Gambling With an Edge

Our guest this week is Norman Zadeh. Norman is a former mathematics professor, and longtime gambler. He wrote one of the first math based poker books back in 1974. He has been a winning gambler at backgammon, poker, and sports betting.We welcome your questions - send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com, or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/GamblingWithAnEdge.Show Notes[00:00] Introduction of Norman Zadeh[00:39] Norman’s gambling background, poker, backgammon[04:41] Writing a poker book[07:15] Does Norman still play backgammon?[08:48] Superstition, cosmic unconsciousness [11:35] Sports betting, handicapping[13:49] Modeling baseball[16:46] Handicapping basketball[20:13] Investing, trading in the stock markets[21:35] Opportunities to make money with math[23:58] Writing software, writing songs[26:11] Analyzing backgammon in the 1970s, brute force, XG[31:40] Kyle Larsen story[33:00] Investing versus betting[37:44] https://SouthPointCasino.com[38:32] https://BlackjackApprenticeship.com[39:01] https://VideoPoker.com/gwae[39:55] Norman’s books[42:39] Norman’s investing competition[51:20] Recommended: The Master Mechanic by I.G. Broat, Risk of Ruin Podcast episode “The Audacity of Help” education in math or computer scienceSponsored Links:https://SouthPointCasino.comhttps://BlackjackApprenticeship.comhttps://VideoPoker.com/gwaeGuest Links:https://Financial-competitions.comBooks by Norman Zadeh - https://amzn.to/3oD52o5Recommended:The Master Mechanic by I.G. Broat - https://amzn.to/3PvKh98https://Podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/risk-of-ruin/id1527018692

Our guest this week is known simply as K.C., and was one of the most fascinating guests we have had. K.C. started as a professional blackjack player, and when he started getting barred he turned to craps. He read Wong on Dice and decided that this was the game for him. He won $1.5 million dollars at craps before the dice started to turn. After losing almost all of that money back he now thinks that he never had an edge. Yet many casinos barred him from playing dice! We also talked about a documentary film he has been working on about his blackjack adventures. That film is now out, and is titled, Inside The Edge.We welcome your questions - send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com, or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/GamblingWithAnEdge.

Our guest this week is Will. Will started out as a card counter, moved on to other forms of AP, and then moved into DFS and sports betting.We welcome your questions - send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com, or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/GamblingWithAnEdge.Show Notes [00:00] Introduction of advantage player, Will[01:07] Will's gambling background[03:59] Early bet spreads and late night minimums[04:54] Getting deterred by early losses, blackjack forums, finding a team[10:17] Trying to return to the team after a 100-hour losing streak, learning new system, retesting[12:27] Playing with Darryl Purpose[14:59] Moving to Las Vegas, finding games in the U.S.[21:48] Hole-carding[22:48] Getting backed-off, barred, etc[28:37] Differences in advantage play between the U.S. and U.K.[31:42] Card counting rules in London clubs[33:03] Commercial break[35:24] Will's career since 2015[38:41] Computer programming[41:28] Weak DFS markets[44:18] DFS pools versus head-to-head[46:28] DFS mindset versus AP mindset[50:15] Atlantic City friendly kidnapping story[57:45] Recommended: Laos Asia Market, Death on the Nile, Other Ship appSponsored Links:http://SouthPointCasino.comhttp://BlackjackApprenticeship.comhttp://VideoPoker.com/gwaeRecommended:Laos Asia Market https://www.yelp.com/biz/laos-asia-market-las-vegas?start=40http://20thcenturystudios.com/movies/death-on-the-nilehttp://Othership.us/app

Our guest this week is Stanford Wong. We discuss controlled dice throwing, and his book, Wong on Dice. Bob and I also discuss "scares" which in video poker means near misses of a royal flush, but in blackjack usually involves security guards.This episode originally aired in Oct of 2011. We welcome your questions - send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com, or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/GamblingWithAnEdge.

Our guest this week is Adam Bjorn. Adam has worked both sides of the counter for over 30 years, He is both a professional bettor, and a bookmaker, and now is working for a software company aimed at giving bookmakers bettor tools for servicing their customers.We welcome your questions - send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com, or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/GamblingWithAnEdge.Show Notes[00:00] Introduction of Adam Bjorn, sports bettor and sportsbook software expert[00:43] Adam's background in gambling[01:57] Finding an edge, informational advantages[06:20] Why did Adam move to Jamaica?[11:24] Getting accounts shut down, maintaining outs[13:16] Bookmaking in Jamaica[16:41] Horse racing in Jamaica, pools, rebates, etc[20:02] Creating software for sportsbooks[24:14] Limiting and banning players[28:00] South Point Casino July Promotions - $650k Summer Money Madness casino-wide progressives[28:45] http://BlackjackApprenticeship.com - blackjack training site with analytical software, training guides, members forum, and chat room[29:17] http://VideoPoker.com/gwae - Gold Membership offers correction on most games, free Pro Membership trial for GWAE listeners[29:54] Adam's software work[33:15] Bottom-up versus top-down[35:58] Programming and sales[37:07] Is Adam still betting?[40:54] Top-down approach[43:17] Less volume, bigger edge[44:12] Billy Walters[45:24] Gambling in India[48:20] Hedging[50:40] Recommended: Banza pasta, Ultimate X Poker by James H. Haskell, Atomic Habits by James ClearSponsored Links:http://SouthPointCasino.comhttp://BlackjackApprenticeship.comhttp://VideoPoker.com/gwaeGuest Links:http://Adam-bjorn.comhttp://Twitter.com/adambjorn2Recommended:http://Eatbanza.comUltimate X Poker by James H. Haskell https://amzn.to/3bXbUJJAtomic Habits by James Clear https://amzn.to/3AyVuSc

Our guest this week is Houston Curtis. Houston is a sleight of hand expert, and executive producer of the live streaming poker show "Live At The Bike." We talk about some of the recent poker cheating scandals and what you can do to protect yourself. He is also the author of Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist, and his experiences playing in "Molly's Game."We welcome your questions - send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com, or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/GamblingWithAnEdge.Show Notes[00:00] Introduction of Houston Curtis, sleight of hand and game protection expert[00:41] GWAE is changing podcast platforms[02:23] Live at The Bike[07:45] Limon[08:46] Cheating in card games[13:28] RFID, hole cards, Mike Postel, home games[20:09] Shufflemaster vulnerabilities in Texas[27:47] South Point Casino July Promotions - $25k and $1k-$2.5k casino wide progressives[28:33] http://BlackjackApprenticeship.com - blackjack training site with analytical software, training guides, members forum, and chat room[29:04] http://VideoPoker.com/gwae - Gold Membership offers correction on most games, free Pro Membership trial for GWAE listeners [30:40] Houston's video content[34:24] Using cheating knowledge to protect games versus to cheat games[35:34] Responses to cheating and proactive measures like limiting dirty money, social media[39:18] Selecting players for Live at the Bike[43:59] Producing 1,000 hours of content per year[44:58] Houston's upcoming book, Million Dollar Mechanics, to be published by The Huntington Press[47:13] Steve Forte[52:09] Recommended - The Old Man on FX and Hulu, How to Tell a Story audiobook by The Moth, Live at The BikeSponsored Links:http://SouthPointCasino.comhttp://BlackjackApprenticeship.comhttp://VideoPoker.com/gwaeGuest Links:http://Twitter.com/houston_curtishttp://Kardsharp.comhttp://Liveatthebike.comBillion Dollar Hollywood Heist https://amzn.to/3AlyhT4Recommended:http://Fxnetworks.com/shows/the-old-manHow to Tell a Story by The Moth https://amzn.to/3xVGBX2http://Liveatthebike.com

Our guest this week is Anthony Curtis. We talk about what's new in Las Vegas, and upcoming books from Huntington Press.We welcome your questions - send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com, or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/GamblingWithAnEdge.Show Notes[00:00] Introduction of Anthony Curtis, publisher of The Huntington Press and The Las Vegas Advisor[00:30] Upcoming books by James Grosjean from The Huntington Press[06:34] Other upcoming books from The Huntington Press[09:48] Houston Curtis' upcoming book[18:08] New ownership at The Palms[28:00] South Point Casino June Promotions - $600k Spin to Win[29:33] http://BlackjackApprenticeship.com - blackjack training site with analytical software, training guides, members forum, and chat room[30:02] http://VideoPoker.com/gwae - Gold Membership offers correction on most games, free Pro Membership trial for GWAE listeners  [32:56] WSOP on The Strip, online poker[37:20] CIrca football contests, recent Circa Sports hires[40:29] Video poker at The D and Golden Gate[44:46] Recreational marijuana and cannabis lounges[47:30] Topless Vegas[50:57] The Plaza[54:53] Recommended: Card Magic by Jason on Instagram, Binion's Steakhouse, Rouge at The StratSponsored Links:http://SouthPointCasino.comhttp://BlackjackApprenticeship.comhttp://VideoPoker.com/gwaeAnthony Curtis' Links:http://Huntingtonpress.comhttp://Lasvegasadvisor.comhttp://Youtube.com/c/LasVegasAdvisorSHOWhttp://Toplessvegasonline.comRecommended:http://Instagram.com/cardmagicbyjasonhttp://Binions.com/dining/binions_steakhouse.phphttp://Thestrat.com/entertainment/featured/rougeLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No guest this week as we answer questions from our mail bag.  We welcome your questions - send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com, or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/GamblingWithAnEdge.Show Notes[00:00] Introduction[00:38] Double Up feature in video poker[02:46] Effect of variance when playing multiple hands on blackjack[04:00] Playing online vs playing in-person[05:50] Legality of relaying hole card information[08:06] Pressing a casino on a jackpot that might have gone unpaid[10:48] Tax evasion versus tax avoidance[15:31] The value of strategy deviations in blackjack[16:57] Continue to play after being flyered?[20:54] Keno tournaments[23:36] Expected value in video poker progressives[24:16] Players who won $90,000 in cash[27:22] Getting a pin-locked players card[29:30] Playing rated versus unrated[30:44] South Point Casino June Promotions - $600k Spin to Win[32:31] http://BlackjackApprenticeship.com - blackjack training site with analytical software, training guides, members forum, and chat room[33:04] http://VideoPoker.com/gwae - Gold Membership offers correction on most games, free Pro Membership trial for GWAE listeners  [33:54] Asian food in Las Vegas[36:35] Slot points for video poker variants[39:16] Using free play on high variance video poker games[43:33] Harrah's North Carolina properties[46:28] Recommended: Margins of Error podcast, William Bernhardt law drama booksSponsored Links:http://SouthPointCasino.comhttp://BlackjackApprenticeship.comhttp://VideoPoker.com/gwaeBooks Referenced;Blackjack Attack by Don Schlesinger - https://amzn.to/3NUSDGJTheory of Blackjack by Peter Griffin - https://amzn.to/39u4X1SLinks Referenced:http://Youtube.com/c/LasVegasAdvisorSHOWRecommended:Margins of Error podcast http://Cnn.com/audio/podcasts/margins-of-error/episodes/7156fbc3-2cab-48b6-bf27-ae8e0182547cWilliam Bernhardt legal thrillers - https://amzn.to/3aXE4DP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our guest this week is a return visit from professional sports bettor, Fats.  We welcome your questions - send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com, or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/GamblingWithAnEdge.Show Notes[00:00] Introduction of sports bettor, Fats[00:37] Fats' Twitter prediction about William Hill and Circa Sports, Twitter.com/real_fats[03:17] Torturing Spiro The Greek[08:09] Meeting with the heads of offshore books[11:03] 1992 Billy Walters' computer trial[21:28] South Point Casino June Promotions - $600k Spin to Win[23:07] http://BlackjackApprenticeship.com - blackjack training site with analytical software, training guides, members forum, and chat room[23:39] http://VideoPoker.com/gwae - Gold Membership offers correction on most games, free Pro Membership trial for GWAE listeners  [24:50] Fats and Spanky were arrested[42:15] Advice for new sports bettors[47:45] Sports betting tournaments[54:57] Recommended: Ed Thorpe on Tim Ferris podcast, The Hanging Judge by Michael Ponsor, Bad Sport on NetflixSponsored Links:http://SouthPointCasino.comhttp://BlackjackApprenticeship.comhttp://VideoPoker.com/gwaeRecommended:Ed Thorp interview http://Tim.blog/2022/05/24/ed-thorp/The Hanging Judge by Michael Ponsor https://amzn.to/3aITQlMBad Sports http://Netflix.com/title/81084829Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our guest this week is professional sports bettor known as Fats. Fats has been at it over 30 years, and has worked with the best of the best, as well as running his own crew. The man can tell a story.We welcome your questions - send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com, or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/GamblingWithAnEdge.Show Notes [00:00] Introduction of sports bettor, Fats[00:50] Fats' Twitter, Twitter.com/real_fats[04:52] Fats' introduction to sports betting[06:01] Getting backed off from betting[08:15] Betting with "The Businessman"[11:17] Fats' math background[12:51] Betting baseball[17:07] Does Fats originate bets?[27:00] Top down versus chasing steam[29:09] South Point Casino June Promotions - $600k Spin to Win[30:46] http://BlackjackApprenticeship.com - blackjack training site with analytical software, training guides, members forum, and chat room[31:17] http://VideoPoker.com/gwae - Gold Membership offers correction on most games, free Pro Membership trial for GWAE listeners  [32:07] Working with Billy Walters[32:51] Interviewing and hiring runners[39:01] Stories about runners stealing[48:37] Playing backgammon in Las Vegas and Costa Rica[56:06] Recommended: Turning Work into Play episode of Freakonomics, Never by Ken Follett, We Were Wise Guys and Didn't Know It by Scott SchettlerSponsored Links:http://SouthPointCasino.comhttp://BlackjackApprenticeship.comhttp://VideoPoker.com/gwaeLinks Referenced:http://Anchor.fm/bebetterbettors/episodes/Fats-Interview-erbs9kRecommended:http://Freakonomics.com/podcast/turning-work-into-playNever by Ken Follett - https://amzn.to/3PS9ifPLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices