Video interview with the Wizard of Odds, featuring questions from the audience.
Angela: Hello everyone! I’m Angela Marie, and joining me is Michael Shackleford, famously known as the Wizard of Odds. Today, we’re taking a slightly different approach than our typical gambling tutorial videos.
We're excited to pose questions that have been submitted by our viewers on the forum; these are the inquiries you have expressed interest in having answered. We'll split this discussion into two parts: first, we’ll cover general gambling themes, and then we’ll delve into some personal questions for the wizard himself.
Thank you very much for allowing us this opportunity, Mike!
Mike: Thanks, Angela. I'm eager to get started.
Angela: I share your enthusiasm! If you're ready, I'll start with some questions from our website.
Mike: Okay.
Angela: All right, here we go.
Mike: Hit me.
Angela: I've received numerous questions from a user named Mr. Golden Sun, so I'll begin with his queries.
Mike: Okay.
Question 1 - [00:54]
Angela: One of his initial questions is whether traditional blackjack is fading, dead, or likely to survive.
Mike: Every game has its own lifespan, and I believe blackjack is certainly experiencing a downturn. It seems to be a game favored by older generations, and since it's not very lucrative for casinos, there’s a push to phase it out more quickly. However, it remains beloved by many, making it difficult to eliminate completely. Over the years, you’ve probably noticed a decrease in the number of blackjack tables available.
Angela: That’s somewhat disheartening to hear; I really enjoy playing blackjack.
Mike: So do I.
Question 2 - [01:35]
Angela: I bet you're correct; you often are about these things. Now, let's discuss which casinos on the Strip, specifically south of the SLS, tend to offer more affordable table games.
Mike: Great question! One casino I often recommend is Hooters. Although some might argue it’s not technically on the Strip, it’s situated just east of Tropicana, and they have low stakes at all their table games. They offer favorable rules, such as a single deck blackjack that pays three to two. The restaurants and accommodations are reasonably priced, perfect for someone looking to gamble on a budget, plus the dealers tend to be Hooters girls, adding a bit of fun to the experience.
If you don’t mind taking a five-minute stroll from the Strip, it’s well worth it.
Angela: Wow. So you go for the wings.
Mike: Honestly, I try to enjoy wings in moderation, but if I'm at Hooters with a friend who's really craving them, how can I say no?
Angela: Sounds like I’ll have to give Hooters a try!
Question 3 - [02:48]
Angela: Another question from Mr. Golden Sun asks what game or strategy poses the best opportunity for a new advantaged player to begin with.
Mike: That's an excellent inquiry and one that could spark endless debate. Currently, we don’t have a singular dominant advantage play, like card counting used to be. Instead, savvy players today should view every game and casino as having potential opportunities. It’s important to work with a diverse toolkit of strategies to adapt as situations arise. If someone asks for a less common advantage play, they often react negatively because they want bite-sized, easy information. However, this knowledge is accessible, especially on platforms like my forum, Wizard of Vegas. There’s no single, dominant play in today's landscape; it's more about variety.
Question 4 - [03:56]
Angela: That connects to a few other questions regarding your fame. Do you face challenges in casinos due to your notoriety? Has it affected how you’re treated or how you’re expected to play?
Mike: When I first arrived in Vegas, I enjoyed being anonymous. However, as my name has spread across various casinos as a recognized advantage player and card counter, I'm generally welcomed, yet I miss out on the special treatment. It's usually not common for staff to welcome me by name anymore. There have been instances where casino staff have approached me rather sternly, expressing concern about my gameplay. However, I also have encountered friendly encounters from fans of my work who come to say hello, which I genuinely appreciate. While I don’t mind the scrutiny, it’s a reminder that the card counting conditions were once quite favorable on cruise ships, leading me to a personal experience of being identified and questioned by a casino manager after my play was deemed suspicious.
Mike: And that quickly shut things down.
Angela: Oh, no. Yes.
Angela: Considering your strong ethics as a player, another recurring question is whether you perceive hole carding as ethical.
Question 5 - [05:54]
Mike: Some may disagree with my perspective on this issue. For those unfamiliar, hole carding refers to when a dealer accidentally reveals a card that should remain hidden, particularly when players are seated at certain positions at the table. The question is whether it’s ethical to capitalize on that information without alerting the dealer. For instance, in three card poker, spotting one of the dealer's hole cards can shift the player advantage unexpectedly to about a 3.5% edge. I personally would exploit that opportunity, though I'm not advocating that everyone should follow suit. Each individual must navigate their morality, but I believe that since casinos employ various tactics to increase their profits off players, if I see a chance to turn the tables a bit without cheating, I will take it.
Angela: You heard it here first; he states it’s acceptable!
Mike: I only clarified that it’s acceptable for me; I mentioned I have done it. There’s a lot of room for debate on this topic.
Angela: Since we'll be executing strategies that you’ve taught us, the gaming landscape has changed considerably. How would you describe the evolution of gambling in Vegas over the last decade?
Mike: Regrettably, the changes haven't been favorable. Video poker has become considerably less generous, and typically, 6 to 5 blackjack tables are on the rise—this has become quite commonplace. The rules are generally getting tougher for players. Nevertheless, if you heed my gambling tips and tap into the lower-risk games, you can still find enjoyable and nearly cost-free entertainment.
Angela: I'm just teasing.
Angela: And we certainly appreciate affordable fun here in Vegas!
Question 6 - [07:21]
Angela: With all these changes, what do you envision for the future of live casino poker?
Mike: I believe poker has peaked and is now slowly declining. Casinos perceive it as an unavoidable expense rather than an enthusiastic investment because it doesn’t yield substantial profits. Additionally, poker rooms are increasingly swarmed by experienced players, making the game less enjoyable for casual participants, thus I foresee a gradual decline in poker's popularity.
Angela: Here’s a lighthearted question from Johnny Q. What’s your experience with and evaluation of the diamond perks at Caesars?Mike: While I don’t enjoy them as much as I used to, they’ve become less generous lately, especially regarding accesses like the diamond lounge. However, the two best benefits include shorter wait times everywhere and two complimentary show tickets each month—not necessarily for the most sought-after shows, but there is a decent selection available. You can attain diamond membership by earning 5000 points in a day, which seems like a reasonable effort.
Mike: Yes, we do.
Question 7 - [08:03]
Angela: That sounds appealing! Now here’s another intriguing question from D-Rich. He’s curious about which game you found most challenging or difficult to analyze.
Mike: That's an insightful question. Blackjack poses considerable challenges, particularly if you’re conducting a comprehensive combinatorial analysis that considers every card combination and situation. The complexities arise from actions like splitting and the dealer peeking for blackjack, which makes it quite intricate. I take pride in being among a select few who have successfully completed a flawless combinatorial analysis.
Angela: Sorry to hear that.
Question 8 - [08:45]
Video interview featuring the Wizard of Odds, addressing inquiries from the audience.
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Question 9 - [09:26]
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Angela: Hello everyone! I'm Angela Marie, and with me is Michael Shackleford, also known as the Wizard of Odds. Today, we're doing something a bit different from our usual educational gambling content.
Today, we're going to take questions that you've submitted through the forum, things you want to know from Mr. Shackelford. We'll split this into two parts: the first will focus on general gambling and gaming, followed by a more personal segment where we’ll get to know the wizard better.
Thank you so much for allowing us this opportunity, Mike.
Mike: Thank you, Angela. I'm excited about this too.
Angela: I'm eager to get started as well! If you're ready, I'll dive straight into some questions from the website.
Angela: Oh, excellent. I'll look for it.
Angela: I have a number of questions from a user named Mr. Golden Sun. Let's start with his inquiries.
Angela: I'm looking forward to it.
Mike: All right.
Question 10 - [11:48]
Angela: One of the first questions is whether traditional blackjack is fading away, if it has already vanished, or if it has a chance to survive?
Mike: Every game has its lifecycle, and I believe blackjack is indeed waning in popularity. It seems to be mainly the game of the past generation, and since it’s not particularly lucrative for casinos, they seem keen on phasing it out. Nonetheless, many still enjoy it, making it hard to eliminate completely, as the backlash would be significant. The number of blackjack tables has certainly diminished over the years.
Angela: Wow. Are you kidding?
Angela: That's a bit disheartening to hear since I really enjoy playing blackjack.
Question 11 - [13:07]
Angela: But you often have accurate insights. Speaking of which, can you tell me which casinos south of the SLS on the Strip offer affordable table games?
Mike: That's an excellent question. One place I like to highlight is Hooters Casino. While some may argue it’s not technically on the Strip, it’s just a short distance on Tropicana Avenue. They provide low limits across all their table games and offer favorable rules, such as a single deck paying three to two for blackjack. Everything from meals to rooms there is reasonably priced for budget-conscious gamblers, plus you get to enjoy dealing from the friendly Hooters staff. It’s a fun, affordable choice; that’s my recommendation.
Angela: Best to just avoid that.
Just be prepared for a five-minute walk from the Strip to get there.
Question 12 - [14:06]
Mike: Honestly, I try to enjoy wings in moderation, but if I’m there with a friend who really wants to go, I can't say no.
Angela: Sounds like I’ll give Hooters a shot then.
Angela: Here’s another question from Mr. Golden Sun. What gaming strategy or technique would you recommend for someone trying to become an advanced player?
Angela: All right.
Mike: That's a fantastic question! It’s one we could unpack for ages. Right now, there isn't a singular dominant strategy like card counting that stands out. An aspiring advanced player should understand that every game in every casino has potential opportunities. You need a variety of strategies in your toolkit, ready to implement when the occasion arises. To elaborate, I often find that when I divulge lesser-known advantage plays, many become frustrated. However, there's a wealth of information available, especially on my forum, Wizard of Vegas. So currently, it’s not just about one main advantage play, but rather a series of different approaches.
Angela: That leads perfectly to something many are curious about: do you find it challenging to enter casinos due to your recognizable name? Does it alter how they treat you or their expectations of your play style?
Angela: All right, I'll go easy on you.
Mike: Okay, thanks.
Angela: Thank you.