Got an Edge? These Experts Think They Do

For the past couple of years bestselling casino gambling author Frank Scoblete and teams of the world's most respected gambling authorities have been touring the country's gaming jurisdictions presenting seminars on getting an edge in casinos.

They came to the Midwest at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Chicago with the Golden Touch Blackjack seminar August 13-14 and the Golden Touch Craps Seminar August 20-21.

The premise behind Golden Touch Blackjack is this: Since blackjack is the only casino game in which the odds change with every new deal, expert card counters can gain an edge. But is it really worth it to invest time in learning how to count down a deck and then spend countless hours practicing to a gain a slight edge for once-in-a-while casino visits?

That's where the Golden Touch Blackjack seminar comes to the rescue with instruction in what they call the "speed count".

"It's a new advantage play method that the casinos know nothing about that will give you approximately a one-half to one percent edge over the house and is the easiest advantage play method ever developed for blackjack," Scoblete said. "Blackjack players who are using basic strategy will be able to learn it in 10 minutes.

"The speed count is based on a mathematical principal in blackjack that's been known for 50 years, yet no one understood it could be used to actually get the edge over the game. It took a researcher three years to figure out how this mathematical principle would actually work to get you an edge. It's brilliant. If you ever take the course you will drop dead when you find out how easy it is.

"We've taught maybe 200 students now and have received nothing but positive feedback. But again, you only have a half-percent to one percent edge. It's not like you have a 10 percent edge or something, but it's better to play with an edge than no edge at all.

"We don't write about the speed count. Even in the course we don't hand out anything that is specific to it. Students receive a big booklet, but there's nothing in writing telling them how it's done. We tell them verbally and they learn it on the spot."

Craps is unique in that it is the only casino game which requires the player to perform a physical action that ultimately decides the outcome of bets. What if a craps player could master a precision and consistent method for tossing the dice that would increase the probability of certain combinations appearing while decreasing others?

"The craps seminar is two days of dice control with 10 teachers, a four-to-one student-to-teacher ratio," Scoblete said. "It's 90 percent hands-on in dice control and it's a very grueling two days. In blackjack it's very easy to get a one-half to one percent edge. In craps, however, it will take six months of practice to get a much bigger edge, but it takes a lot more determination and discipline.

"We don't want to let people think that they're going to take the seminar and in two days they're going to be able to walk in the casino and handily beat them. They'll have to go home and practice, but they're going to learn everything they need to know in the class."

Be forewarned that the tuition isn't cheap. The 2-day blackjack seminar is $895 per person while the 2-day craps seminar is $1,295. If you think it's something you're interested in, you can get more information by logging on to www.goldentouchblackjack and www.goldentouchcraps, or calling 1-866-SET DICE.