupid for NOT taking full advantage of it (i.e. putting in full time hours when you can). It's funny... If you don't figure out what you're doing or find a huge edge you'll probably lose interest in AP'ing. If you do, then you'll probably gravitate more towards full time. At least with my programming and math background that's what happened to me =).

It all depends on what you want. Do you want to take vacations to Vegas, get free rooms, have a certain status to enjoy the benefits, etc? Do you want to do this while playing +EV games, or do you want to "play for the comps" and try to break even? Do you want to make an extra $10k per year, or some other number? If you found out you could make $X per year, would you be interested in pursuing it further? Your goals will dictate your course of action.

It sounds like if you figure a few more things out you'll want to be a "Weekend Warrior," which is where I started. I learned to count cards and would go to the casino on the weekends to try to make a little extra money. This is fine and dandy, so long as you fully understand EV and how much you're expecting per hour... As well as have the proper bankroll to pull off such a feat.

I'll say this...

1) You can AP slots.
2) You can AP VP.
3) You can count cards.
4) You can pretty much beat every other game in the casino with the right 'conditions.'

Unfortunately no one (maybe darkoz?) is really going to give you any information other than the well publicized things... Such as Must Hits in VP, full pay or promotional VP, and counting cards in blackjack. I'm certain you can search online & this forum for the first 2. As for card counting, just having your mathematical background I'm sure you'd enjoy reading the analysis of the game, but after that you could decide if it's right for you. Check out my 3 A to Z articles published here on WoV in the Articles Section:

https://wizardofvegas.com/articles/A-to-Z-Counting-Cards-in-Blackjack/
https://wizardofvegas.com/articles/A-to-Z-Counting-Cards-In-Blackjack-2/
https://wizardofvegas.com/articles/A-to-Z-Counting-Cards-in-Blackjack-3/

p.s. Darkoz, just a playful jab of a current topical post... I don't have a dog in that fight =P.

Lol, I figured that. Thanks for the publicity.

I will send him info on all the Plaza Tax Day promotions.