Player Cards

As I said before, for some of us comps are not necessary. We dont fly, we walk. Frankly speaking, you have assumed once again I'm at a lower level than you and your friends because I disagree with your approach to blackjack. Sure comps are nice, but success in blackjack should not be contigent to hustling coupons, if it is then you're overbetting. Many casinos I gamble at I couldn't care less about coupons.

By getting a players card and rated at the casinos you visit you are essentially saying "Hi,I'm so and so, watch my bet spread and watch me move from table to table." Since you do not care about long term BJ you shoud not have a problem with this but I have a different plan than you do.

It's better to get comped at a few essential casinos that are generous and dont sweat action while using them as a base.
Of course since it is my understanding you do not care about future BJ and plan on getting barred out of every casino you visit, then I understand where your coming from, because nothing matters.

put any type of preface in your posts stating that you walk to casinos. You are in a rather small minority but post as if your methods, if not universally best, at least qualify for the majority. I can assure you it is not the case. I think I do make some attempt to at least qualify the market to which I'm speaking. I don't know anything of your play stakes. I only assume it is not large because of some rather obvious gaps in understanding you show about things that most higher stakes players have long taken for granted as common sense.

I'll try to restate this: for the huge majority of card counters, not going after comps is a HUGE mistake. This is free money that will continue to come to your mail box for years, even if you decide to quit gambling. In your losing years, the offset of expenses will be most welcome. I not only get thousands per year in direct cash coupons, and save thousands per year in lodging and travel costs, I save thousands that I would otherwise spend on entertainment for myself, my family, etc.

I advise people to buy the book Comp City and to look for new ideas on the greenchip comps page. Look for fun books at casinos. Take advantage of all free offers you see in publications. Card counting is only your ticket in to the big candy store.

By getting a players card and rated at the casinos you visit you are essentially saying "Hi,I'm so and so, watch my bet spread and watch me move from table to table."

If you're playing anything above red/low green, they're going to do that anyway.

So getting players cards using your real name could set you up for problems down the road. And short of getting fake id's - which is too closely associated with criminal behavior for my taste (though not criminal in itself unless it's used for criminal activity) - how often can you get a card without a driver's license? When they ask for it I guess you can say you left it in the room, but would they actually make a card for you without an id?

Which brings up another point - there could be a market for actual playing cards of losing blackjack players (preferably high-rollers). Rent or buy their cards and play off of their low and unsuspicious player ratings, earning comps and avoiding suspicion while never having to enter the black market of fake ids. You could even convince them you were doing them a favor by adding playing time to their card!

Slot machine ladies, beware ... you may have some new friends!!

"Excuse me sir, I'd love to keep that players card active for you while you lounge here in the sauna ... no, I insist, it's no charge at all."

I did not say or imply I was speaking for the majority, it is quite obvious by reading my previous post to understand what (and who) I'm talking about. As I said earlier, players cards and comp hustling is NOT always necessary for some of us (meaning the minority). Much of this depends on what your main goals,objectives and conditions are. The common sense of one goal can be nonsense for another goal.

For the recreational player or part-time counter who only gambles occasionally and does not care or plan for a long term strategy , then giving out your name and number to acquire comps in not a bad idea, however for the serious(minority)as I said before, will not be as benificial as you may think. If you dont believe me or think this is all nonsense, fine, but hopefully others(minority)will take pre-cautions and understand the insight.

If you would like to confuse the pit even further give them your card and wong from table to table and pit to pit...it wont be long.

There are many ways to obtain a player card without using a
phony ID. When a pit critter ask for my players card while
I'm sitting at the table, I simply tell him I don't have one but
would be happy to give him my info. If he says I have to go to
the players club etc to obtain the card, I just tell him never
mind....I don't have time or the inclination to wait in any line.
Usually with that they will immediately slide a form in front of you
asking for name, dob, address etc. The only info I give is the phony
name and a phony dob. Within minutes, the pit critter will return
with a shiny new card with your alias.

If they ask for my drivers license, I simply refuse with a BS reason,
"left it in my car"....."it's currently suspended"....."never give out
that type of info as I was once a victim of identity fraud" etc.

A good source of player cards come from losing bj players, that
play at levels which are below comp status or that don't get comps
because they don't play long enough etc. By giving me their card,
we both benefit, they will get food and room comps based on my level of play and I'll get a card that has an established history showing losses. I would not recommend obtaining a card from a high roller,
because a host or someone within the casino will recognize the name,
and likely be familiar with the individual.

If you really get desperate, you could always pay a tapped out player
a few bucks for his card. With a little imagination, you can obtain
all the cards you need.

May all the Dealers blackjack's occur while you're in the bathroom!!

The minority who don't need comps are the guys who walk to casinos.

Sometimes they will rate you and add you to their mailing list while not actually giving you a card. The technique you mentioned does work, especially when playing at properties that obviously are underneath your normal class of casino. You let them know that you'll be glad to allow them to rate you, but it is not really a big deal if they don't.

I have a casino now, one of the downtown joints, where I simply gave a host who was running after me my address with an aka as I was leaving. I wasn't in there for 30 minutes. But I'm getting offers in the mail for a couple of free hotel nights every month.

What I mean by "walk" is having a a pad or room where several casinos are within striking distance, some only minutes away.

Do you understand my insight?

it is incorrect logic. This means you travel. What you describe is not much different from most. You are throwing away money and are probably struggling to stay afloat. You need to put in an extra two or three hours of play per day to cover what others will get comped. Your paranoid assumptions are natural since you have not developed the proper skills.

As I said earlier,but I will rephrase so maybe you'll understand, It is better for me (and perhaps others) but "not you" to have a few essential casinos set up for comps. It is not necessary for me get a players card at every casino I visit. Even if I did it would be foolish to use the card because I'm always on the move. You may think this is paranoia,nonsense, illogical or whatever because you do not have the long term experience and goals I have, you only have a short decursive goal of getting barred out of every casino in the USA, but as you said earlier (south) you are 2 years behind schedule. A strange goal indeed and totally opposite of professionals.
Just be careful, you would not want to overbett your bank at many casinos that are very kind to your action, you may go broke.

I remember when I was a kid I use to read Ken Uston's books and dream about being barred all over the world while winning millions , then become famous and living happily ever after, now that I'm grown up I realize this is an unrealistic fantasy. Most professional card counters are more concened about longevity and winning money rather than ego,I'm one of them.

If you assume my insight is that from an unskilled illogical loser, I'm sorry.

Sorry. I don't have to say anything more. You are living a fantasy. There are a great many pro players on this site and you simply are not one of them. Your posts are simply too unsophisticated. Just a couple of months ago you were asking whether casinos still employed shills and how much they get paid. Get serious.

Since you are so concerned with longevity, I'll let you in on something. A guy who makes 3X as much as another guy for 5 years could quit playing forever and the other guy could not ever catch him in wealth, assuming a simply 10% compounded annual return on the difference in income. And considering the grinder didn't get any comps he probably has not grown his bank at all.

You are changing the issue to ridicule me as you did on greenchip.

Yes I do ask questions all the time and am constantly seeking ways to improve my game, I am not a know it all,are you?
It is the one who never ask questions that have a the small mind. I guess I'm not as proud as you are,eh?
If you remember correctly several green chip members were posting about shills they have encountered at the casinos, the question I had was If there are shills I have not recognized any and was wondering if they still exist. The thread turned out to be very interesting were majority agreed that not many exist today.
It was NOT as stupid of question as you would think now ,is it DD?

but generally not in beginner forums like this. There are many people with lots more expertise in many areas.

But I do not intend to make cheap shots. I am telling the truth. You are NOT a professional gambler. I would be willing to make a bet with you that you could not produce a tax return for any year with reported gambling winnings of more than $15,000. I would be very surprised if you could produce tax returns for any two consecutive years showing gambling winnings of more than half that much. I am very sorry that you don't realize how telling your posts are.

As most people know, I am not an expert at sports betting. But lots of people on this board are. When I post my opinions in such forums the experts can clearly see that I am not someone who makes a living betting sports. I realize this. But you don't seem to realize that your comments reveal your exact stage of development, which is not beyond half the subscribers on greenchip.

Ah, the great thing about the internet is passing time when we're bored, cant sleep or taking a break from the tables.

You have turned this thread into playing games of personel attacks and inquiries that have nothing to do with the issue. I dont particular care for some of your amatueristic postings either, provoke punching by security..suing casinos.. Blackjack is going to end.. ..Machines are better than tables.. and Csms.. Never show your ID...? that one is ironic to name a few.

I really have nothing to prove to you at all. I'm only trying to provide a little insight to others who are seeking longevity. I dont see anyone but you posting how my insight is nonsense. I have been through the comp trip before and as I said it may not be as benificial as you think. Having your comps pulled from under you and charged back is no pleasant event by any means yet believe it or not it happens...or at least to me it has. If you like to greet all casinos with fabaceous open arms then thats your choice,capice?

>If you like to greet all casinos with fabaceous open arms then thats your choice,capice?

What is fabaceous? I'm not DD', but I can't capice that.

delicious with a nice Chianti and some Fava beans.

I think it is time to wrap this thread up. DD' has expressed his viewpoint, and you have expressed yours. Both have been clearly stated. The readers can read them and make their own decisions.

Personally, I support DD's point of view. I believe that DD' is the premier poster of our time. He has done more to help BJ players, including me, than anyone else. His advice is invaluable, and the readers here should be grateful that he unselfishness shares it on this board.

But if some readers want to follow your advice, that is fine with me. We would actually benefit mildly to have them do so.

You have complained about personal attacks in this thread. Then let us stop the thread now. We may disagree on who started this, but I see no point in arguing that. The entire thread is up there, and readers can form their own opinion.

My recollection from your GC posts is that you are one of these people who has to have the last word. So I anticipate that you will respond. However, I do not intend to respond further. I believe I have already articulated my point of view with sufficient clarity, that further comment will be superfluous.

It is not so much me posting that your approach is non-sense, but you posting responses to my post and speaking in a tone of total authority. You better check back at the last several exchanges we've had.

Your goal may be longevity, which is fine. That's the goal of lots of players. But that does not mean that your advice is the best way to get there. Best for longevity is to travel alot, play lots of casinos, and keep sessions rather short. Giving away a little of your ev with cover can allow some players to play slightly longer sessions. I seriously doubt you are going to get any more lifetime hours at a casino by not geting rated... certainly not enough to make it worthwhile. If you put in that many hours at a place everybody is going to know you whether you are getting rated or not.