I find the part in bold very interesting:Baccarat hold was 26.7% versus 16.4% in the prior year...

Baccarat offering wagers with a H.E. at approx 1.15% yet a hold of 26.7%.


 Nevada/Las Vegas first quarter
"...For the Las Vegas Strip, table game hold was 18.9% versus 14.8% the prior year. Baccarat hold was 26.7% versus 16.4% in the prior year..."



https://cdcgaming.com/wall-street-bets-vegas-strip-room-rates-golden-entertainment-penn-entertainment-nevada-las-vegas-first-quarter/

The old western world adage: "God Created Man And Colt Made Them Equal."
Of Course referring to Sam Colt(In the mid 1800s he formed what later became Colt Firearms Co.).

A link below showing the best concealed carry weapons for 2025.

*Do any of you put forth extra effort to protect yourselves traveling to/from your casinos. What do you do if you have a large win and must walk or travel to your hotel off premises? Maybe you don't want to leave Front money at that particular casino/don't want a check,..etc. Maybe traveling home at night with large sums of cash? ETC??

Obviously one is not allowed to carry a weapon into a casino(At least not that I've seen in the USA).

**An interesting incident at a casino. Several years ago I was playing at a casino near Joplin,Mo. USA.
This was a small casino and the only two Bac tables were adjacent to the only Craps table. I was positioned approx 20' from the  craps table and my view faced most of the Craps players from the front. So I could also see the floor area behind them. There was a large floor area and all of a sudden I see three large security guards walking across the casino floor. They were rapidly approaching /toward the backside of the craps players standing three to each side of the stickman.

I could tell something was about to happen from the focused and serious look on the security officers face. However, I just thought maybe someone had stolen other players chips or maybe a pickpocket had been flagged by security cameras,...etc. The three security officers walked directly behind one of the stuff players without hesitation. One officer on each side of the player and positioned their legs against his and placed their hands on top of players shoulder as if they were going to face plant him over the craps table. The third security officer pulls his gun(looked like a 38 or similar revolver). He puts the barrel into the players back and says: "If you move an inch I'll kill you."
Of course everyone was watching at that point and all table games nearby had suddenly stopped. They secure him against the table/ remove his gun that was in a concealed small-of-back holster(That I guess was showing through his jacket). He also had what looked like a 15" hunting knife on his side in a leather holster. They walk him away after removing his weapons and contents from pockets. I heard later through a dealer the arrested player just claimed he "forgot" to remove his CC weapon. The knife was legal. I recall thinking this is like the old wild west days. Supposedly that casino utilized some sort of metal detection and the main entrance but this guy entered through the parking garage area. I have never noticed metal detectors at this particular casino(To this day). I heard they banned him for 90 days/ he received a fine.


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https://gundigest.com/handguns/concealed-carry/best-concealed-carry-handguns

2025 Best Concealed Carry Guns
     I own two of the Overall Top Pick(Sig Sauer P365 9mm CC(Concealed Carry). I find them satisfactory as they are easy to conceal in a belt or leg holster.


Overall Pick: Sig P365
Runner-Up: Springfield Hellcat
Best High-end Carry: Wilson Combat EDC X9
Best Classic Carry: Glock 19
Best Budget: PSA Dagger
Best Carry Revolver: Ruger LCR in .327 Federal Magnum
Best .357 Magnum: Ruger LCRx 3-Inch
Best .380 ACP: Ruger LCP MAX
Best Easy To Manipulate: Smith & Wesson Equalizer
Best Backwoods Carry: Glock 20

Don't Hate Good Promotions, Embrace Them

  A good article about playing more efficiently, maximizing offers, and incentives during peak promotional periods.   

https://travelzork.com/don't-hate-good-promotions-embrace-them/

Unbelievable Luck: Witnessing the Biggest Baccarat Wins of All Time

This was a good read. I play with a gentleman that deals Bac in Tunica. I once asked him what was the best win he ever dealt. He said it wasn't the largest ever win but a young guy about 25yo bought in with 3K and in about 45mins walked with 80K. He said the player didn't appear to be following a predetermined system but seemed to be just guessing and relying on intuition. He had never seen this player before or after and he declined to show a players card at buyin.

https://cardpaymentguru.co.uk/biggest-baccarat-wins/

Key statements from Konnikova:

"...Maria Konnikova isn't afraid to call out the cheating that goes on in poker, and casinos' unwillingness to deal with the problem. .."


"... Her book about cheating includes poker, baccarat, and sporting events; tennis has had some problems. Even fly fishing has..."


"When I meet people and they ask what my new book is about, I say cheating. Their faces light up and say they have a story for me." Konnikova said, laughing.  ..."



I speak with a lot of casino executives and one of their main concerns is the collusion between player/dealers. This goes on all the time and often is a large syndicate or group of players in a specific region of the USA.

I play Bac with an octogenarian that has played with many of the all time greats in poker. Most of  you from the Poker circuit would readily recognize his name. According to him many players constantly try to cheat or "fudge" a little(Not just poker players but Bac, roulette, craps,..etc). It is his opinion most casinos know who they are but just choose to monitor for awhile until they can ID more in the syndicate.


https://cdcgaming.com/maria-konnikova-poker-champ-describes-humble-beginnings-and-cheating-problem/

This is the main point of the link:

BetMGM and Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City are announcing the launch of Dual Play Baccarat. Customers on BetMGM Casino can now play at the same tables with players that are at the physical Borgata Atlantic City.

Evolution Gaming is partnered with both BetMGM and Borgata, which will bring the action to those who wish to play at online. Cameras will be displayed at the tables, making it a first-class, and real-time experience for those virtually. The game is played with a human dealer at the Borgata.


     Personally I would find this acceptable. IMO this could be the wave of the future. I have been discussing a similar setup with an indian tribe in the Midwest. They have several casinos within one region of one state/another just across the state line. The above would be easy to implement. The feedback Im receiving is the CEO of gaming operations does not like the volatility from the Baccarat Hold vs other table games. Meaning Bac players wager much larger vs other games.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

https://www.playnj.com/news/betmgm-and-borgata-atlantic-city-introduce-omnichannel-dual-play-live-dealer-baccarat/87823/

Top March Madness Contests and Bracket Challenges in 2025

Im a big fan of college basketball/ will watch many games during the next couple weeks. I will enter several of the following contests(Most are free) so the EV is great. Good luck to all.



https://www.thesportsgeek.com/blog/best-march-madness-contests-free-real-money/

There is a great quote near the midpoint of the article. It is in a green square and begins with "Captain Jack."



https://www.casinoreports.com/gambling-tilting-winning-need-name/

Top casino scams of the year unveiled at World Game Protection Conference
* If one scrolls down in the article it also shows links to the top 2022 /2023 scams. Many are still making the top-ten list.


https://cdcgaming.com/top-casino-scams-of-the-year-unveiled-at-game-protection-conference/

A friend that owns a cyber security company sent the following link. He said it is very likely that authorities from "several" jurisdictions already know where to find the hackers(as well as whom). He never recommends paying ransom. Cyber security is one of the fastest growing segments in the tech industry.


https://cdcgaming.com/brief/michigan-sault-tribe-leaders-say-they-won't-pay-ransom-after-cyber-attack/

Link to story via CDC is at the bottom.

I play here all the time(Mostly Blackhawk--Central City as they are adjoining towns with approx 30 casinos door-to-door with each other. I sure hope I didn't contribute to this 5.1% downturn. I would feel bad.

The author (Charlotte Capewell) states: "...Colorado's three land-based casinos generated more than $80.8 million in assorted gross profit in January, down 5.1% compared to the previous year's $85.1 million.   ..."

The casinos are in the mountains surrounded by old gold and silver mines that until recent years were mostly closed. I think all of Colorado's casinos are land based. Maybe the ones at CrippleCreek(fewest/smallest casinos & market) have a creek nearby.

     

https://cdcgaming.com/colorado-casino-profit-down-5-1-year-over-year-in-january/

I played this shoe recently. The outcomes below start at hand one.

PP T PP B PPPPP B P BBB PPPPP T PPPPPPPP BBB P BB PPPPPP .
Then B started to close the gap (continuance from above):

BBB PP B P BBBB P BB PP B

I started wagering mostly P on that 4th P starting from the Left. Mostly wagering P. After I lost the two bets above in blue I stopped wagering so didn't catch the remaining Ps in that final P run. I perceived B was getting ready to seek revenge. I was wrong as P still had some energy. I paused for several hands at that stage as I typically take a pause if I'm incorrect in back-to-back hands.

This was one of the easy days(i.e., Easiest in several weeks) as my first three sessions included the above and two other really easy shoes. In the shoe above I had a net of 48 base units on a 33 base unit buyin. The other two shoes I made a Net of 4 / 6 base units. When I say easy I mean my wagers won first and fast. As well as early in the shoe when my buyin was still near an -0- even balance.

* The first three sessions were completed by approx 1145am. I had brief passing thoughts of calling it a day,lol. I generally try to play at least 8hrs per day of actual table time. I played three more sessions that day with only one being difficult. None of the latter sessions were easy relative to the above. Although easier than many of my days.


Continued Success,

Link is at bottom.
 
When 2.3% Is Terrifying: A Gambler's Guide To The Asteroid Apocalypse.

I found this a good read(as it relates to probablility and gambling). I also think the more one games the more we look at the "non-casino" games of life from a probability stance(or we should)
.
Most of real life worry is generated/based on "perceived" fear and the probability of  bad happening(vs the % of bad NOThappening).

Especially in the way commercials are presented. Many misconstrue the probability of something happening. We should view as what is the probability of that event NOThappening. Notice the weather forcasters(30% of snow), which should be viewed as 70% NOTsnow.

Notice the pharmaceutical TV commercials as they always present their pitch based on a tiny fear of (disease, death, pain,..etc), therefore one should take our RX (just-in-case). Often the side effects(in the fine print) are worse than having a little discomfort for a couple days. Plus one may never catch that diesease, symptom, pain,..etc).


Re: The asteroid apocalypse.
We shouldn't worry too much (or any) until it gets within a year of time distance before striking. We could then predict with great precision "If" and more importantly "Where" it would potentially land.
Obviously, one could easily rule out greater than 50% of the earths surface. Plus about 1/3 of the potential surface would be water(ocean ,lake, river,..etc). So likely a nonissue.
 Maybe it lands in a field(no harm),...etc. Plus its only the size of a football field(Sounds big but... What is that % ratio to the available land surface,..etc). So even if it is projected to land in a populated areas I think we could tell the folks to vacate for a few hours,...etc.
So the potential catastrophe will likely be very very small(if it even hits earth). Yet Im sure the media will yammer on and on to infinitum as it approaches.

Any thoughts???


https://www.casinoreports.com/probability-asteroid-understanding-gambling/

Does anyone play at the following gambling sites?
Bovada; BetUS.com.pa; and MyBookie.ag.


Any opinions?

https://www.casinoreports.com/florida-offshore-operators-cease-desist/

I wonder what the casinos will do differently going forward.



https://cdcgaming.com/las-vegas-casinos-fy24-net-income-declines-40-4-despite-6-8-revenue-increase/

https://cdcgaming.com/focus-on-ez-baccarat-evolutions-ezugi-taps-ez-baccarat-for-its-live-dealer-global-platform/

Many are charging $30--50 in recent months. Often if a casino gives free or discounted parking they simply put addendum costs to the room charge,...etc.

https://cdcgaming.com/brief/how-much-do-las-vegas-strip-casinos-charge-for-parking/

https://cdcgaming.com/six-straight-monthly-declines-on-las-vegas-strip-not-worrying-analysts/

How much would you tip in a similar situation??
Personally I am quite certain I would not tip $50k on a $1.1Mil win.
Thx in advance for your replies.

*I talk with casino personnel on the floor that say they were dealers at one time /switched to the floor(service slots, answer questions, payout jackpots,..etc). There main reason for switching to floor is that Min wage +Tips is significantly greater than what dealers generally make.
What say you???


https://www.casino.org/news/tropicana-atlantic-city-gambler-wins-1-1m-tips-casino-staff-50000/

I like this story/ the potential for other states to follow.

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_a17e389c-2ddf-11e8-a8b3-e770a0169e30.html

I agree with the author John Mehappey(Vegas Advantage). He usually does a thorough job with his opinion stories. I like that he will actually travel to the destinations/ do his own observations and collection of intel.

?Any opinions/thoughts?

2024 Vegas Best Advantage Awards – Gambling in Las Vegas

Im on a 4day 3night bac excursion. I played a unique shoe yesterday. I did not do well as I had won 6 previous sessions that day /then hit this one. I drew down and was still drawn down at the end of it(-6.2 BaseUnits).

UniqueShoe:

It had only 1s and 2s in every column except column 18. Column 18 had six B in a row with the third one being a F7. No one was on it. This shoe would obviously be a marty or any negpro players' dream. It was a dream for me too(nightmare)   for me. Im not sure why I didn't catch on earlier in the shoe(maybe fatigue) or simply player error.


Continued Success,

Link at the bottom.


Poker and Holdem type gamers are really skilled at this. Even in cash games they know how to lay low and look/act like the locals, move around to other casinos. In other words they know its in their best interest to not make a big entrance(if well known on WSOP circuit) and travel around to different markets vs camping out in one 3-4 casinos market. I play Bac with several BJ,poker-type,Holdem players and some of their "incognito" strategies are really creative(and funny).

IMO many advantage-play camouflage strategies are common sense.
Such as frequently pocketing a few chips(i.e., showing a loss or a lesser win,..etc).

Announcing to everyone for several days when you lose a buyin or have a rough session.

Avoid boasting to casino dealers and or pit mgrs.

don't wear out your welcome by pounding the same casino several days in a row.

Present as a loyal, pleasant, and friendly patron(e.g., don't scold or curse at a dealer mistake after a dealer error,..etc), as it most likely wasn't intentional.
Always optimal to look at the bigger picture.


https://www.888casino.com/blog/advatage-players-not-kicked-out

This may be an interesting case.

https://cdcgaming.com/brief/lawsuit-alleges-wheel-of-fortune-slot-game-bonus-wheel-is-rigged/

I like Pai Gow and play it every chance I get. Most of my casinos do not offer it or only have one table(that is only open at night and or only weekends). I always walk buy to see if the progressives total warrants a little action.

progressive jackpot of $1,620,470