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For a free brochure call: 1-800-944-0406 or write: Paone Press, Box 610, Lynbrook, NY 11563. His websites are www.goldentouchblackjack.com, www.goldentouchcraps.com and www.scoblete.com. The new Golden Touch: Beat Craps Using a Controlled Throw DVD is now available. You can check out this site http://www.goldentouchcraps.com/GTCDVD.shtml for information.

I am sometimes criticized for working both sides of the aisle when it comes to casino gambling. I write articles, books, DVDs, and television shows from the players’ perspective – even writing advantage-play books (Golden Touch Blackjack Revolution! and Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution!) and teaching advantage-play seminars in both blackjack and craps – yet I am also a paid consultant for the casino industry.

Critics think you can’t do both – help the players and help the casino industry. Critics are wrong.

I am consistent in my advice to the players and the casino industry. I don’t tell the players one thing and the industry another thing. I am honest in my approach to card counting too – I just don’t think in an American casino players should be barred from playing. After all, some veteran who put his life on the line for his country is now told he can’t play cards in an American casino? That just doesn’t seem morally right – regardless of what the state laws say on the issue.

Let me tell you a little story:

I was consulting with one casino in Las Vegas about three years ago when the head of the table games asked me, "What do you do with earners?"

"Earners?"

"Yeah, card counters in blackjack," he said. "I want to know what you do with card counters."

"I don’t really think you should do anything because most card counters aren’t betting enough to be noticeable on the bottom line – their edge, if they even have an edge, is too small."

"I don’t like that," he said. "I don’t like that at all."

"Okay, if you have a really good card counter and he is averaging about fifty dollars an hour in expected wins, what would you do?" I asked.

"Throw him out," he said. "I don’t want no earners on my property. Even if he was making five dollars an hour I would throw him out."

"What if his wife was a slot player? He wins fifty dollars an hour but the wife plays one-dollar slot machines. What do you do then?"

"I don’t want no earners on my property," he said.

"If the wife is a dollar slot player she is going to lose about one hundred and twenty dollars an hour. On that couple your casino makes about $70 an hour. Are you still going to throw the guy out?"

"I don’t want no earners on my property," he said. "I don’t give a damn what his wife is doing. I am in charge of the table games and this guy is an earner, making money at my game."

"What if this guy has friends who come to the casino – they play craps, roulette, the carnival games and the slots – are you still throwing him out?"

"He’s an earner, he’s out."

"Well my advice is not to do that," I said.

"I’m not taking your advice," he said, "I don’t want no earners on this property."

This casino boss was not unlike many other casino bosses I’ve dealt with when consulting on the table games. They are convinced that advantage players, of which card counters are a type, represent a serious threat to their bottom lines. The fact is that most advantage players are so in name only because most advantage players only think they are playing with an edge.

But, yes, there are players who can actually beat the casinos – many of you reading this newsletter being among them.

Still, most casino players, even card counters, come to the casinos with spouses, friends and relatives who are anything but advantage players. On the couple, the group, the family the casino can count on making a nice healthy profit – even if the individual "earner" takes some of the casino’s money for himself.

So my advice is to leave the "earner" alone. Let the earner earn and enjoy your profits from his spouse, friends and family.

This piece of advice has never – and I mean NEVER – been accepted by the table-games managers. My advice about dealer personalities and demeanor, comp practices, slot payouts and programs is almost universally accepted but once I state my opinion about "earners" I am looked at as if I am Kryptonite to Superman.

One casino table-game executive of a big casino looked at me and said, "Are you nuts?"

Maybe I am.

Are there players who might be a real threat to the bottom line? Yes, indeed, there are some. These players can be handled differently than the casinos usually handle them. Again, I would never throw anyone out or bar them or harass them. If Ken Uston were back from the grave betting huge sums – I would just tell him (politely) that he can enjoy playing in my casino but not to increase his minimum bet more than the number of decks in the game.

On a double-deck game, he could go one to two; six decks, he could go one to six. That would be the most drastic action I would take to protect my casino against an extremely good big money card counter. By limiting the bet increase in such a way, I reduce the edge of the player and usually make the game not worth playing. I would take no other action.

The Uston scenario rarely happens but that is the sole time I would try to protect my property. Even here I am uncomfortable with the practice.

Even some of the best advantage players I know are not invulnerable to the "group" loss syndrome. One of my business partners, a great advantage player in both blackjack and craps, and a high roller, has a wife who plays $5 and $10 slot machines. His "earnings" are more than made up by her "un-earnings," yet every so often he gets the boot from a casino and heads elsewhere – taking her with him.

Booting him is a loss to the casino.

The motto "I don’t want no earners" is going to be a tough one to make the casinos abandon. In fact, I am betting they never abandon it. And so much for my advice.

Ah Labor Day. It’s glorious. The kids are back in school and off the boardwalk. The weather is still beautiful but the "summer crowd" is thinning out. This is the perfect time to walk on the beaches, take in the fresh ocean air, and enjoy one of the best summer months in the Queen of Resorts. In the very early morning you’ll see the legion of feral cats making their rounds on the boardwalk and the beaches – hunting for mice or whatever treats the feral cat feeders have brought for them.

There aren’t many changes in the Atlantic City games – which is nothing new. Atlantic City is like a giant iceberg. It moves slowly. Even the attempt to bring in the hitting of Soft 17 has not been a big innovation yet – although time will tell on this. Keep in mind that Vegas has really ruined many of its blackjack games, bringing in less profit than ever before in their attempts to bring in more profit – continuing to innovate in such a way that other venues are following suit. In the casinos sometimes the saying is, "It is wrong but let’s keep doing it."

Dear Alene and Frank,

I just wanted to give your readers a little update on what I saw this month at AC.

The Borgata continues to set the standard with all 6 decks throughout, mid shoe entry on all games except for the pit outside the high roller room and penetration generally in the 75% range.  I would like to add that they are offering the Match the Dealer side bet on a couple tables now.

The Taj continues to offer nice games and some of the better penetration that I've seen.  75 - 80% on their eight deck games and up to 85% on the $25, no mid shoe entry, 6 deck games that they offer outside the high roller room.  They are also offering the Lucky Ladies side bet on a couple tables and they still have their 6/5 single deck game.

Resorts has penetration in the 70 - 75% range.  All games outside the high roller room are eight decks.  They offer the Match the Dealer side bet on several tables.  They also have a 6/5 single deck table but it is rarely open.

You're going to hate this but I went to Sands.  You're right about the carpets.  They're in horrible condition and don't match.  So how was the blackjack?  All shoe games outside the high roller room were eight decks.  They had some $25 eight deck games with no mid shoe entry.  Penetration was in the 75% range.  The high roller room had a minimum of only $50.  They also had two very busy 6/5 single deck games open.

You're going to hate this even more but I went to the Claridge too.  They had very few blackjack tables.  All eight decks and penetration around 75% again.

Bally's was very nice but I was only there briefly.  I only saw eight deck games with penetration around the 75% range again.  They also had some tables offering the Lucky Ladies side bet.

Hope this helps.

Jon

Dear AP and Frank:

I think you are too hard on the Sands. I like their threadbare carpets of many styles because it gives the place an at-home appearance – if your home is in a rundown ghetto. It does amaze me that a place like this was once one of the better gambling properties on the shore but now it really doesn’t have it. I know you have said that the rumor mill has this place being torn down but I don’t see any evidence of it. Unless it has already been torn down and we are all playing in the rubble. It’s hard to tell.

Yours truly,

Lynn S.

Dear Frank and Alene:

The Trump Plaza has done a great job in remodeling and I think players will find it to be a very inviting place now. The dealers are friendly and the games are okay with penetration ranging in the 75 to 80 percent range which is good for Atlantic City.

Joe V.

Dear Frank and AP:

The Hilton has become cheap as all get out. My wife won a lot of money playing blackjack and she is just a basic strategy player and when she asked for a comp the pit guy said, "You won enough money, buy it." She is a $50 bettor! We left and went to another casino. I am not going back to the Hilton.

Gus

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You can read about the Golden Touch Craps World records, including the Captain’s 147-roll hand at www.goldentouchcraps.com/worldrecords.shtml. Want to learn dice control from the masters? Get a copy of The Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution! by Frank Scoblete and Dominator.

* * * *

We’ve decided since many of our Golden Touch Craps dice controllers are now Speed Counters subscribing to this site, we are going to give a quick rundown of the craps games as well. We haven’t played in all the casinos in AC so we would appreciate it if you could email Frank with the table minimums, the odds bets, and anything else you think we might want to use (table lengths very helpful – if you just say "big" we will assume 14-feet as they are at Borgata). If you send us info we will give you a free month on our members-only board. Email address is fscobe@optonline.net.

All the ratings of casinos are based on the blackjack games.

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If you’re going to play blackjack, why not play with an advantage? Golden Touch Blackjack will give you the easiest method for getting an advantage at the game. You’ll learn it in 10 minutes, practice for two days, and be able to go into the casino and have a verifiable edge! Learn Speed Count and the new optimum basic strategy in this class. Go to www.goldentouchblackjack.com. Call 1-800-944-0406 to sign up or for more information.

Or buy our new book The Golden Touch Blackjack Revolution! and learn the easiest advantage-play method ever developed for blackjack.

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Here are our ratings for September 2006.

Rating system:

***** = Excellent

**** = Very Good

*** = Good

** = Fair

* = Poor.

BALLY’S PARK PLACE: Lucky Ladies bet has been added to some of the games. No mid-shoe entry in high roller room and on a few of the main $50 tables in casino, otherwise you can usually Wong here if you wish. Mixed reviews about how deep the penetration is but we found it in the 75 percent area. For craps players, this is a good casino for the game. There is one 5X odds table, usually a $25 minimum; the rest are 2X odds. Crews are friendly. Tables are somewhat high so short shooters get your platform shoes. There are many more carnival games than ever before. Looks like Three-Card Poker rivals blackjack! Two and one-half stars: * * ½*

BORGATA: Hotel rating is an A. Penetration is pretty good right now. Penetration on all the 6-deck games varies between 75 and 80 percent so you can get some good games here. Match the Dealer bet is available on many tables. Reports say that two $5 tables are now opened every day – amazing when you consider how high the AC minimums are going. Craps has long tables, 14-footers, and very bouncy, although there is talk of two smaller tables - somewhere. This is a happening place and caters to a young crowd. Great casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. Three and one-half stars: * * * ½ *

CAESARS: No change from last issue. Excellent restaurants but you have long walks to find them. Cheerful place and worthy of the name it bears. Hotel/casino rating is A. They are going deeper. You can expect about 80 percent penetration with most of the dealers. The main floor of eight-deckers has some of the upper-limit tables ($25 and $50) with no mid-shoe entry. All the games in the high roller pit are also no mid-shoe entry with $100 minimums. Table game action has improved and that is very noticeable in the blackjack pits – which are all 8-deck games. Six-deck games in high roller room have 80 percent penetration, as do the eight-deckers on the main casino floor. Good casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. The craps games here are good with 12-foot tables and friendly crews. The tables are a little high so smaller controlled shooters should wear their "special shoes." Three stars: * * *

CLARIDGE: The blackjack games are becoming fewer and fewer. Penetration has improved to 75 percent. Two stars: * *

HARRAH’S: Weird. Harrah’s ruined the Horseshoe and Grand Casinos in Tunica, Mississippi, but their Atlantic City properties are excellent. Go figure. Hotel/casino rating is A. In the casino you will find very friendly dealers and pit personnel. Penetration now ranges in the 75 percent area. Resplitting allowed except aces. No midshoe entry. High roller room is 6-deck action, the rest of the casino was 8-decks. Play here and at Showboat and your play counts all across the nation. For those of you who like to go to Vegas you can get some good comps from your AC action in the desert! A room that would be discounted for $80 in AC would be free in Vegas based on the same play – this is not official but based on our calculations of the offers we’ve received. Good casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. Friendly crews and decent tables at craps. We haven’t played there but reports are good. But we must warn you, this is a big slot place too. However, Harrah’s properties in Las Vegas are getting very bad reports about how some of the boxmen treat customers who practice a careful shot. Three Stars: * * *

HILTON: Reports are that comps are very tight now in this casino. The blackjack games here are getting good reports from some of our correspondents but you must pick the game based on the dealer because the penetration is dealer dependent. Resplitting allowed except aces. High roller room is 6-decks, rest of the casino is 8-decks with a few $25/$50 6-deckers on occasion. No mid-shoe entry on the six-deckers. High table minimums, especially on weekends, a lot of $25 tables, rare $10 tables. Penetration about 75 percent, sometimes up to 80 percent. Good casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. For craps, we are dealing with 14-foot tables and a couple of 12 footers. Casino is dark. This place needs a buffing. Three Stars: * * *

RESORTS: Match the dealer bet has been added to some of the tables. Resplitting is allowed at all tables but penetration barely makes it to 75 percent now. Casino also offers multiple-action blackjack and Spanish 21 at $10 minimums. Avoid the single-deckers that pay 6 to 5 for blackjacks. Excellent place for craps. Mostly small tables, with some games 5X odds. Last we were there, the high roller room had two 10-foot craps tables that were open on the weekend. Two Stars: * *

SANDS: The "carpet" joint on the Boardwalk! Has 6/5 single-deck blackjack games. Penetration is now 75 percent and all games on casino floor are eight deckers. Walk on by. Two stars: * *

SHOWBOAT: No change from last issue. Good casino-hotel. Excellent blackjack in high roller room and sometimes the game is just $25 minimums. The penetration is about 80 percent now. A game worth looking at. Rooms are all full-sized and spacious; suites are great. Hotel/casino rating is A. Resplitting now allowed up to three hands. No mid-shoe entry. Eight-deck games have 80 percent penetration and allow mid-shoe entry, although there is not that many tables available. We remember when this place had great table-game action. Can now find $25 games in high roller room at those very good 6-deck games. You can get great deals in other venues by using your card, as it’s a part of the Harrah’s Total Rewards program. Good casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. Craps is fine here too. All the tables are now 12 footers. There are 5X odds on all tables.

Three and a half stars: * * * ½ *

TROPICANA: Hotel/casino rating is A. Blackjack games are now decent and so is the new "Quarter" shopping area. The main floor now has 6-deckers with mid-shoe entry allowed on almost all of them. High roller room is 6-decks with no mid-shoe entry. Penetration is about 75 percent on all games. Big improvement here in all areas of play. Craps tables are 12-footers. Good casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. Three stars: * * *

TRUMP MARINA: No change from last issue. Six-deck games in high roller room and 8-deck games on the main floor have penetration of 70-75 percent mark, but you won’t find any dealers going much deeper. Games are mostly $15/$25 and up, especially on weekends. No mid-shoe entry on the 6-deckers but you can jump in and out on the eight-deckers. Craps tables are 12-footers with 2X odds. Haven’t played here in years.

Two Stars: * *

TRUMP PLAZA: Getting good reports on this property’s face lifting. Some of our Golden Touch craps players love this place. There’s a multi-million dollar renovation going on to make this a prize casino-hotel again and it is starting to get back its old glamour. The 8-deck games have penetration at 75 percent, depending on the dealer. No midshoe entry on eight-deck games outside high-roller pit but you can find $25 (a few) to $50 minimums on these. Allows resplits, except aces. Most eight-deck tables are $10 and higher. High roller room is 6-deck games. Craps tables are 12-footers. Very friendly crews. Good casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. Three stars: * * *

TRUMP TAJ MAHAL: Lucky Ladies bet now available. Good game with 75-80 percent penetration, dealer dependent. You can find 6-deck games with $25 minimums right outside the high roller room with excellent penetration an no mid-shoe entry allowed. In the high roller room all games have $100 minimums. Excellent casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. This is the best casino for craps in AC as well. All 5-X odds tables. The crews have been universally pleasant. Tables are all 12-footers.

Three and a half stars: * * * ½ *

WILD, WILD WEST: No change from last issue. All 8-deck games. This is a part of Bally’s Park Place. Penetration is about 75 percent on all games. Decent place for Golden Touch Blackjack. For craps this is a fun place to play with one 5X odds table and one 2X odds table. I remember when this place had many more tables. Crews are very friendly.

Two and a Half Stars: * * ½ *

THE BEST BLACKJACK IN ATLANTIC CITY: Borgata, Taj Mahal, Showboat

The Best Craps in Atlantic City: Taj Mahal

The Best Hotel/Casino in Atlantic City: Borgata and Showboat

Alene Paone is the CEO of Paone Press, which sells gaming books and tapes at discount prices. She also writes for www.scoblete.com. Her husband, Frank Scoblete, is the #1 best-selling gaming author in America. Frank’s books and tapes have sold over a million copies. His newest book is The Golden Touch Blackjack Revolution. His newest DVD is Golden Touch: Beat Craps Using a Controlled Throw!

For a free brochure call: 1-800-944-0406 or write: Paone Press, Box 446, Malverne, NY 11565. His websites are www.goldentouchblackjack.com, www.goldentouchcraps.com and www.scoblete.com.