Starting the day.

Back east we occasionally would sprinkle 'magical dust' on the cards before we peeled them, you know for a bit of help. For those that never saw this, it is rubbing your thumb and first two fingers together over the top of the cards. 

Okay let's talk here. I have witnessed countless baccarat  players; strangers, friends and even myself win shoes and sessions. Many frequently doubling, tripling, quadrupling and more their buy-in amounts. And the answers are vast and varied why the players give it all back in pursuit of larger wins, but it happens far more than retaining their wins.  It seriously does 100%.

Probably because of emotional excitement, attempt for loss recouping, belief that their found triggers that just worked will keep producing and repeating themselves, etc., etc., etc.

However in my early days I fit the above non-ability to hold win amounts greater than 50% of my sessions. And of course when I did, my 'great' MMM would be something along the lines of, hold buy-in for next session and increase it with the total amount just won.  Go bigger-harder-play longer and faster.  LoL, a road to no where but to be ground down of the win and the buy-in.

Well all that leads to nowhere, I promise all of you, with every ounce of energy I could ever put forward here. Believe me or not I have no reason to lie to you. 

So many people believe what they read on forums and watch on YouTube about the quick and easy make money wagering triggers/plans/schedules/etc., somewhere between 99.9 and 100% being massive amounts of fallacy and false statements for either attempt at or financial gain, or posted with plain lack of experience.

There are countless systems, books, reasonings and related ways to make money in the game Baccarat. Why are they fallacies? Because they promote contradictory premises and events by confusing the premises they face in themselves and each will poison the well. Think about it.

Seriously, there are certainly groups that subscribe to the above. Those that believe everyone will win if........................; and those that believe everyone will lose if ......................; and the smaller group that takes more of a neutral stance and extracts info that might help them develop advantages to implement within their play. 

In reality, what players 'think' and what actually 'happens' at the tables are two entirely different things. And I know 100% through experience and reality, losses in countless cases happen because people continue playing until all their chips are given back to the casino and then the chase to recoup is on with additional funds. 

Fallacy:  Believing what is not true and cannot work on a repetitive schedule in the game of baccarat.

Experience:  Knowing what MMM will work for you and how to use it with rock solid adherence.  Understanding that there will most likely be a drawdown of your buy-in amount and planning your wagering with that in mind.  What can and probably will not happen.  Not being oblivious to anything and everything can happen during a shoe of baccarat.

Another article this morning released referenced lack of baccarat play as well.

"LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Nevada casinos posted a $1.3 billion win for the month of September, with downtown Las Vegas reporting its second-highest total ever.

The Las Vegas Strip accounted for more than half of the state's gaming win, taking in $727.7 million from gamblers, while locals casinos brought in $155.9 million, according to figures released Tuesday by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

The win total for Strip casinos was 1.8% lower than September 2023, before the opening of Fontainebleau Las Vegas and the closing of the Tropicana. Also missing: The Mirage, which is closed as it rebrands under its new owner, Hard Rock.

But overall, it was an average performance. Michael Lawton, senior economic analyst for the Gaming Control Board, said last month that the 12-month average was about $1.3 billion.

Lawton said the Strip was down due to baccarat. Better performances in downtown Las Vegas, on the Boulder Strip, and at locals casinos in Clark County and Washoe County more than offset the Strip's decrease. Lawton noted the state has exceeded $1 billion each month for 43 consecutive months.

If you take away the baccarat factor, the total win on the Strip increased by 7.6% or $45 million compared to September 2023, Lawton said.

Downtown casinos won $91.0 million in September, a 33% improvement over September 2023 and the second only to a $97.5 million win reported in October 2023. The increase was on the strength of slot machines, with a 40.2% increase. The slot win downtown totaled $60.2 million.

The statewide win total for the fiscal year that began July 1, 2024, is down 2.6% compared to the same time period in 2023, a Gaming Control Board news release said. Compared to September 2023, the win total was up 3.3%.

And sports bettors in Nevada didn't fare as well as they did last year.

"Nevada sportsbooks won $80.9 million, up 29.8% compared to September 2023 on a hold percentage of 10.57% vs. 7.68% last year," Lawton said. "This represents a new all-time record beating the previous high of $72.0 million set in November of 2021. Sportsbook wagers totaled $764.6 million, down 5.7% compared to last September when $811.3 million was wagered statewide."

Here it is from Bloomberg, 10/30/24: 

Vegas Gambling Drops for Third Month; Caesars' Revenue Falls

"Gambling revenue on the Las Vegas Strip slumped 1.8% in September, the third straight monthly decline for the biggest US casino market and a sign of potentially tough quarterly comparisons for big resort operators.

The decline to $727.7 million was related to a steep drop in baccarat play, the Nevada Gaming Control Board said Tuesday in an email. Betting on baccarat was down 22%. And the casinos were less lucky, with the amount they kept shrinking by 40%. The last time, outside of the Covid-19 pandemic, that revenue on the Strip fell for three straight months was May 2019."

Well, let's face it, games can be thrown by certain people with financial interest in them.  From athletes to referees to coaches.  Here is an example of one QB in pro sports a while back.  Interesting how the FBI was involved as well.  Also, IMO once a gambler, always a gambler.  Read the following.

From the Wiki on Art Schlichter:

Schlichter was picked fourth in the 1982 NFL draft by the Colts franchise, then based in Baltimore, Maryland. Expected to be the starter, Schlichter lost the job to Mike Pagel, the Colts' fourth-round pick in that year, when he appeared at practice out of shape and in a distracted state of mind. However, he was expected to be the Colts' quarterback of the future.

Schlichter's gambling continued unabated, to the point that he blew his entire $350,000 signing bonus by midseason. Even before the Colts picked him, he already owed bookies several thousand dollars. His gambling spiraled out of control during the 1982 NFL strike, when he lost $20,000 betting on college football. By the end of the strike, he had at least $700,000 in gambling debts. Years later, he said his massive losses stemmed from desperate efforts to make good his previous losses. After losing $20,000 in the first week of the strike, he doubled up the next week and lost again—starting a cycle that would continue for over a year.

In the winter of 1982 and the spring of 1983, Schlichter lost $489,000 betting on basketball games. When bookies threatened to harm or expose Schlichter if he did not pay up (the NFL, like most major professional leagues, forbids its players from engaging in any kind of gambling activity, legal or otherwise), he went to the FBI in March 1983 and gave information that helped get the bookies arrested on federal charges. He also sought help from the NFL, as he feared the bookies would force him to throw games in return for not telling the Colts about his activities. The league suspended him indefinitely, but Commissioner Pete Rozelle reduced the suspension to thirteen months after Schlichter agreed to seek treatment for his gambling addiction. He was the first NFL player to be suspended for gambling since Alex Karras and Paul Hornung were suspended in 1963 for betting on NFL games.

Schlichter was reinstated for the 1984 season but later admitted that he'd gambled during his suspension (though not on football). He was released five games into the 1985 season, in part because the Colts heard rumors that he was gambling again. As it turned out, he had lost a significant amount of money over the spring and summer while playing golf and wrote one of his golfing partners a check for $2,000. The check was to be cashed after the season started. However, when the golfing partner contacted the Colts to see if the check was good, team and league officials feared Schlichter had relapsed. The NFL wanted Schlichter to take a polygraph test, but Colts coach Rod Dowhower had already seen enough and pushed the Colts front office to release him.

It would be Schlichter's last meaningful action in the NFL. He signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills in the spring of 1986. However, his tenure in Buffalo effectively ended when the United States Football League (USFL) collapsed. Jim Kelly, the Bills' 1983 first-round pick, had bolted to the USFL instead but signed with the Bills when the league "won" its antitrust lawsuit ($1.00 damages trebled to $3.00); the Bills had intended all along for Kelly to be their quarterback. With Kelly now firmly in the Bills fold, Schlichter's services were no longer necessary. He sat out the 1986 season after no other team expressed interest.

In January 1987, Schlichter was arrested in New York City for his involvement in a multimillion-dollar sports betting operation. He pleaded guilty to illegal gambling in April and was sentenced to probation. That arrest came back to haunt him that summer. The Cincinnati Bengals saw enough promise in Schlichter that they were willing to bring him on as Boomer Esiason's backup. However, Rozelle vetoed the deal, citing the January arrest.  Rozelle let it be known that he would not approve any NFL contract for Schlichter that season, costing him valuable work when the National Football League Players Association went on strike that year. He made another bid for reinstatement in 1988 but was turned down. That same year, he filed for bankruptcy to shield himself from creditors.

In parts of three seasons, Schlichter played only thirteen games, primarily in backup or "mop-up" roles. He made only six starts, losing them all. He threw 202 passes and completed 91 of them. He threw three touchdown passes and eleven interceptions. He amassed a quarterback rating of only 42.6 and is considered one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history. In 2007, Schlichter was listed as the #7 all-time draft bust on the NFL Network's Top 10 Draft Busts episode. In an updated list from 2010, Schlichter was moved to the #4 draft bust of all time,[18] and in a video listing the top ten quarterback draft busts of all time, Schlichter was listed #3, behind JaMarcus Russell (#2) and Ryan Leaf (#1). In 2007, Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports named Schlichter the worst #4 pick since the AFL-NFL merger, writing that Colts fans long felt chagrin that Jim McMahon was taken by the Chicago Bears with the very next pick. McMahon would lead the Bears to victory in Super Bowl XX during Schlichter's final NFL season. In 2021, The Athletic named Schlichter the worst #4 pick since the merger, noting that the Colts selected him with McMahon and future Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen on the board.

Schlichter said years later that he was distracted for much of his NFL career. He went through a messy break-up with his girlfriend before his rookie season with the Colts, and the ensuing depression led him to gamble more. Schlichter believed the accolades he received after his sophomore year at OSU diminished his drive, and the pressure of living up to that praise led him to gamble as an outlet.

After spending 1987 out of football, Schlichter signed a contract with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 1988. He was named the starter out of camp and saw his first meaningful game action in three years. However, he suffered broken ribs from a hit midway through the season. The Rough Riders placed him on injured reserve for thirty days then released him.

Schlichter played for the Detroit Drive of the Arena Football League (AFL) in 1990 and 1991, where he was named MVP in the former en route to winning ArenaBowl IV. His AFL success was attributed to his frequent deep passes, which caught opposing defenses off guard in an era when most AFL offenses relied on short passes. Ahead the 1992 season, Schlichter was traded to the expansion Cincinnati Rockers, with league officials believing his popularity in Ohio would generate interest for the franchise. Schlichter helped lead the Rockers to the playoffs in their inaugural season, but announced he was retiring from football that October. Although he said he intended instead to focus on his radio career and curing his gambling addiction, evidence later came to light that Schlichter was forced to retire rather than face being banned from the league for betting on AFL games.

3 sections is the way I played the shoe, up to the 60th hand or so when I stopped in section C anyways.

Last night.  Played the majority of the hands shown in this one shoe, about 3/4 of a full shoe as you see here.  Followed what was happening most times and lost the last wager of course and then started on the next presentation.

Caught 9 players hands in that players streak with a few full parlays.  Same with the bankers streak as well.

THE 4 HANDS PRIOR TO THE 3 IAR NATURALS IN THE PLAYERS STREAK:  A bit unique.

P First two = 0.  B First two = 7. Players third card was an 8.  Players 8 over 7.

P First two = 5.  B First two = 6.  Players third card was a 6.  Bankers third card was a 4.  Players 1 over 0.

P First two = 3.  B First two = 2.  Players third card was a 9.  B third card was also a 9.  Players 2 over 1.

P First two = 6.  B First two = 5.  Bankers third card was a 10.  Players 6 over 5.

All four hands players won by 1 point.  Now on to the 3 back to back naturals.


THE 3 IAR NATURALS IN THE PLAYERS STREAK:

First one in group of three:  Players Natural 9 over B Natural 8.

Second one in group of three:  Players Natural 9 over B Natural 8 again.

Third one in group of three:  Players Natural 8 over B 7. 

Once again all 3 Natural players hands won by 1 point.

That made 7 IAR players hands winning by 1 point.  2 cards, 3 card reductions, naturals, etc. 

And of course that fueled the majority of the people playing to wager heavy banker, because they were convinced that was the pattern/trend showing the players would quickly fall off and cut. 

Does the casino care that a few of us were physically banging them and cleaning up?  Of course not!  Why?  Because, they still make money by taking in all those heavy losing bankers bets and paying out the few of us that were winning all the players bets.  Gotta love it!

I contribute three things to my success with this shoe.  One, Low Ties-0-1-2-3.  Two, Equalization.  Three, defining sections and wagering heavy after the start of each.

Below picture is a non commission Bad Beat bac table with a $5,000.00 max per hand limit.  It is also a MIDI/Macau style players peel the cards.  Note what I did to the 8 card peeling it back.  $20.00 three card 8/9 wager, 200:1, dealer is cutting out my win as I snapped the picture.

A great view in the morning traveling east.

Well, I might have posted a picture of my little buddy here a few years back.  Actually misplaced him and never really searched for him.  Came across him under a pile of clothes in a drawer the other night.

I bring him in my pocket to the casino and occasionally when I or the entire table are calling for a monkey, pull him out.  Yes, he is solid gold and about the size of a thumbnail. 

Call it superstitious or quackery, it does bring smiles and pats on the back when it works. 

Quotealelax above:

"...If I am not within the same days drive from the casino I go to, I am fine staying at a local motel (paying out of pocket) and eating at non casino restaurants 100%.  Although most places I play, $30-$50 meal comps are almost never a problem.  However, I just don't really enjoy the same places with the same menus.  Coupled with the aura of being in the casino versus outside of it, 'in the free world'. ..."

    I agree 100% about getting out of the casino for fresh air/ to let my brain calm down from all the bells/sirens from the slots.
I usually play during the day /during week at most of my casino markets. However, one market I go to on weekends or maybe (thurs-fri-sat) has five casinos and typically I meet a group there every couple weeks. I often get a Hampton Inn ($90--105), especially if my wife travels with me, that is about 15mins from each casino. I then book/give my free rooms at two of the cas to group members that have driven in from out of state. WinWin for everyone and I can play at any of them for as much or little as I desire(& eat wherever I want).

A lot of people will not agree or understand, but a good hit of thousands of dollars quickly or even if fought for, with a recovery of the drawdown and then a subsequent good hit, the brain is not in full untouched consciousness and very very physiologically aroused and with increased stimulated emotions that will probably affect your wagering decisions. 

Although I am in no way a psychiatrist or any kind of neurologist, I know how the brain functions and how  truly unaffected total consciousness without stimuli is an advantage, we all get sucked in and fall prey. 

And, taking the above into consideration, the following I attempt to adhere to.

Yes, I rather be in an off property motel/hotel and eat elsewhere by far.  On property, no matter if I am pushing even or winning, I am still thinking of those tables out on the floor within a few minutes walk.  Uncomfortable.  Meanwhile, if off property there is a whole other sense of comfortableness I encounter. 

Local restaurants, different foods and varied atmospheres I rather surround myself with rather than on property. 

As far as the "Golden Talons pays 10-1 for either a Player or Banker 3-card 9 and 75-1 when each has a 3-card 9."

That is already included in the Five Treasures bac game with their "Heavenly 9" side bet, which is directly opposite the Blazing 7s, 50:1 and 200:1 payouts.

DEEP DISH REALITY!

There's not a single book, not a single research paper, not a detailed audited video of a series, etc., etc.,  that will show guaranteed and systematic wins.  PERIOD.  There is none, never have been—never will be, none, zero, zip, zilch, nada!

There are numerous clowns and goons that say, post and attempt to sell systems pretending that they repeatedly prevail winning within the game. And there are just as many that will post garbage and attempt to sidetrack any reasonable factual and truthful people posting. Sad but true. 

What I said is all easily searchable but the Internet is the Internet and countless will be overtaken by the virtual lies and made up fairytales that people tell and the ones on YouTube are pretty darn attractive I will admit.

There most certainly is opportunity on the baccarat table. Not one doubt, but you must have some kind of knowledge of the game, common sense and have the stomach to risk money. But you must understand there is winning and losing and have a concrete money management method that will work for you and give you an advantage.

And let's all remember those countless people posting, "wait for this or that" and then "wager so-and-so on such and such". LOL, guaranteed losing propositions, but once again, the Internet is the Internet.

What about all those with their triggers, they are claiming nearly 100% or even 80-90%.  And all with their justification so systematically laid out. Looks like research, looks like experienced and advantaged secretive play, and so many other things to the person stumbling upon it. My response?  Fantasy and fallacy. 

And those that say to watch and watch and wager only a wager or two or three with some kind of small stop loss amount.  My response?  Well here it is. Uneventful failure is not a success. Because you do not lose you cannot justify not winning with success, it is a catastrophic failure of play. 

Do you want to do something to give yourself some type of advantage? You have to focus on winning. Realizing your buy-in is risk and understand how to turn your risk into profit, while using a buy-in that is a percentage of a bankroll and everything the highest majority of the time is governed by a rock solid Money Management Method you truly abide by.  Abide by in Winning, Losing and Pushing sessions.

Be Careful, Be Smart, Be Advantaged!

Kungfubac,  As you wrote, "Plus, Im guessing some players may prefer and like the Midi tables for a slower more dramatic type experience. Maybe other reasons Im not considering."

The central and upper Midwest area has countless casinos that do have midi bac and the shoes take the extra amount of time, the same as Vegas or AC, etc. Usually if a casino has 6 tables of bac, probably 3 are mini and 3 would be midi style.  If 2 were open, they would have 1 mini and 1 midi.

While there is not the traditional high limit rooms, as you stated the bac is usually a section of the main floor or situated at the end or off to the side of the main floor pits. 

Personally, years ago I would never have never played outside of the Vegas, AC or Connecticut markets, with their traditional high limit rooms, etc.  But into the 2000's I play to play and win money.  I don't care about the atmosphere, glitz, glam and a free line up of fresh fruit-drinks-seafood snacks and other foods for the high limit players found in the traditional high limit rooms. 

If I am not within the same days drive from the casino I go to, I am fine staying at a local motel (paying out of pocket) and eating at non casino restaurants 100%.  Although most places I play, $30-$50 meal comps are almost never a problem.  However, I just don't really enjoy the same places with the same menus.  Coupled with the aura of being in the casino versus outside of it, 'in the free world'.