How much is too much?

sheadakota · Apr 8, 2008

I have a character who steals a large amount of money from a casino- counting cards -enough money to keep them looking for him for over twenty years-

My question is- how much money could one person realisticly take from a casino without getting kicked out? I know they keep tabs on big winners- but if he spread his little talent around what would be the most he take in a years time? (The casino is illegaly run- shocking I know!)

rtilryarms · Apr 8, 2008

Illegally run?
sky's the limit. Recent books I read (I could find them if you want) were about 18 - 25 mil.

FinbarReilly · Apr 8, 2008

sheadakota said:
I have a character who steals a large amount of money from a casino- counting cards -enough money to keep them looking for him for over twenty years-

Wouldn't happen. Casinos would kick him out after winning what they judged to be too much (maybe a few hundred thousand), but counting cards in and of itself isn't a reason to create a grudge. One of the points that was laughed at by critics (and the book's author) of the movie "21" is that counting cards is annoying, but not illegal. More to the point, it won't win big unless the person is really, really clever...Like other forms of non-playing, it's only effective to a point...

FR

sheadakota · Apr 9, 2008

That's what I thought- I have a finished book but not edited that I have to change some things around- just to be clear- this is an Native American casino in Nevada but not on the strip- the guy who steals the money works there as a houskeeper, the casino is suppose to take a percentage of the money it makes and put it in a fund to support the educational needs of native american childeren, but the casinos are skimming the money and keeping it- My guy finds out and figures out a way to take the money a little at a time over a year-

Any Ideas? He is smart and resourseful- but in the end his family is threatened if he doesn't return the money to the extent where he fakes his death and his wife and infant children disappear under a different identity.

This is not the main story line BTW- But a major point in the plot-

hammerklavier · Apr 9, 2008

He could steal some passwords and account numbers and transfer the money into another account.

He could get an accomplice to pretend they are feds busting the place and sieze all the cash on hand as a bribe to allow the place to stay open.

He could rig some of the games like roulette and the slot machines.

He could secretly mark the cards in blackjack (while the casino is closed, not during the game).

sheadakota · Apr 9, 2008

Very cool ideas- thanks- I can work with some of that!

Jenifer · Apr 9, 2008

hammerklavier said:
He could secretly mark the cards in blackjack (while the casino is closed, not during the game).

Even during the game- the casino I work for doesn't allow you to touch your cards, but you will always run across careless dealers who allow that kind of thing to happen.

The problem with it is that most of us have really good eyes, and the second you get caught, you're out- no 24hr ban, no second chances for cheating.

Effectively making money from card counting tends to require more than one person... one or two to play the table in small amounts, and then to wave in another player who will place large bets until the predictability of the shoe has run its course.

Blackjack is fickle. Your character would probably have more luck cheating at a baccarat table.

Especially if he speaks one of the Asian languages. That's a problem we run into quite a bit at my joint.

In my experience, employees are not typically allowed to play more than the slots (if that) in their casinos. When you get into games with live dealers, the window is wide open for cheating and there are cameras everywhere. I would love to see your guy learn how to disguise his face differently every time he came in to play, even if just to keep suspicion down.

sheadakota · Apr 9, 2008

Jenifer said:
Even during the game- the casino I work for doesn't allow you to touch your cards, but you will always run across careless dealers who allow that kind of thing to happen.

The problem with it is that most of us have really good eyes, and the second you get caught, you're out- no 24hr ban, no second chances for cheating.

Effectively making money from card counting tends to require more than one person... one or two to play the table in small amounts, and then to wave in another player who will place large bets until the predictability of the shoe has run its course.

Blackjack is fickle. Your character would probably have more luck cheating at a baccarat table. Especially if he speaks one of the Asian languages. That's a problem we run into quite a bit at my joint.

In my experience, employees are not typically allowed to play more than the slots (if that) in their casinos. When you get into games with live dealers, the window is wide open for cheating and there are cameras everywhere. I would love to see your guy learn how to disguise his face differently every time he came in to play, even if just to keep suspicion down.

why would he do better if he spoke an asian language? This made me curious as my guy is native american and speaks fluent Sioux- not asian but maybe something I could work with?

Jenifer · Apr 9, 2008

Not better- more apt to get away with cheating, because you're able to have conversations with the other people on the table without the dealers/floors understand what you're saying.

Of course then we have a good number of Asian dealers... so it all depends on how much your dealer cares.

That sort of cheating is more or less accepted in baccarat. It's just too hard to stop the passing of money under the table.

It wouldn't do you any good unless everyone else at the table also spoke Sioux and weren't the kind to rat you out.

FinbarReilly · Apr 9, 2008

Obvious silly question: Why not start him off as a person on the security team who would have access to the money in the first place? I know it eliminates a lot of the drama, but it would be interesting to see a heist movie where it's about the chase, not about the heist...

FR

Jenifer · Apr 9, 2008

If you want a combination of the two, put him on the pull team.

sheadakota · Apr 10, 2008

Ha! cool Idea- But I need him to be low profile- He is not the MC, His son, who he had to abandon searches for him. He never believed his father was dead- The son's search brings attention back to the father, who changed his identity and faked his death to keep his family safe. The son is actually the main character and the casino heist is just the reason the dad had to leave ( I needed a reason for him to fake his death, but not be scum

How much is too much?

sheadakota

part of the human equation

rtilryarms

Crossbows and Handgonnes

FinbarReilly

sheadakota

part of the human equation

hammerklavier

It was a dark and stormy night

sheadakota

part of the human equation

Jenifer

Now with extra neurotic filling.

sheadakota

part of the human equation

Jenifer

Now with extra neurotic filling.

FinbarReilly

Jenifer

Now with extra neurotic filling.

sheadakota

part of the human equation