Dear Mark,
Here is the scenario: I am in a Strip casino, losing some money at video poker.
I have pure tunnel vision looking at the machine. A
fight broke out at a table behind me. Security was there in a flash, broke it
up and separated everybody. They then asked everybody in the
area what they saw. I told them I saw 4 out of 5 cards for a flush on the machine
in front of me and that was about it. I thought it ended
there.
Now, I'm back home and I get a call from the casino asking if they could send
me a copy of my statement, and if I would sign and
notarize it (at their expense), then FedEx it back to them. I say, "sure,
no sweat." They told me it's for the insurance company and if
I had a problem with it, talk to a lawyer. So, I spoke to one, who told me it
was no big deal and it was somebody probably threatening
to sue, if they have not already.
Here is the scary question. How did they find me? At no time did I give them
my telephone number (it's unlisted), nor did I give them my
home address. Just my first name. Can they go back and see whose slot club card
was in what machine at what time? Is big brother watching?
Mitch
Two things probably happened, Mitch, for you to get that call: First, some
security guard wrote up a detailed report that probably
stated that some dude named Mitch, was playing video poker on machine N-4536
directly across from blackjack table T-17. It would have ended
there had you not been using a slot club card.
Most casinos have some form of computerized tracking system that records your
detailed playing history. With the insertion of your
slot club card, onboard software knows your name, address, interests, denomination
of play, when you play your favorite machines, how much
you have invested, your winnings at any given hour, and even if you like pizza
with anchovies.
Tell a slot host any relevant information about yourself, and it's fair game
for the casino's computer database.
On the plus side, your information helps them with direct-mail campaigns informing
you of promotions, upcoming slot tournaments,
parties, reduced room rates, casino events and most importantly, comps. Of course,
there is always the possibility you might be a
material witness to a jury trial. If so, don't forget to ask Big Brother for
a RFB (room, food and beverage) comp.
Shades of 1984? No doubt, but player gratuities far outweigh the casino's knowing
that your portly frame probably doesn't need the
pizza. "Ah, hi Mitch. Last time you were in, you told slot hostess Suzie
you were on the Atkin's diet and to remind you if you started
making moon eyes at the carb-laden buffet."
Dear Mark,
Once a hand is dead, or cards mucked, are players ever allowed seeing what the
next card would have been? Max B.
In gamblingo nomenclature, playing woulda, coulda poker is called rabbit hunting,
where you ask to see the next card after you mucked
your hand, or look through the discards to see what cards have been dealt. You
seldom, if ever, see this done in a professional card
game, but at home on the kitchen table, it is common practice.
Dear Mark,
In your column in the Reno Gazette Journal, you mentioned your laminated blackjack
strategy card. How can I go about getting one?
Don S.
Those interested in dropping the casino edge to less than 1%, send
one dollar and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Winners Publishing, ATTN: Blackjack Strategy Card, PO Box 1234, Traverse City, MI
49685.
Gambling quote of the week: "Gamblers, with but few exceptions,
are the most honest men in the world." Nick "the Greek" Dandalos,
Nick the Greek: King of Gamblers (1969)
