               A10 PRO CASINO CARTE BLANCHE
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  In Australia, there are now eight casinos -

          Sheraton Breakwater, Townsville, Qld.
          Conrad Jupiters, Broadbeach, Qld
          Wrest Point, Hobart, Tas.
          Adelaide, SA.
          Launceston, Tas.
          Lassiters, NT
          Diamond Beach, Darwin, NT
          Burswood, Perth, WA.

  Another eight are in the  pipeline - Cairns, Brisbane,
  Canberra, and two casinos, (one large, one small), in 
  Melbourne and Sydney, plus one at Christmas Island.

  There are estimated to be about 1500 "high rollers" in
  Australia, willing to risk  $20,000  or more, of which
  80 per cent are Asian visitors. I know of less than 50
  who regularly tour the tournament circuit and only one
  who  has placed  first in two  so far. Everyone I have
  spoken to,  agrees that their  regular wins outside of
  competitions arise from  patient play  and comfortable
  banks to play with - moderate wins, small losses, and 
  an occassional "big win".

  It was my pleasure to take out the 1991 Johnnie Walker
  "Australian" Blackjack Tournament, at Adelaide Casino,
  in 1991, worth about $64,500 in prize money,  although
  I enjoyed winning over $36,000 afterwards, even more !

  Approximately 4/10 of casino  revenue is derived  from
  high rollers. The balance  comes from local trade, who
  more often risk $20 to $200, and as much as $2,000.

  Casinos value "high rollers", and "serious gamblers" -
  and make every effort to keep their custom. Importance
  isn't necessarily attached to the Player's Bank, or if
  you win or lose, but rather to the average size of the
  Player's turnover (bet total per hour), or "Action".

  Players wagering small bets or playing short stretches
  of time, attract little attention.

  At most Casinos, if you play for four hours, averaging
  a bet of $25 or more and the Casino does not know you,
  they will supply a chit for a free meal at an in-house
  restaurant, several free drinks  and other incentives,
  to continue play.

  It is at this point at which you are placed on file in
  their computer system.

  Play for 4 to 8 hours a day, averaging a bet of around
  $50+ and they will supply five star accomodation, free
  of charge, what is called "rate adjusted play" status,
  (as long as your turnover maintains reasonable levels 
  the acccomodation, and associated food and drinks bill
  will be paid with the proviso that if your turnover or
  time at the table falls they may only pay a percentage
  of the bill, although in practice, I haven't seen them
  pay part of a bill).

  All expenses except phone calls, videos  and limos are
  usually covered.

  The trade-off is that a Casino Floor Manager in charge
  of several tables - will keep an eye on your strategy,
  and notes are  unobstrusively  made  on your play, and
  cameras will follow your every move.

  Your "swings" up and down are noted - and bet style...
  whether it is constant or changing, duration of play -
  chips bought and your walk bank. All these figures are
  compiled in a computer file and compared  with others.

  Once you are known to the Casino or have a substantial
  bank to place in your casino account you will start to
  reap the benefits.

  Ring them up, and tell them you plan to bring $7000 to
  $10000 and you will find a room booked in advance, and
  carte blanche on the bill. I've enjoyed 4 course meals
  all day, wined and dined guests, and indulged in their
  outrageously priced liquor, to the tune of $2500 bills
  over 3 days, and the Casino happily pays the bill !!!,
  whether you win or lose.

  You will usually start by being given a 3 day member's
  card, with which to bill drinks - and other facilities
  which a 5 star establishment offers.

  Play at all regularly at this level... and you will be
  given a monthly card, and enjoy excellent service.

  Once you are known to bring a $10,000  minimum account
  deposit with you, if you live outside a certain radius
  the Casino will refund your air fares on arrival.

  If you are closer, they will pick you up in a limo.

  Membership is usually given yearly at this level... If
  the Casino has shows and entertainment facilities, you
  will  be  sent  free  tickets, invited to functions...
  (Grand Prix races, sponsored  Horse  race days, Casino
  parties etc - some casinos have sent me birthday cards
  !!!) and enjoy the company of an amazing cross-section
  of society found at this level of gambling.

  Gambling is a great leveller. It is a pursuit in which
  people show their true character. I have seen rich men
  lose a 1/2 a per cent of their net worth and behave as
  spoilt children and struggling couples  who win enough
  for  their  deposit on their first  home, ice cool and
  superbly mannered.

  Dealers I have come to know, have told me, ( obviously
  again with no mathematical proof), that if they do not
  like someone, the customer will lose, and the quickest
  way to annoy a dealer is to display  bad manners... or
  act as if they are the reason you may be losing.

  If I do meet the type of dealer who seems take winning
  and losing personally, I move. Most dealers will enjoy
  a good client's win... a little charm goes a long way.

  Banks in excess of $50000 or more will cause you to be
  picked up in a private jet, and given ultimate service

  The other side of the coin, is that your strategy, and
  betting patterns will be scrutinised in detail.

  Win substantially, and you will find yourself shadowed
  in your play by one or more Floor Managers who will be
  friendly, but will watch you like a hawk.

  I'll never forget the experience of starting a 123557T
  sequence on $300, winning six hands - which included a
  $2100 split and $2100 double on one hand alone, to win
  $6300 - losing the seventh hand - and winning the next
  seven in a row  for a return of $22,000 in 14 hands...

  I had three floormanagers in line watching, a pit boss
  - two senior grey suited members of Casino management,
  and a rather intimidating fellow, I later found, was a
  card counter employed by the Casino !

  Another shoe I won $47,000! in, began with a $500 base
  bet  and  culminated  with a $2,500  bet  successfully
  split 3 times for $7,500, a $3,500  Blackjack - $5,250
  and a $5,000 bet doubled for a $10,000 WIN.

  Under these circumstances all one can do - is keep ice
  cool - play calmly - without appearing to pay too much
  attention to the cards. This is when pair, and complex
  counts come into their own...

  Enjoy a substantial or prolonged win - and you'll find
  the Dealer is changed quickly, the shoe is cut further
  forward to reduce the accuracy of your card count, and
  you may even be provided with a gun dealer.

  Against all scientific principles... Casinos know that
  amongst their staff they have dealers who appear to be
  unexplainably lucky - and they will call these dealers
  in an attempt to stop your run.

  If you are male - and lapse into friendly conversation
  with a female dealer, she will be changed !

  Remember, that a Casino is in the business of making a
  profit and if you are a regular winner you're a threat
  to that profit - and as a business they are completely
  entitled to take every fair step they can - to protect
  their interests.

  A good Casino dealer can recognise a Card Counter - in
  half a dozen hands. This is one reason I discarded the
  Count 124 stake system... as Casinos find this profile
  very easy to recognise.

  In general however, the only  counters I have  seen or
  heard to be banned are those who bet minimally, or not
  at all, until the shoe  is favourable,  and then stake
  up radically.  Bet every hand,  and stake fluidly, and
  casinos relax, but you MUST have a  bank at least 1000
  times your minimum bet in order to outlast downswings.

  The 123557T system disguises counts very well... while
  you are still taking advantage of count strategy... In
  fact, you'll even benefit from winning runs that occur
  in spite of a negative card count !

  You should also avoid inconsistency in strategy if you
  are receiving a surfeit of special attention, miss the
  obvious plays that Casinos will recognise, standing on
  a 16 vs 10, splitting 4's vs 5-6 etc.

  Don't be caught paying special attention to the cards,
  practise the count until a glance is all that's needed
  - never subvocalise a count - and appear calm, relaxed
  and be seen to be enjoying yourself.

  I tend to average less than 4 drinks an hour - and act
  relaxed, make my losing streaks more obvious.

  Finally, I would just like to  pass some controversial
  comments on some popular Blackjack myths -

  * A bad player  may help other  boxes as much as hurt.
  * There is only one correct way to play basic tactics,
    the "art" is in counting and money management.
  * There's no such thing as long term good or bad luck.
  * Playing  multiple  boxes increases  your  chances of
    losing. There are more unfavourable  shoes than good
    ones, and the best results are made from playing one
    box, and preferably one on one with the dealer.
  * One box cannot succesfully protect another box.
  * Bad players sit too often rather than buy too often.

  Practices vary from Casino to Casino, but if you build
  a bank in excess of $10,000, you will find you will be
  treated like a king and can win substantial amounts...

  I firmly hope that this program  may in some way  help
  increase the amount of winners, large and small...

                      GOOD LUCK ... !!!

         David Caune, 1991. All Rights Reserved.