Subject: Nevada State Government & Casinos
Dear Bill,
As this letter will be posted on major blackjack web sites, where people of all political pursuasions reside, I will not say whether I like or dislike the O'Reilly factor as in this issue, the advantage player (primarily Blackjack, but there are other types) community needs your help, although I'm not speaking for them as a whole, I'm asking for your help in bringing this issue to the national forefront.
Without getting into the virtues or lack of, in regards to casino gambling, (gaming as the casinos like to call it) the reality that casinos in Nevada are now implementing a computer system installed on tthe blackjack table itself (called the MindPlay System) which will enable casinos to legally CHEAT ALL players who play blackjack, not just the players who play with an advantage, i.e.; those who use their brains and intellect through counting cards, thus identifying favorable situations in which they can optimize their wagers throughout the deal (to the end) whereby the cards need to be reshuffled. But this includes normal gamblers, who have no idea on how to effectively play the game of blackjack to minimize their losses. A typical BS (basic strategy)player will operate with anywhere from .2% -.7% disadvantage (house advantage), or in other words, they'll lose between 20 cents to 70 cents per $100 wagered at a blackjack table. The hold (that is, how much casinos keep as a result of blackjack wagers won) in Nevada is approx. 13%, or $1.30 per every $100 wagered. In some locations in the country, this can be as high as 27% or more. One could conclude that the gambling public are already major losers, so why would there be a need to further those losses to unsuspecting players?
In fact, Nevada state law, and here it is for your review:
NRS 465.075
It is unlawful for any person at a licensed gaming establishment to use, or possess with the intent to use, any device to assist:
1. In projecting the outcome of the game.
2. In keeping track of the cards played.
clearly states that devices which may be used as the above law states is ILLEGAL! Yet, the casinos themselves are in fact, using the very same devices that Nevada law disallows.
Another Law:
How about NRS 465.070?
To place, increase or decrease a bet, or to determine the course of play after acquiring knowledge, not available to all players, of the outcome of the game or any event that affects the outcome of the game or which is the subject of the bet or to aid anyone in acquiring such knowledge for the purpose of placing, increasing or decreasing a bet or determining the course of play contingent upon that event or outcome.
Cleary states that this information must be available to ALL players for it to be legal. The fact that a dealer using a MINDPLAY table can identify favorable situations for the CASINO, thus continue to deal the cards as opposed to shuffling, or then to see that the players have favorable cards about to be dealt and then in fact, commence a shuffle procedure that shuffles the favorable situation away, is again, CHEATING.
To quote another poster (SOTSOG), who I thank for posting this today on bj21.com, (a major blackjack web site with approx. 1200 paying members) "Yes, Vegas used to be run by a bunch of crooks and gangsters, BUT THE GAMBLING WAS FAIR! Now, it is run by a bunch of reputable corporations, AND THEY CHEAT AT THE GAMES! "
Granted, many consider gambling a vice...some would say Wall Street is really the world's largest casino, and some would say that playing blackjack is also a form of high risk investing, akin to stock options; That being said, what constitutes as legal INVESTING in our country does have, albeit under considerable suspicion, rules and regulations and laws. Casino gambling has gaming commissions. That's it. You might want to look at the relationship between the local politicos, police dept., and gaming commission with the major casino properties. Unbelievable.
Money is wagered in both environments. In fact, the IRS actually considers casinos as financial institutions.
I would say very clearly, that this is an issue that warrants further investigation as the public has voted, with it's feet and money to allow casino gaming to become part of the American lifestyle. Shouldn't the public have some protections? No one in the State of Nevada, let me repeat, NO ONE, in the State of Nevada has ANY protection aginst Nevada casinos. It is not a justifiable caveat that because you're gambling you should lose equal protection under the law!
Mr. O'Reilly, you have claimed to be for the "folks." Well, Bill, the folks need your help.
Thanks
Miles Cavanugh, Lima, OH a.k.a bfbagain
PS This issue has been raised with the Nevada Gaming Control Board, and they refuse to enforce the law as it is plainly written.
The complainants have spent a lot of time and effort, and the complaint is currently in Governor Guinn's office. There may be legal action filed to force the removal of Chairman Dennis Neilander from is post at the Gaming Control Board as a result of his nonfeasance in office over the Mindplay fiasco.
