Advantage Player Questionnaire
I'm a Sociology student researching if there is a change in perception towards advantage playing in an age with more algorithmic gambling and would appreciate self-reported data from anyone who attempts/succeeds advantage play.
1. How familiar are you with casino games, casino surveillance practices, or advantage-play strategies?
2. To what extent do you agree or disagree: “Some casinos are easier to exploit than others because of differences in surveillance, game protection, or employee experience."
3. Which factors would most influence your perception that a casino is vulnerable to advantage play?
Select up to 3:
- Surveillance effectiveness
- Employee experience
- Management/enforcement
- Technology
- Casino reputation
- Size of the casino
- Game protection
- Information from other players
- Personal experience
- Other (please specify if you can).
4. Does technology advancement or lack of in a property influence your perception of the properties ability to identify advantage-play? Does it influence your likelihood to attempt or test out a strategy?
4. If you believed a casino had difficulty detecting sophisticated advantage-play strategies, how would that affect your willingness to take advantage of an opportunity?
5. If you were unfamiliar with two otherwise similar casinos, how much would the perceived reputation and professionalism of each institution influence which one you considered more difficult to exploit?
Casino A: A Tribal casino with a long-established reputation, professional surveillance department, and extensive gaming operations.
Casino B: A commercial casino with a long-established reputation, professional surveillance department, and extensive gaming operations.
6. Imagine you discovered a potentially profitable advantage at a casino and believed the likelihood of detection was low. How likely would you be to continue exploiting the opportunity?
Thank you!
Quote: SoccStudent
1. How familiar are you with casino games, casino surveillance practices, or advantage-play strategies?
I am very familiar with casino games; I have very little familiarity with casino surveillance practices; I have some familiarity with different casino game strategies that can change casino house advantages from positive to negative.
Quote: SoccStudent2. To what extent do you agree or disagree: “Some casinos are easier to exploit than others because of differences in surveillance, game protection, or employee experience."
Are you asking about something like a hi-lo count in blackjack, or capping bets; using a light wand or just playing the best video poker pay tables? Making a bet a casino offers is not exploitation, regardless of the house edge. I can't speak to the cheating side, so I really can't answer this.
Quote: SoccStudent
3. Which factors would most influence your perception that a casino is vulnerable to advantage play?
Game protection and nothing else. If a casino offers bets with a negative house edge, they are vulnerable to having customers make bets with a negative house edge. If a casino never offers bets with a negative house edge, customers will never be able to make a bet with a negative house edge.
Personal experience will determine if I'm the one who makes those bets.
Quote: SoccStudent
4. Does technology advancement or lack of in a property influence your perception of the properties ability to identify advantage-play? Does it influence your likelihood to attempt or test out a strategy?
No.
Quote: SoccStudent
4. If you believed a casino had difficulty detecting sophisticated advantage-play strategies, how would that affect your willingness to take advantage of an opportunity?
I've only ever known unsophisticated strategies to make bets with a player edge. If I ever uncover a sophisticated strategy, I don't know how my belief about a casinos ability to detect it would affect on my betting. So much would depend on things other than the sophistication, like expected income from the strategy.
Quote: SoccStudent
5. If you were unfamiliar with two otherwise similar casinos, how much would the perceived reputation and professionalism of each institution influence which one you considered more difficult to exploit?
Casino A: A Tribal casino with a long-established reputation, professional surveillance department, and extensive gaming operations.
Casino B: A commercial casino with a long-established reputation, professional surveillance department, and extensive gaming operations.
I mostly only bet based on geographic location. Since there's no tribal casinos in the Las Vegas Valley, only 'Casino B' would have a chance to earn my business, but it's not guaranteed. But again, making a bet they offer would never be exploitation and that's about as far as my casino game patronage goes. So the only answer most anyone can give is neither.
Quote: SoccStudent6. Imagine you discovered a potentially profitable advantage at a casino and believed the likelihood of detection was low. How likely would you be to continue exploiting the opportunity?
I may or may not continue to make bets, depending on profits and working conditions. But it wouldn't be exploitation; I can't continue something that never started.
-----
Keep us updated on your research, I would be very interested in it.
Now of course getting harassed, ejected, and possibly worse affects how long you get to play and thus, how much money. But I'd say fear of surveillance, fear of detection and the consequences of these things themselves have little to no effect on whether or not an advanced advantage player plays a game.
Quote: SoccStudentHello everyone,
I'm a Sociology student researching if there is a change in perception towards advantage playing in an age with more algorithmic gambling and would appreciate self-reported data from anyone who attempts/succeeds advantage play.
link to original post
Please note that you are doing the equivalent of asking magicians, or 1970s-era professional wrestlers, about tricks of their trade.
That's like asking us whether our choice of casinos is influenced by the education level of the staff that are performing the surveillance.
I wonder whether your sociology PhD project is not about APs and surveillance technology, but is instead about how various cultures react to frustrating, poorly-thought-out questions.
Quote: gordonm888Your questions seem to assume that APs have visibility into surveillance technology and which casinos use which kinds of technology.
That's like asking us whether our choice of casinos is influenced by the education level of the staff that are performing the surveillance.
I wonder whether your sociology PhD project is not about APs and surveillance technology, but is instead about how various cultures react to frustrating, poorly-thought-out questions.
link to original post
If a sociology student asked a group of NFL quarterbacks questions about how they break down a defense, the specific questions would likely be pretty far off target even though the student has watched many NFL games. OP has probably never seen an AP in action and has a very narrow view of how they operate.
Quote: MentalQuote: gordonm888Your questions seem to assume that APs have visibility into surveillance technology and which casinos use which kinds of technology.
That's like asking us whether our choice of casinos is influenced by the education level of the staff that are performing the surveillance.
I wonder whether your sociology PhD project is not about APs and surveillance technology, but is instead about how various cultures react to frustrating, poorly-thought-out questions.
link to original post
If a sociology student asked a group of NFL quarterbacks questions about how they break down a defense, the specific questions would likely be pretty far off target even though the student has watched many NFL games. OP has probably never seen an AP in action and has a very narrow view of how they operate.
link to original post
It gets even more interesting if they suspect the person claiming to be a sociology student is actually the defensive coordinator for another team.
Quote: AutomaticMonkey
It gets even more interesting if they suspect the person claiming to be a sociology student is actually the defensive coordinator for another team.
link to original post
While you may not like it... that's quite an AP move.
The machines are set to suck all that $ back quick and then some.
When you cash out, it resets the tracking of who just hit a decent win.
If you're truly paranoid, insert cash and not the ticket.
Go ask Prof Slots on his opinion of this :)
Quote: 100xOddsWhile doing an AP play, i cash out whenever i hit a 3+ figure win and stick the same ticket back into the machine.
The machines are set to suck all that $ back quick and then some.
When you cash out, it resets the tracking of who just hit a decent win.
If you're truly paranoid, insert cash and not the ticket.
Go ask Prof Slots on his opinion of this :)
link to original post
That's not true. The RNG in the slot machine doesn't know nor does it care who just won.
When you cash out and put the ticket back in the same machine, you're wasting paper and time.
Quote: KevinAAQuote: 100xOddsWhile doing an AP play, i cash out whenever i hit a 3+ figure win and stick the same ticket back into the machine.
The machines are set to suck all that $ back quick and then some.
When you cash out, it resets the tracking of who just hit a decent win.
If you're truly paranoid, insert cash and not the ticket.
Go ask Prof Slots on his opinion of this :)
link to original post
That's not true. The RNG in the slot machine doesn't know nor does it care who just won.
When you cash out and put the ticket back in the same machine, you're wasting paper and time.
link to original post
I guess you missed my Prof Slots comment and the emoji that followed? :p
Also, the scientific validity of one's research is seriously degraded by relying on questionnaires submitted to anonymous subjects on the internet. This forum might plausibly be populated by perverts and raving lunatics who have no legitimate claim to knowing anything about gambling. Pollsters don't rely on internet polls; what kind of researcher does scientific research by using the silly, ding-dong process that is being claimed by OP?
Quote: KevinAAQuote: 100xOddsWhile doing an AP play, i cash out whenever i hit a 3+ figure win and stick the same ticket back into the machine.
The machines are set to suck all that $ back quick and then some.
When you cash out, it resets the tracking of who just hit a decent win.
If you're truly paranoid, insert cash and not the ticket.
Go ask Prof Slots on his opinion of this :)
link to original post
That's not true. The RNG in the slot machine doesn't know nor does it care who just won.
When you cash out and put the ticket back in the same machine, you're wasting paper and time.
link to original post
Are you 100% sure about this part? I would print out a slot machine ticket when its money amount is getting close to $1000.
Based on your theory, if a player inserts $1000 cash in a slot machine and wins $502 in his first spin, he will not get a hand-pay even though his total balance is greater than $1500.
Quote: KevinAA
When you cash out and put the ticket back in the same machine, you're wasting paper and time.
link to original post
While I can't think of a good reason to do this, I can definitely think of a reason to do this.
Quote: acesideQuote: KevinAAQuote: 100xOddsWhile doing an AP play, i cash out whenever i hit a 3+ figure win and stick the same ticket back into the machine.
The machines are set to suck all that $ back quick and then some.
When you cash out, it resets the tracking of who just hit a decent win.
If you're truly paranoid, insert cash and not the ticket.
Go ask Prof Slots on his opinion of this :)
link to original post
That's not true. The RNG in the slot machine doesn't know nor does it care who just won.
When you cash out and put the ticket back in the same machine, you're wasting paper and time.
link to original post
Are you 100% sure about this part? I would print out a slot machine ticket when its money amount is getting close to $1000.
Based on your theory, if a player inserts $1000 cash in a slot machine and wins $502 in his first spin, he will not get a hand-pay even though his total balance is greater than $1500.
link to original post
Hand pay for one spin is based on how much you win, not your ending balance.
If you have too much when you cash out (some places will print a tito up to $3,000), then it becomes a hand pay, but no W-2G.
Quote: DieterQuote: KevinAA
When you cash out and put the ticket back in the same machine, you're wasting paper and time.
link to original post
While I can't think of a good reason to do this, I can definitely think of a reason to do this.
link to original post
Now I'm curious.
What is your not so good reason for doing this, besides pissing off APs wanting to play your machine because they like the seat
Quote: 100xOddsQuote: DieterQuote: KevinAA
When you cash out and put the ticket back in the same machine, you're wasting paper and time.
link to original post
While I can't think of a good reason to do this, I can definitely think of a reason to do this.
link to original post
Now I'm curious.
What is your not so good reason for doing this, besides pissing off APs wanting to play your machine because they like the seat
link to original post
The only reason I can think of is play denial.
It is not a particularly good reason.
That said, there are enough places I go that just don't do "emergency drops", and leave the machine out of service until the 2am scheduled drop... it is a factor.
Quote: 100xOddsQuote: DieterQuote: KevinAA
When you cash out and put the ticket back in the same machine, you're wasting paper and time.
link to original post
While I can't think of a good reason to do this, I can definitely think of a reason to do this.
link to original post
Now I'm curious.
What is your not so good reason for doing this, besides pissing off APs wanting to play your machine because they like the seat
link to original post
I would do this when swapping player cards.
Quote: DRichQuote: 100xOddsQuote: DieterQuote: KevinAA
When you cash out and put the ticket back in the same machine, you're wasting paper and time.
link to original post
While I can't think of a good reason to do this, I can definitely think of a reason to do this.
link to original post
Now I'm curious.
What is your not so good reason for doing this, besides pissing off APs wanting to play your machine because they like the seat
link to original post
I would do this when swapping player cards.
link to original post
Tell me you reloaded with cash, not the fresh ticket.
Quote: KevinAAQuote: acesideQuote: KevinAAQuote: 100xOddsWhile doing an AP play, i cash out whenever i hit a 3+ figure win and stick the same ticket back into the machine.
The machines are set to suck all that $ back quick and then some.
When you cash out, it resets the tracking of who just hit a decent win.
If you're truly paranoid, insert cash and not the ticket.
Go ask Prof Slots on his opinion of this :)
link to original post
That's not true. The RNG in the slot machine doesn't know nor does it care who just won.
When you cash out and put the ticket back in the same machine, you're wasting paper and time.
link to original post
Are you 100% sure about this part? I would print out a slot machine ticket when its money amount is getting close to $1000.
Based on your theory, if a player inserts $1000 cash in a slot machine and wins $502 in his first spin, he will not get a hand-pay even though his total balance is greater than $1500.
link to original post
Hand pay for one spin is based on how much you win, not your ending balance.
If you have too much when you cash out (some places will print a tito up to $3,000), then it becomes a hand pay, but no W-2G.
link to original post
I've even encountered a limited number of machines that will lock up once you have a certain amount of money in the machine, without attempting to cash out.
...Pretty sure that runner was ready to throttle me after having to issue me another 12-cent handpay.
I'm not a PhD student, I'm an undergraduate and the research project will officialize in 1-2 weeks, in which then I could come out publicly with school affiliation/identification and provide the official questionnaire.
The point of the forum was to test if data gathering would even be possible and how open people would be to discussing the topics given how closed off the culture of gamers can be, and even more so those who identify as advantage players. The communities responses are definitely helping in that regard.
I understand your concern with this forum having many individuals who have no legitimate claim to knowledge in gambling, but it is centered around gambling. Which is exactly why I chose it.
I'm not seeking to find statistically significant proof of any individual being an advantage player, given that the definition is going to vary from institution and professional who is assessing said player. I'm looking to see how open people are to speaking of their perception of institutions and to then see if there is a correlation between willingness to be aggressive in gameplay.
The tie to sociology is that in some, rural areas of the USA gaming from a single Casino is the predominant economic source, both in providing jobs and town/county revenue. Perception of the community and institution, the likelihood to exploit vulnerabilities, and the likelihood to travel to do so or lack thereof are all factors that influence who comes and the amount of revenue and profit said communities are likely to see.
Generation Z and Alpha are two generations that have grown up with social media software and video games that mimics slot machines (TikTok, YouTube shorts, Meta, etc.) and other forms of gamblings (Roblox, loot boxes, etc.) and have access to SportsBets at home with apps like Kalshi. This has caused there to be a higher rate for younger generations to gamble, and thus there is a likelihood that there is going to be an increase in the archetypes of advantage players seen socially.
Source: /gaming_institute/2026/May27/77/
/sites/default/files/research/report/2026-betting-on-boys-report_final-for-web.pdf
Given all the above I am seeing if it would be possible to identify socio-economical effects, possible correlations with certain advantage player archetypes and possible detrimental or beneficial economical affects for those communities who primarly rely on gaming for their economic revenue.
All the questions were vague to gauge how I can move forward with this subject, official proposal and approval/denial will be in 1-2 weeks. It will be a short study so results should be concluded by December. I'll make a note to update you with the results if the subject is approved. :)
Question 2 was just to gauge individuals likelihood of taking advantage of a vulnerability and/or willingness to move further into possible cheating.
Official approval/denial will come in 1-2 weeks and then I will be able to publish the official questionnaire and conduct official interviews.
Quote: heatmapi feel like you should refer to Don Johnson, because, IMO, hes one of the best APs. Because to me APs dont hide in the shadows, they are able to shmooze and talk their way into anywhere and get the things APs get done without worrying about being banned or some pesant stuff like that.
link to original post
Thank you for the response, I'll be checking the video out.
Quote: MentalQuote: gordonm888Your questions seem to assume that APs have visibility into surveillance technology and which casinos use which kinds of technology.
That's like asking us whether our choice of casinos is influenced by the education level of the staff that are performing the surveillance.
I wonder whether your sociology PhD project is not about APs and surveillance technology, but is instead about how various cultures react to frustrating, poorly-thought-out questions.
link to original post
If a sociology student asked a group of NFL quarterbacks questions about how they break down a defense, the specific questions would likely be pretty far off target even though the student has watched many NFL games. OP has probably never seen an AP in action and has a very narrow view of how they operate.
link to original post
My research won't be focused on the actual strategy and mathematics of gaming. Rather the perception of institutions, sociological effects related to individuals who self-identify as advantage players along with possible socio-economical effects or differences from rural vs non-rural location. It's all dependent on data as to what will be statistically significant. I responded to Gordon888 in the forum with more information as to where I am focusing the research if you're interested in reading.
Quote: 100xOddsWhile doing an AP play, i cash out whenever i hit a 3+ figure win and stick the same ticket back into the machine.
The machines are set to suck all that $ back quick and then some.
When you cash out, it resets the tracking of who just hit a decent win.
If you're truly paranoid, insert cash and not the ticket.
Go ask Prof Slots on his opinion of this :)
link to original post
Thank you for the feedback!
Quote: SoccStudentHi Gordonm888, thank you for the response and questions.
I'm not a PhD student, I'm an undergraduate and the research project will officialize in 1-2 weeks, in which then I could come out publicly with school affiliation/identification and provide the official questionnaire.
The point of the forum was to test if data gathering would even be possible and how open people would be to discussing the topics given how closed off the culture of gamers can be, and even more so those who identify as advantage players. The communities responses are definitely helping in that regard.
I understand your concern with this forum having many individuals who have no legitimate claim to knowledge in gambling, but it is centered around gambling. Which is exactly why I chose it.
I'm not seeking to find statistically significant proof of any individual being an advantage player, given that the definition is going to vary from institution and professional who is assessing said player. I'm looking to see how open people are to speaking of their perception of institutions and to then see if there is a correlation between willingness to be aggressive in gameplay.
The tie to sociology is that in some, rural areas of the USA gaming from a single Casino is the predominant economic source, both in providing jobs and town/county revenue. Perception of the community and institution, the likelihood to exploit vulnerabilities, and the likelihood to travel to do so or lack thereof are all factors that influence who comes and the amount of revenue and profit said communities are likely to see.
Generation Z and Alpha are two generations that have grown up with social media software and video games that mimics slot machines (TikTok, YouTube shorts, Meta, etc.) and other forms of gamblings (Roblox, loot boxes, etc.) and have access to SportsBets at home with apps like Kalshi. This has caused there to be a higher rate for younger generations to gamble, and thus there is a likelihood that there is going to be an increase in the archetypes of advantage players seen socially.
Source: /gaming_institute/2026/May27/77/
/sites/default/files/research/report/2026-betting-on-boys-report_final-for-web.pdf
Given all the above I am seeing if it would be possible to identify socio-economical effects, possible correlations with certain advantage player archetypes and possible detrimental or beneficial economical affects for those communities who primarly rely on gaming for their economic revenue.
link to original post
You said "I understand your concern with this forum having many individuals who have no legitimate claim to knowledge in gambling, but it is centered around gambling. Which is exactly why I chose it."
I am NOT concerned about this forum having many individuals who have no legitimate claim to gambling knowledge. What I was expressing was a concern that your usage of this forum might be considered to be unscientific - that your approach might be criticized by a reviewer for using anonymous sources on the internet and relying on their anecdotes.
We're all familiar with internet scam artists that masquerade as pretty young women. I have a pretty good handle on who many of our active members seem to be and I do believe this is a forum with a lot of expertise in gambling. But if I was testifying in court about this forum I think a good lawyer could tear my testimony apart and make me look foolish because I haven't met any of these people. And, in research there is kind of a "science court" that determines whether a given piece of research produced credible usable results. So, I was raising a "scientific method" concern.
If you have near $10K in chips in front of you from multiple buy-ins or winnings, they will want to see your ID. Most card counters refuse to provide their ID. Then the pit has the option to refuse to cash you out until you do provide ID because they need it for their CTR form. Counters always refuse to provide it for tracking purposes, but if they want their cash back, now they have to run out to the car and get it. Also, most cages require an ID for cash-outs of $2.5K to $3K, with some setting the bar as low as $1K. Certainly most casinos serve alcohol, so they can demand an ID any time you are on the floor for age verification purposes. I still get carded at the grocery store and I'm a senior. Some casinos demand to see ID when you walk in the door, and there may be a metal detector there now too. They say they are checking their list of banned players, and also checking for age.
Casinos tell each other about players, so getting on their radar as a card counter will spread fast and ban you from other places. A lot of casinos are owned by the same company, so if you get banned from one place, it could be a whole chain of 20+ casinos you've just been banned from. Rules are changing about how long you can be banned. I don't keep up with it but it could be a 1 year ban, or longer.
A back off is less then a ban so you can play other games like baccarat or craps or slots but not Spanish 21. So it's good to be proficient in other games in case of a back off so you don't have to leave the casino. Card counters are usually only there to play Black Jack and nothing else.
Quote: ChumpChangeCard counters seem to view themselves as the ultimate AP's. Go watch hundreds of videos of them getting ejected from casino after casino, and most times they are out in under 20 minutes. Sometimes they can last a few hours but eventually they get the boot. If they come back the next day after not having been kicked out, they may get the boot as soon as they sit down. It's usually the bet sizing that sets them apart from other gamblers. They change their bets quickly from hand to hand and it's in multiples depending on the count. Going from $25 bets to table max sets off the pit.
If you have near $10K in chips in front of you from multiple buy-ins or winnings, they will want to see your ID. Most card counters refuse to provide their ID. Then the pit has the option to refuse to cash you out until you do provide ID because they need it for their CTR form. Counters always refuse to provide it for tracking purposes, but if they want their cash back, now they have to run out to the car and get it. Also, most cages require an ID for cash-outs of $2.5K to $3K, with some setting the bar as low as $1K. Certainly most casinos serve alcohol, so they can demand an ID any time you are on the floor for age verification purposes. I still get carded at the grocery store and I'm a senior. Some casinos demand to see ID when you walk in the door, and there may be a metal detector there now too. They say they are checking their list of banned players, and also checking for age.
Casinos tell each other about players, so getting on their radar as a card counter will spread fast and ban you from other places. A lot of casinos are owned by the same company, so if you get banned from one place, it could be a whole chain of 20+ casinos you've just been banned from. Rules are changing about how long you can be banned. I don't keep up with it but it could be a 1 year ban, or longer.
A back off is less then a ban so you can play other games like baccarat or craps or slots but not Spanish 21. So it's good to be proficient in other games in case of a back off so you don't have to leave the casino. Card counters are usually only there to play Black Jack and nothing else.
link to original post
It seems fairly obvious you don't know any card counters, have never discussed card counting with anyone who knows how to count, and have no idea how it works. It might help if you took the time to read a book or two. You might learn something.
I don't know a single counter who doesn't have several other games they play, because while counting cards can give you a one percent edge, there are plenty of plays that are more rewarding.
Need 20 million views for shorts.
Random short of a card counter being escorted by police away from the Black Jack table.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_KwC4owICVs
Quote: DieterQuote: DRichQuote: 100xOddsQuote: DieterQuote: KevinAA
When you cash out and put the ticket back in the same machine, you're wasting paper and time.
link to original post
While I can't think of a good reason to do this, I can definitely think of a reason to do this.
link to original post
Now I'm curious.
What is your not so good reason for doing this, besides pissing off APs wanting to play your machine because they like the seat
link to original post
I would do this when swapping player cards.
link to original post
Tell me you reloaded with cash, not the fresh ticket.
link to original post
Nope, just the same ticket that I cashed out. The player tracking systems are not evolved enough to make that distinction.
Quote: SoccStudentI am no longer employed in identifying advantage players.
link to original post
You were actually EMPLOYED to identify advantage players? Am I reading that right!?
