December 13, 2007
"When playing poker, make sure that all the players at the table speak only the native language of whatever country the poker room happens to be in, unless, of course, everyone is in agreement to speak English (or some other common language), which is often the case in many European countries including Scandinavia."
The reason for this is that players speaking a foreign language at the table, especially a very foreign language like Farsi, Pashto or Dari, may be exchanging information crucial to the game, such as what cards they have in the hole. I am in no way accusing any native speakers of these languages of being more likely to collude than anyone else, just using the uncommon languages as an example of conversation that would rarely be understood by non-native speakers of them. The curious thing about minority players (in terms of being foreigners at the game) speaking their native tongues at the poker table is that often they fall into playing collusion without even realizing it, just having a laugh and innocently telling their comrades what "a lousy hand I have," or "finally I have a pair of bullets!" I'd even say that much more than not, that verbal form of collusion is completely innocent, but it still has a negative effect on your earnings...or losses. So if you find yourself in that situation, gently ask the floorman to inform the foreign-language speakers, "English only please!" These scenarios happen very often in the UK, and a sly professional cheating team can take advantage of it.
December 12, 2007
"While shooting craps and winning, beware of that sexy woman who's snuggling up beside you and rooting for you to roll another winner."
She's not flirting with you because she likes you. She's rubbing her body up against yours to get your attention away from your expanding rack of chips. On the other side of you is her partner, undoubtedly the guy she's sleeping with, who is nibbling away at your chips while your attention is garnered by the babe. Watch out and keep your eyes on your chips...or at least your hands over them if your eyes have to wander.
December 11, 2007
"While playing blackjack, make sure you watch your winning bet and corresponding hand until it is paid."
Dealers take winners for pushes more often than you might think. It happens on average 1.5 % of the time, and believe it or not, more with experienced dealers than those who are new to the game. Conversely, they make mistakes in your favor less frequent, so be vigilant at the blackjack tables. Doing so will save you a betting-unit every hundred hands.
December 10, 2007
"If you play online poker, make sure you have a tracking program at your side."
Programs like Poker Tracker are able to monitor hand histories on the poker sites with a great amount of detail. What they do is create databases of games that occur on the site. Then they run through them to look for statistical inconsistencies. They search for unusual deviations in deck shuffles, draws and other details picked up by their trackers. By using them you not only can analyze your own play and improve on it, you can also analyze the play of your opponents, and by doing so, pick up on various cheating scams going on in the games, especially online collusion.
December 7, 2007
"Good card-counting teams no longer use the old counter/big player method."
Ken Uston and the MIT Blackjack Team just about finished off this decades-old method of beating blackjack games. What do good teams do now? All their members sit at the table and play as ONE person. Of course they all bet, but when the count goes up they mix up their increased increments; for example, one guy betting two units, another three units, and a third only one unit. Then the next hand at the same count they switch around their bets, keeping the same total. Then if the count goes up higher, one player might actually decrease his bet while others at the table bet threefold or even more. This type of betting effectively disguises the card-counting team because if each individual is tracked by the casino, none will be exposed as a counter. This method even fools casinos' card-counting detection software!
December 6, 2007
"Try to avoid poker tournaments that have open seating."
This opens avenues of cheating, mainly collusion, softplay and chip dumping. Most brick and mortar poker rooms have the policy of assigned seating for their tournaments, but many still don't. If you happen to live near poker rooms that only offer open-seating tournaments, just be a little more aware of collusion groups in your tournaments. Watch for the telltale signs of collusion--lots of re-raising, and chips placed in different positions on hole cards by the same player or players. For more on collusion sign languages, see my book "Dirty Poker" or refer to my "Collusionspeak" article in Bluff Magazine's October edition (Bluff Europe as well).
December 5, 2007
"Unless you're counting cards at blackjack, avoid handheld games, especially at small out of the way casinos."
Although cheating by blackjack dealers in casinos is rare, it does occasionally happen. When it does, ninety-nine percent of the time it's in handheld games, where the dealer can peek at the top card and deal seconds. Usually this involves a dealer helping his partner playing on the game win, and in order to conceal this, he must help other players lose. So if you're not counting cards you have nothing to gain by playing the single and double-deck blackjack games. Just go find yourself tables using card shoes and automatic shufflers.
December 4, 2007
"If you're gonna play poker in the neighborhood, best is to play in your own backyard."
This means that there are lots of crooked players in home games, some of whom you may work with or even be friends with, so always be on the lookout. When the games are at their houses, they have more opportunities to cheat you, i.e. use marked cards, hidden mirrors or even cameras to see your cards. But when they come to your house, they can't really insist on using their cards, can they?
December 3, 2007
When playing poker online, track your hands and determine if you are losing more pots on the river to either of two or three players, regardless which one of them wins the pots. Then examine hands that you folded on the turn after a raise or reraise. If the last raisers in these pots are the same two or three players more often than normal, you may be getting chopped up in a collusion game.
December 1, 2007
"Cheat with your head, not over it!".......I'm only kidding!
Here's the real tip: "While playing cardroom poker, don't peek at your hole cards until it's time for you to act."
By adopting this practice you will cut down on opportunities for others to cheat you.
Most professionals won't look at their hole cards until it's their turn to act. There are intelligent reasons for this, and it's definitely something you should do yourself. Why? Because there's simply no upside to looking at your hole cards before it's your turn to act. You shouldn't need much time to decide whether you want to play the hand, especially if you're seasoned. But more important than this, if anyone's out to snatch up your hole card information, they will have more time to do so. With the advent of hidden micro cameras, this high-tech cheating is now a reality.
Most poker players like to believe they have faces of stone. They think they're incapable of revealing any physical tells. This is not true. Everyone has tells, even professionals, and if you watch players at the table carefully, you'll eventually spot them. The same thing applies to you. Pros, or even good amateurs, will catch on to your tells, so in effect, by allowing this to happen you are cheating yourself.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Reckless Driving Card-Marker pulled over in Connecticut
A reckless driver marking cards in the fast lane of the Mohegan Sun Casino's poker room apparently ran one red light too many...he got caught! Was he really using Vaseline?
Here's the article:
CASINO 'SHARK' SHOCK
B'KLYN 'CROOK' IN CONN.
By LUKAS I. ALPERT
November 17, 2007 -- A Brooklyn man played a fast one at Connecticut's Mohegan Sun casino when workers caught him marking cards while playing Texas Hold 'Em, officials said.
Sholem Weisner, 26, of Williamsburg, had been cheating the casino for several days and was found with $55,000 in his hotel room when he was busted on Thursday night, Connecticut State Police said.
"He obviously was defacing the cards in a way that obviously would not be detected," Sgt. William Griffin told The Norwich Bulletin. "He was good at it."
Staff at the casino - which is located on an Indian reservation in eastern Connecticut - started picking up on the marked cards. They then reviewed surveillance footage and spotted Weisner playing poker at a table in the Casino of the Sky.
When they confronted the brazen gambler, they realized Weisner had been tossed out of the casino in September 2006 for cheating, Griffin said.
Normally, casino officials put known card sharps on a list barring them from ever entering again, but this time Weisner checked in using player reward and Social Security cards that belonged to a friend.
"He came here to get some money from the casino," Griffin said. "He came here specifically to make some money and got caught."
A spokeswoman for Mohegan Sun declined to comment.
Marking cards involves bending or gently creasing specific cards in a way that allows the sharp to track the location of certain high cards as they make their way around the table.
Sometimes, cheaters even use dollops of Vaseline to mark the cards.
Weisner was charged with felony charges of cheating, first-degree larceny and criminal trespass and was released on $5,000 bond.
His name was also passed on to officials at Connecticut's Foxwoods Resort Casino as well as casinos in Atlantic City.
The alleged flim-flammer has a long history of playing fast and loose with money and with the law.
He has several liens against him for failing to pay traffic tickets in New Jersey and for several thousand dollars in credit-card debts.
He is also listed as a persistent violator by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, whose records show Weisner has committed an almost endless list of traffic infractions, from running red lights, talking on a cellphone behind the wheel, speeding, and driving without a seat belt.
And he has failed to pay tickets at least 13 times, according to the records.
Neighbors in his South Williamsburg building on Hewes Street described Weisner, an Orthodox Jew, as little more than a con man.
One woman - who declined to give her name - dismissed him as a "lowlife."
Another said, "He is just dumb. And now he has ruined his life."
Here's the article:
CASINO 'SHARK' SHOCK
B'KLYN 'CROOK' IN CONN.
By LUKAS I. ALPERT
November 17, 2007 -- A Brooklyn man played a fast one at Connecticut's Mohegan Sun casino when workers caught him marking cards while playing Texas Hold 'Em, officials said.
Sholem Weisner, 26, of Williamsburg, had been cheating the casino for several days and was found with $55,000 in his hotel room when he was busted on Thursday night, Connecticut State Police said.
"He obviously was defacing the cards in a way that obviously would not be detected," Sgt. William Griffin told The Norwich Bulletin. "He was good at it."
Staff at the casino - which is located on an Indian reservation in eastern Connecticut - started picking up on the marked cards. They then reviewed surveillance footage and spotted Weisner playing poker at a table in the Casino of the Sky.
When they confronted the brazen gambler, they realized Weisner had been tossed out of the casino in September 2006 for cheating, Griffin said.
Normally, casino officials put known card sharps on a list barring them from ever entering again, but this time Weisner checked in using player reward and Social Security cards that belonged to a friend.
"He came here to get some money from the casino," Griffin said. "He came here specifically to make some money and got caught."
A spokeswoman for Mohegan Sun declined to comment.
Marking cards involves bending or gently creasing specific cards in a way that allows the sharp to track the location of certain high cards as they make their way around the table.
Sometimes, cheaters even use dollops of Vaseline to mark the cards.
Weisner was charged with felony charges of cheating, first-degree larceny and criminal trespass and was released on $5,000 bond.
His name was also passed on to officials at Connecticut's Foxwoods Resort Casino as well as casinos in Atlantic City.
The alleged flim-flammer has a long history of playing fast and loose with money and with the law.
He has several liens against him for failing to pay traffic tickets in New Jersey and for several thousand dollars in credit-card debts.
He is also listed as a persistent violator by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, whose records show Weisner has committed an almost endless list of traffic infractions, from running red lights, talking on a cellphone behind the wheel, speeding, and driving without a seat belt.
And he has failed to pay tickets at least 13 times, according to the records.
Neighbors in his South Williamsburg building on Hewes Street described Weisner, an Orthodox Jew, as little more than a con man.
One woman - who declined to give her name - dismissed him as a "lowlife."
Another said, "He is just dumb. And now he has ruined his life."
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Talk About Getting Away With Murder!
This could only happen in a poker room. They caught one of the robbers involved in the Manhattan poker room killing only to let him "slip out of the pot." Here's the article:
NYC Poker Room Murder Suspect Arrested, Released on Technicality
November 14, 2007
Garry Gates
Last Friday, New York City police made their first arrest to date in the death of 55-year-old Frank DeSena, who was shot and killed during the armed robbery of an underground NYC poker club on November 2. The suspect, 35-year-old William Delvalle, was arrested on East 21st Street, just seven blocks away from the building that housed the underground club where the crime took place.
Police charged Delvalle with second degree murder and robbery, though he was not believed to have been the gunman. Since his arrest, Delvalle was being held at the Manhattan Detention Complex. According to a report on the New York Post's website, Delvalle has since been released from jail because prosecutors
Pokerstars
in the case failed to secure an indictment within the allotted time. However, the charges against Delvalle remain in force.
New York State law indicates that a defendant remanded for a felony charge must be released from custody unless a statement is filed by the prosecutor affirming that the grand jury has voted on an indictment. In this case, prosecutors had 144 hours to procure the indictment, but were unable to do so. Delvalle was scheduled to be arraigned yesterday in New York Supreme Court, but Manhattan Criminal Court Justice Evelyn LaPorte was forced to order Delvalle's release per the absence of an indictment.
Delvalle is no stranger to the criminal justice system, having previously served eight years in prison for a 1992 manslaughter conviction after he fired into a small crowd of people, fatally injuring one bystander. According to the Post's report, Delvalle's parole ended October 12, just a few weeks before the tragic incident at the newly opened club. In Delvalle's defense, Delvalle's lawyer, Brian Konoski, was quoted by the Post as saying, "There's nothing here – there's no meat on the bones."
As of yesterday, prosecutors would not offer an explanation as to why an indictment was not reached in time, though DA spokeswoman Barbara Thompson said, "He (Delvalle) remains charged, and the investigation is continuing." The other suspects in the case are all still at large.
NYC Poker Room Murder Suspect Arrested, Released on Technicality
November 14, 2007
Garry Gates
Last Friday, New York City police made their first arrest to date in the death of 55-year-old Frank DeSena, who was shot and killed during the armed robbery of an underground NYC poker club on November 2. The suspect, 35-year-old William Delvalle, was arrested on East 21st Street, just seven blocks away from the building that housed the underground club where the crime took place.
Police charged Delvalle with second degree murder and robbery, though he was not believed to have been the gunman. Since his arrest, Delvalle was being held at the Manhattan Detention Complex. According to a report on the New York Post's website, Delvalle has since been released from jail because prosecutors
Pokerstars
in the case failed to secure an indictment within the allotted time. However, the charges against Delvalle remain in force.
New York State law indicates that a defendant remanded for a felony charge must be released from custody unless a statement is filed by the prosecutor affirming that the grand jury has voted on an indictment. In this case, prosecutors had 144 hours to procure the indictment, but were unable to do so. Delvalle was scheduled to be arraigned yesterday in New York Supreme Court, but Manhattan Criminal Court Justice Evelyn LaPorte was forced to order Delvalle's release per the absence of an indictment.
Delvalle is no stranger to the criminal justice system, having previously served eight years in prison for a 1992 manslaughter conviction after he fired into a small crowd of people, fatally injuring one bystander. According to the Post's report, Delvalle's parole ended October 12, just a few weeks before the tragic incident at the newly opened club. In Delvalle's defense, Delvalle's lawyer, Brian Konoski, was quoted by the Post as saying, "There's nothing here – there's no meat on the bones."
As of yesterday, prosecutors would not offer an explanation as to why an indictment was not reached in time, though DA spokeswoman Barbara Thompson said, "He (Delvalle) remains charged, and the investigation is continuing." The other suspects in the case are all still at large.
Friday, November 16, 2007
DEADLY POKER CHEATING!
About the biggest price a poker cheating victim can pay is his life! That's what happened in an underground but supposedly aboveboard New York City poker room. Although running organized poker rooms is illegal in New York City, many in-the-dark poker rooms have sprouted up in Manhattan in recent years since the poker craze began. They are frequented by mostly respectable players, including top-notch lawyers and doctors. One of these players really did hold the "dead man's" hand when he was shot dead during a robbery at one of these poker games.
Here's the article:
POKER ROOM MURDER
By LEONARDO BLAIR, ERIN CALABRESE and MELISSA JANE KRONFELD
PrintEmailDigg ItRedditPermalinkStory Bottom
November 3, 2007 -- Detectives hunted yesterday for a trio of brazen robbers who killed a New Jersey man in a Flatiron poker room during a $100,000-plus heist that went down like a scene from a Hollywood flick and left seasoned gamblers cowering for their lives, cops said.
Frank Desena, 55, of Wayne, was playing at Straddle, an underground club on the seventh floor of an office building at 251 Fifth Ave., around 11:15 p.m. Friday when three black-clad, ski-masked robbers invaded and killed him by accident, said witnesses.
The robbers - who displayed a flair for drama by calling each other "One," "Two" and "Three" - "walked in and screamed, 'Everyone get down on the f- - -ing floor!' " a player recounted.
The hoods ordered the players to put their cash on the tables and lie on the floor. They also beat the room's cashier to make sure he handed over all the house's money, said witnesses.
Suddenly, one of the robbers dropped his sawed-off shotgun. As he picked it up from the floor, the gun fired, mortally wounding Desena in the torso, two witnesses said.
"Everybody in the room is a bunch of hard-asses," said a player. "So everyone was pretty calm until the guy got shot."
After the shooting, the robbers gathered up their cash and fled. A police source estimated the haul at over $100,000.
Desena died just before midnight at St. Vincent's Hospital. A neighbor said he was an instructor at the Stevens Institute in Hoboken who took good care of his wife and daughter, and who often invited neighbors to his home to watch Yankee games or the Super Bowl.
The poker room, which one patron said had about a dozen tables, opened within the last 10 days. Its operators had at least one other club, also called Straddle, that was shut down by police several months ago after another robbery, said customers.
To get in, players either had to be known to its operators or offer references, patrons said. Straddle's clientele was "your local bank tellers, kids you go to college with, lawyers," said a female gambler who was disappointed to find the place shuttered yesterday.
One witness said that in the hours before the robbery, the players included comedian and actor Michael Ian Black, who has guest-hosted the "Late Late Show" on CBS and appeared in the "Reno 911" series on Comedy Central. Black is a well-known poker player. He could not be reached yesterday.
Poker was all that went on at the club - its owners didn't even allow alcohol, the woman said. "It's a totally friendly atmosphere," she said. "Everybody knows each other. It's like your freaking book clubs."
Additional reporting by Peter Holley, Larry Celona and Bill Sanderson
Here's the article:
POKER ROOM MURDER
By LEONARDO BLAIR, ERIN CALABRESE and MELISSA JANE KRONFELD
PrintEmailDigg ItRedditPermalinkStory Bottom
November 3, 2007 -- Detectives hunted yesterday for a trio of brazen robbers who killed a New Jersey man in a Flatiron poker room during a $100,000-plus heist that went down like a scene from a Hollywood flick and left seasoned gamblers cowering for their lives, cops said.
Frank Desena, 55, of Wayne, was playing at Straddle, an underground club on the seventh floor of an office building at 251 Fifth Ave., around 11:15 p.m. Friday when three black-clad, ski-masked robbers invaded and killed him by accident, said witnesses.
The robbers - who displayed a flair for drama by calling each other "One," "Two" and "Three" - "walked in and screamed, 'Everyone get down on the f- - -ing floor!' " a player recounted.
The hoods ordered the players to put their cash on the tables and lie on the floor. They also beat the room's cashier to make sure he handed over all the house's money, said witnesses.
Suddenly, one of the robbers dropped his sawed-off shotgun. As he picked it up from the floor, the gun fired, mortally wounding Desena in the torso, two witnesses said.
"Everybody in the room is a bunch of hard-asses," said a player. "So everyone was pretty calm until the guy got shot."
After the shooting, the robbers gathered up their cash and fled. A police source estimated the haul at over $100,000.
Desena died just before midnight at St. Vincent's Hospital. A neighbor said he was an instructor at the Stevens Institute in Hoboken who took good care of his wife and daughter, and who often invited neighbors to his home to watch Yankee games or the Super Bowl.
The poker room, which one patron said had about a dozen tables, opened within the last 10 days. Its operators had at least one other club, also called Straddle, that was shut down by police several months ago after another robbery, said customers.
To get in, players either had to be known to its operators or offer references, patrons said. Straddle's clientele was "your local bank tellers, kids you go to college with, lawyers," said a female gambler who was disappointed to find the place shuttered yesterday.
One witness said that in the hours before the robbery, the players included comedian and actor Michael Ian Black, who has guest-hosted the "Late Late Show" on CBS and appeared in the "Reno 911" series on Comedy Central. Black is a well-known poker player. He could not be reached yesterday.
Poker was all that went on at the club - its owners didn't even allow alcohol, the woman said. "It's a totally friendly atmosphere," she said. "Everybody knows each other. It's like your freaking book clubs."
Additional reporting by Peter Holley, Larry Celona and Bill Sanderson
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Casino Party Night Cheating!
I received a hilarious e-mail and just have to pass it along to you. A fellow from Auckland, New Zealand, went to a casino-themed birthday party where blackjack, roulette and craps tables with dealers were installed in a large banquet room. Each of the 200 guests were given $10,000 in play money to buy in for chips. No real money was exchanged but at the end of the night there was a tally of everyone's chips. Three prizes were given out for the 3 lucky play-money gamblers who had the most New Zealand dollars in chips. First prize was a free night in a 5-star hotel suite with unlimited room service (within reason). Second prize was the suite with no room service, and third prize was a bottle of champagne.
Well, even at those low stakes, let the cheating begin! According to the writer from Auckland, he saw three different people cheating, one of whom won the grand prize. Can you guess what cheating move he saw the winner do??? You bet, my famed Savannah roulette move. He did it by hiding a $1,000 chip underneath a $5 chip!
I e-mailed him back and asked if he could get me invited to the next Auckland Casino night! He then e-mailed me again to say there would be one soon for his girlfriend's birthday, and I would be invited!
I hope that cheater who won first prize has a blast with a hot babe in that hotel suite!!!
Well, even at those low stakes, let the cheating begin! According to the writer from Auckland, he saw three different people cheating, one of whom won the grand prize. Can you guess what cheating move he saw the winner do??? You bet, my famed Savannah roulette move. He did it by hiding a $1,000 chip underneath a $5 chip!
I e-mailed him back and asked if he could get me invited to the next Auckland Casino night! He then e-mailed me again to say there would be one soon for his girlfriend's birthday, and I would be invited!
I hope that cheater who won first prize has a blast with a hot babe in that hotel suite!!!
Friday, November 09, 2007
Some Oklahoma Cheat-Catching
I came across this newsstory about a casino in Oklahoma nabbing poker cheats! Click on the link to see the video.
New Website Coming!
I am pleased to say that I am in the process of developing a new website. I will add a forum to it so that all of you can relate your experiences regarding cheating and advantage play and pass along pertinent information amongst yourselves, especially that of how and where to avoid being cheated in brick and mortar as well as online casinos. During this transition I will continue blogging and updating my online poker room cheating rankings, so keep up your visits!
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Con-Man Casting Call!
At a party with my ex-cheating buddies (now all retired) not too long ago, we got into a conversation about which celebrities would make the best casino cheaters. Our arguments were based on their roles, whether it be in movies, sports or just the aura they give off and the incidents they're involved with in real life. All of the NFL troublemakers getting busted for drunken driving and strip-bar rousing were disqualified from consideration.
Here's what we came up with:
James Woods: the top prospect. You just sense he’s got the balls along with his healthy mix of charm and intimidation. He was great in the movie "Casino" and even had a small role in the cult gambling classic "The Gambler." No, not the one with Kenny Rogers, the one with James Caan!
Speaking of which, James Caan: No doubt Axel Freed always in the hole again would take to the underhanded ruses of casino cheating, despite his role of surveillance director Big Ed in "Vegas."
Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon: one of my buddies cited his adept confrontation of danger. He'd love the race for the cash!
Hank Azaria: picked for his “underrated” wide-range and quick wit.
Former MTV funnyman Tom Green because sometimes you need a little bit of craziness to get the job done.
How about the females?
Lindsay Lohan....forget it! She'd never make it to the casino! Neither would Britney Spears for that matter.
The top female prospects included Mary McCormack, Sarah Silverman, Ricki Lake and Angie Dickenson, all for their various beauty and talents, although Angie might be a bit aged, but can you imagine her once luscious "policewoman's" legs diverting pit bosses' attention as she strolled across the casino? Someone mentioned Jodie Foster
for her role in Taxi Driver, though Robert Dinero was deemed too mafioso to be a smooth casino cheater.
None of us had confidence in Ben Affleck’s ability to play that part, nor were they impressed with Dennis Rodman or any other NBA players, not even Tony Parker, whose cute and innocent face would surely fool casino bosses, but his wife did get mention.
And as for my own opinion about the best possible woman cheater? Sharon Stone without a doubt! Her feline charm from "Basic Instinct" would hot and bother any male casino employee into paying her bet! Imagine her teaming up to scam the casinos with James Woods!
Here's some more of what was said:
James Woods – He comes across as a smart guy not just in his acting but in interviews. I heard about one where he recognized casinos don’t even really give you a chance to win. I imagine he might like to play some slick little games against the house.
Jeff Gordon – Most of the best cheaters I’ve worked with love fast cars. Cheaters are thrill seekers but like to be in control. I imagine NASCAR drivers are similar in this respect, and have discipline, skill and guts
Hank Azaria – Love his voices on the Simpsons and in The Birdcage. Versatility is big in cheating casinos where you might need to play the high-roller one night and the bust-out the next.
Tom Green -- a bit out there and could definitely get on my nerves but it is business and he would probably go to extreme lengths to get the job done.
Mary McCormack -- played Howard Stern’s loving wife in his movie. Most of her other roles aren’t standout performances but that’s what you want in a good actress. Get the job done without undue attention. Not just a good but a great actress.
Sarah Silverman – funny as hell, with off the wall material. Not too bad on the eyes either, a distraction that that can come in handy.
Ricki Lake – It’s not her captivating looks or particularly anything about her personality, but several of my cheating buddies see a certain something that makes her engaging. It seems people just want to like her, a great asset in any con.
Angie Dickenson – sort of a catch all for all of the HOT women. If they turn a head they are useful. In her day, Angie turned lots of heads. And, unlike some of the other pretty faces she seems wise to the ways of the world and could keep her mouth shut in a pinch.
Ben Affleck seemed to pull off some good roles both on the screen and at the poker table but none of us were really interested in taking a chance of any jail time based on his ability at acting under duress.
Dennis Rodman & Dave Navarro – Nobody’s ever going to forget seeing these two coming or going. Being too unique looking is a no-no in the cheating game.
OTHERS:
My former partner Balls and I would be willing to take a risk on FRIENDS' David Schwimmer. Nobody else seems interested in him as a cheating partner. I’d also give Matthew Perry a try.
I recall hearing how Martin Sheen wouldn’t let a heart attack stop him form filming APOCALYPSE NOW. Any cheating team could use that sort of dedication.
You might think Penn Jillette would be great because he’s a magician, but it is less about sleight of hand as it is about attitude. I still think his performer's sensibility would be a great asset but the magic tricks do very little to add to his viability. Didn't he write a book about cheating his friends at poker??
Kathy Griffin is kind of a loudmouth. She’s got a quick wit but being able to keep your mouth shut is too important in this business.
While he’s not a great actor, of the entire bunch it seems that Norm MacDonald might have the most experience as a real gambler. Real gambling doesn’t have a lot to do with cheating except that having lost to casinos helps motivate. Norm would be worth a closer look.
And last but not least, don't forget about "Ruthie," the one time real female casino cheater portrayed in my book "American Roulette," who gave it all up for the fake life of a Hollywood movie star. I never met her, but my mentor Joe Classon told me she was the best!!
Here's what we came up with:
James Woods: the top prospect. You just sense he’s got the balls along with his healthy mix of charm and intimidation. He was great in the movie "Casino" and even had a small role in the cult gambling classic "The Gambler." No, not the one with Kenny Rogers, the one with James Caan!
Speaking of which, James Caan: No doubt Axel Freed always in the hole again would take to the underhanded ruses of casino cheating, despite his role of surveillance director Big Ed in "Vegas."
Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon: one of my buddies cited his adept confrontation of danger. He'd love the race for the cash!
Hank Azaria: picked for his “underrated” wide-range and quick wit.
Former MTV funnyman Tom Green because sometimes you need a little bit of craziness to get the job done.
How about the females?
Lindsay Lohan....forget it! She'd never make it to the casino! Neither would Britney Spears for that matter.
The top female prospects included Mary McCormack, Sarah Silverman, Ricki Lake and Angie Dickenson, all for their various beauty and talents, although Angie might be a bit aged, but can you imagine her once luscious "policewoman's" legs diverting pit bosses' attention as she strolled across the casino? Someone mentioned Jodie Foster
for her role in Taxi Driver, though Robert Dinero was deemed too mafioso to be a smooth casino cheater.
None of us had confidence in Ben Affleck’s ability to play that part, nor were they impressed with Dennis Rodman or any other NBA players, not even Tony Parker, whose cute and innocent face would surely fool casino bosses, but his wife did get mention.
And as for my own opinion about the best possible woman cheater? Sharon Stone without a doubt! Her feline charm from "Basic Instinct" would hot and bother any male casino employee into paying her bet! Imagine her teaming up to scam the casinos with James Woods!
Here's some more of what was said:
James Woods – He comes across as a smart guy not just in his acting but in interviews. I heard about one where he recognized casinos don’t even really give you a chance to win. I imagine he might like to play some slick little games against the house.
Jeff Gordon – Most of the best cheaters I’ve worked with love fast cars. Cheaters are thrill seekers but like to be in control. I imagine NASCAR drivers are similar in this respect, and have discipline, skill and guts
Hank Azaria – Love his voices on the Simpsons and in The Birdcage. Versatility is big in cheating casinos where you might need to play the high-roller one night and the bust-out the next.
Tom Green -- a bit out there and could definitely get on my nerves but it is business and he would probably go to extreme lengths to get the job done.
Mary McCormack -- played Howard Stern’s loving wife in his movie. Most of her other roles aren’t standout performances but that’s what you want in a good actress. Get the job done without undue attention. Not just a good but a great actress.
Sarah Silverman – funny as hell, with off the wall material. Not too bad on the eyes either, a distraction that that can come in handy.
Ricki Lake – It’s not her captivating looks or particularly anything about her personality, but several of my cheating buddies see a certain something that makes her engaging. It seems people just want to like her, a great asset in any con.
Angie Dickenson – sort of a catch all for all of the HOT women. If they turn a head they are useful. In her day, Angie turned lots of heads. And, unlike some of the other pretty faces she seems wise to the ways of the world and could keep her mouth shut in a pinch.
Ben Affleck seemed to pull off some good roles both on the screen and at the poker table but none of us were really interested in taking a chance of any jail time based on his ability at acting under duress.
Dennis Rodman & Dave Navarro – Nobody’s ever going to forget seeing these two coming or going. Being too unique looking is a no-no in the cheating game.
OTHERS:
My former partner Balls and I would be willing to take a risk on FRIENDS' David Schwimmer. Nobody else seems interested in him as a cheating partner. I’d also give Matthew Perry a try.
I recall hearing how Martin Sheen wouldn’t let a heart attack stop him form filming APOCALYPSE NOW. Any cheating team could use that sort of dedication.
You might think Penn Jillette would be great because he’s a magician, but it is less about sleight of hand as it is about attitude. I still think his performer's sensibility would be a great asset but the magic tricks do very little to add to his viability. Didn't he write a book about cheating his friends at poker??
Kathy Griffin is kind of a loudmouth. She’s got a quick wit but being able to keep your mouth shut is too important in this business.
While he’s not a great actor, of the entire bunch it seems that Norm MacDonald might have the most experience as a real gambler. Real gambling doesn’t have a lot to do with cheating except that having lost to casinos helps motivate. Norm would be worth a closer look.
And last but not least, don't forget about "Ruthie," the one time real female casino cheater portrayed in my book "American Roulette," who gave it all up for the fake life of a Hollywood movie star. I never met her, but my mentor Joe Classon told me she was the best!!
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Cheating at Mobile Gaming???
First of all, what is Mobile Gaming? It's gambling done on a remote wireless-connected device such as wireless tablet PC's, mobile phones and other non-traditional mid-level networked commuting devices. Some online casinos and online poker cardrooms offer mobile options. Most mobile gambling services require a data connection to operate. The data connection is provided by the telecom provider for the region or country and may use data layer technologies such as GPRS, GSM Data, UMTS, and I-MODE. However, some services are available through an SMS text messaging interface. Some analysts place the value of this market space at US$20 billion by 2010, though at the moment it is still at a nascent stage due to the nature of most countries' indecision towards regulation of remote and online gambling.
So, can mobile gaming be cheated? Well, for those of you who say no, think again! Many people believe hacking online casinos' source codes from the outside is impossible. Many believed seeing players' hole cards, as what happened at Absolute Poker, was impossible. When it comes to cellular technology, remember how we all thought that no one speaking on their cellphone could be tracked to an exact location, right? Well, now they can track you to a dime! So, believe me, the high-tech cheaters will find ways to cheat mobile gaming, just as they did with traditional online gaming. I will be passing evidence of this along as I get it.
So, can mobile gaming be cheated? Well, for those of you who say no, think again! Many people believe hacking online casinos' source codes from the outside is impossible. Many believed seeing players' hole cards, as what happened at Absolute Poker, was impossible. When it comes to cellular technology, remember how we all thought that no one speaking on their cellphone could be tracked to an exact location, right? Well, now they can track you to a dime! So, believe me, the high-tech cheaters will find ways to cheat mobile gaming, just as they did with traditional online gaming. I will be passing evidence of this along as I get it.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Subscribe to my new Poker/Casino Cheating Security Newsletters!
Beginning December 1, 2007, I will be issuing a poker security newsletter that will pass along current information on cheating going on throughout the world's brick and mortar poker rooms as well as online poker cheating activity. It will include everything related to cheating, including tournament cheating, and if you subscribe you can specify one gaming area that you want prioritized in your newsletter, for example: Las Vegas, Mississippi, London. The newsletter will be monthly and the cost is $49.95 for a one-year subscription. Payment will be taken through PayPal.
I am also issuing a newsletter detailing non-poker casino cheating, both in real casinos and online. This will comprise all table games including carnival games.
The subscription links will be up shortly.
I am also issuing a newsletter detailing non-poker casino cheating, both in real casinos and online. This will comprise all table games including carnival games.
The subscription links will be up shortly.
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