Crazy Stories From A Professional Card Counter - Steven Bridges
Рет қаралды 80,349
Күн бұрынSteven Bridges is a professional gambler and mostly-legal card counter.
If you've seen the movie 21, you'll know that it's possible to count cards while playing Blackjack in a casino to beat the house. But this isn't just limited to the movies, Steven is part of a team who takes on the biggest casinos in the world using hardcore maths, disguises and secret signals to win big.
Expect to learn the details of how a team of players is needed to take on a casino, how Steven chooses which casinos to take on, what are the best and worst places to play Blackjack in Vegas, the most amount of money Steven has made and lost in a single session, how he deals with losing absurd amounts of money, just how difficult it actually is to count cards and much more...
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#cardcounting #casino #blackjack
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00:00 What Does Steven Do For Work?
07:29 The Dynamics of a Card-Counting Team
15:30 Is Card-Counting Legal?
19:30 Getting Recognised & Kicked Out of Casinos
23:59 Is Card-Counting Fun or Stressful?
34:58 The Feeling of Losing Significant Money
38:12 Some of Steven’s Best Games Played
40:50 The Challenges of Carrying Huge Amounts of Cash Around
48:14 How to Not Be Recognised When You Are Well-Known
56:04 Building Relationships with Dealers
59:35 Where to Find Steven
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@ChrisWillx 9 ай бұрын
Hello you beauties. Access all episodes 10 hours earlier than KZfaq by Subscribing on Spotify - spoti.fi/2LSimPn or Apple Podcasts - apple.co/2MNqIgw. Here’s the timestamps: 00:00 What Does Steven Do For Work? 07:29 The Dynamics of a Card-Counting Team 15:30 Is Card-Counting Legal? 19:30 Getting Recognised & Kicked Out of Casinos 23:59 Is Card-Counting Fun or Stressful? 34:58 The Feeling of Losing Significant Money 38:12 Some of Steven’s Best Games Played 40:50 The Challenges of Carrying Huge Amounts of Cash Around 48:14 How to Not Be Recognised When You Are Well-Known 56:04 Building Relationships with Dealers 59:35 Where to Find Steven
@danhugo 9 ай бұрын
You should have Jeff Jonas on as a follow-up, from the other side. Since Steven referred to the movie, 21, you will be able to guess who got brought in to do the data analysis to find the teams… and yes, Jeff is absolutely interesting, I have spoken to him several times while he lived here in Vegas and after.
@stevenbridges 9 ай бұрын
Thanks for having me Chris! Had a blast!
@FreddotheWheelchairGuy 9 ай бұрын
I found this episode fascinating - can’t wait to check out your channel 😊
@simpleitsdanny 9 ай бұрын
Steven youre a legend!
@FactsMatter999 9 ай бұрын
Hello. No offense this is off topic I’m not an internet guy , I just look at patterns. I’ve noticed a pattern where people being interviewed immediately post a “thank you for having me” comment. Why is this ? You (and everybody else doing it) could have just told the podcaster thank you to his face … seems to me like an attention grabbing system that someone invented and now everyone is copying. Can you please explain to me why people do this ? Seems corny to me but I’m just a nobody. I’m just curious Thanks and good job with the podcast
@chiliman2073 9 ай бұрын
@@FactsMatter999I'm guessing it's another way for the interviewee to advertise their channel. I.e. those reading the comments can easily click through. Nothing wrong with that imo.
@albinothug 9 ай бұрын
Your insight about cover not actually adding a ton of EV as per surveillance workers… super useful comment 🎯
@rorystruthers 9 ай бұрын
This podcast has opened my mind to so many topics I thought would never be interesting to me. Chris, you are absolutely killing it with every single episode.
@taylordye529 9 ай бұрын
Glad he put some light on the giant issue of civil asset forfeiture
@Andrew_OHara 6 ай бұрын
Been watching Steven for YEARS, way back when he was doing magic!! Amazing podcast, very insightful and informative, lots of value shared!
@big_chungus73 9 ай бұрын
Christopher, great interview, but please give your Nan her glasses back.
@charlesratcliffe6839 9 ай бұрын
Started watching this guy’s YT when I started counting cards! Super informative and fun content.
@BhavishComedy 9 ай бұрын
I have been a viewer since well over a year but was watching probably every other episode but it's episodes like these that have made me a fan, I now by default type in your name when I am on a 30-40 minute drive. You ask such great questions and have such interesting guests
@MedicineofSound 9 ай бұрын
I had no idea that this was a real thing! Super interesting.. it should be illegal to kick out card counters. Someone needs to be able to balance the scales of justice on this money siphoning mafia. Happy there are people who do this, I salute you all!
@jamesedward9306 9 ай бұрын
I couldn't agree more. The casino's make a fortune on the weak and stupid. When someone finally comes along and through sheer intelligence and guile and courage manages to create an advantage for themselves, the casino gets to ban them from playing? On some fundamental level that just ain't right. It won't ever change, but it ain't right.
@stevenbridges 9 ай бұрын
In some states it is actually illegal to kick out card counters, so they do other things to make our lives difficult.
@MedicineofSound 9 ай бұрын
@@stevenbridges Thanks for responding man. Sending you good vibes for your winning endeavors!
@dogguy8603 5 ай бұрын
Personally casinos should be allowed to kick out card counters, simply because if they couldn't, then they would just take out the blackjack tables
@dixcn 9 ай бұрын
This was super interesting, i love unique skill based subcultures like this
@MrTkennedy14 9 ай бұрын
This episode was pure gold! Loved it!
@bigbenexploration 9 ай бұрын
Great conversation- love the more commonly covered topics, but great to listen to a lesser heard topic !
@IIDave 9 ай бұрын
This was super interesting! Great to get some insight into the reality of card counting.
@bethhagendorf 9 ай бұрын
Compelling. ❤ Love all the shows really enjoyed this for a nice break into something just as interesting as sociology / psychology.
@FreddotheWheelchairGuy 9 ай бұрын
Wonderful episode, very interesting- thanks 😊
@HeyImJanC 9 ай бұрын
Earlier than I have ever been! You're a big inspiration bro! Thanks for all the great work!
@juicebox86 9 ай бұрын
ditto!
@captainreynolds4340 4 ай бұрын
Great interview. Thanks for speaking against civil forfeiture, absolute tyrranical theft! Next guest, please ask them about how they handle taxes and the LLC structure they employ.
@Top10TipsforSportsBetting Ай бұрын
Thanks for the video!
@JasonLitman 9 ай бұрын
Used to follow his channel and always liked his attitude
@sophiasavanna1329 4 ай бұрын
Great interview
@Brian.Murphy 6 ай бұрын
Yes, it really comes down to money management skills...how much to bet, when. As Steven discussed you can go for many hours losing rather consistently, so starting w/ 60-100x your minimum bet is a requirement.
@YukalayleeGames 9 ай бұрын
Love this guy
@LPOneThree 5 ай бұрын
Funny experience I had at Tulalip Casino. I watched a video on different dice grips for craps and decided to try them out. Long story short, I'm at Tulalip Casino on an early Saturday morning with my girlfriend, the floor is pretty much dead but they had a craps table going. I get $100 worth of chips and am making the $5 minimum bets. I start winning a little bit, the pit boss lady sees how I'm holding the dice, gets an alarmed look on her face and asks for my ID. I literally laugh, look at my girlfriend and say "they think I'm hustling them!" This was like 10 years ago, I guess their paranoia hasn't changed lol. We walked out of there with a massive $150 profit, pretty much just covered the cost of the hotel room.
@neokomaru 9 ай бұрын
Sorry I have to comment that I'm loving Chris with glasses on 😗😍
@MX-CO 4 ай бұрын
How could they figure out someone was counting? Just because they are doing good? Or they watch for a while and have someone that can count as well?
@stantheoneandonly 9 ай бұрын
Re: civil asset forfeiture - Get yourself a combination locking bag. It's no threat if it's locked. Cops cannot search it or ask you to open it.
@OrdnanceTV 9 ай бұрын
Brilliant
@dalewetzel3029 9 ай бұрын
They can ask you to open it. You don’t have to say yes😊. And they CAN open it with a warrant.
@nichtsistkostenlos6565 9 ай бұрын
@@dalewetzel3029 If they've managed to get an actual warrant, the worry of civil asset forfeiture is probably second to actually being arrested and charged with an actual crime.
@djackson4605 9 ай бұрын
Amazing podcast, also can I check out these books please ma'am? Loved you in Mrs. Doubtfire.
@brentstembridge9683 9 ай бұрын
I am a dealer at a casino in NC, and about a couple of weeks ago, I dealt to a guy who was playing perfectly by the book, only betting $25-$50 per hand. After about two shoes of play, the casino manager came over to him and backed him off. After the casino manager left the table, I asked the guy what was going on. He said, "I guess they don't like winners." In addition, he informed me he had been playing here for the past 11 days. I'm guessing the count at my table never got good enough for him to raise his bet, or he was just attempting to cool off any possible attention on him?
@MackeyDeeez 6 ай бұрын
The tables games at Cherokee have gotten terrible anyway. When I went at 21 they had $10 tables and all of them other than the "party pit" were 3:2 payouts. Very quickly $10 minimum turned to $15, and then the 3:2 turned to 6:5, etc. I don't even count cards, but I'm not playing those games anymore now. Not even to mention the $35 resort fee they've tacked on and no more free rooms. They've gotten so greedy since 2020 it's incredible.
@tmtmtlsml 6 ай бұрын
@@MackeyDeeez This is the way. Tell all your friends and spread it around online that these casinos are ripping off everyone that walks through their doors even MORE than reasonably expected
@MackeyDeeez 6 ай бұрын
@@tmtmtlsml Unfortunately Cherokee has a monopoly on the whole industry. Besides this rinky dink one outside Charlotte which is currently slot machines in a double-wide, there's no other option for people for hundreds of miles. They have no competition and can do whatever they want. The poker room is good, though.
@MX-CO 4 ай бұрын
You should try to interview Micki Mace
@meganreese1486 7 ай бұрын
Geeze! The stories of casinos leaving gambling addicts to play and lose and play until they literally drop dead! There was a tribal casino near my home town that was dedicated to not being a negative impact on the community and customers. They actually flag addicts and kick them out and send them away with a bunch of resources to get help and even sometimes ban them from coming back.
@timsatterfield9752 5 ай бұрын
do you find a lot of 2 deck tables that are ‘no mid shoe entry’ so you cannot do team play on those? Do you stick to 6 deck or what do you guys do with your team play?
@ncannavino11 9 ай бұрын
Chris have a pro poker player on!!
@jesseshaver2262 9 ай бұрын
You should interview Keith Woods
@Brian.Murphy 6 ай бұрын
Bigger problem in counting is that most games in Vegas suck...ie) lots of decks, shoes, only dealing midway into the shoe, twists to rules (can't split aces comes to mind), etc. Brings the odds way down.
@user-pv2dp4dq8b 9 ай бұрын
No winning allowed! Play the game in a way that you lose money and we win! This is about having fun! People should have fun giving their money away under the pretense that they are winning! And then we have fun taking their money and preying on people with gambling addictions!
@willsykes9940 9 ай бұрын
First baby!!! Your podcasts are awesome Chris keep it up
@juicebox86 9 ай бұрын
100
@juicebox86 9 ай бұрын
Yo did you take Rich Roll's glasses, mate? LOL
@juicebox86 9 ай бұрын
I saw that he had left them on the table during your conversation....
@timsatterfield9752 5 ай бұрын
Card counting is nothing like the movies!! Small margins advantage….see true results in 1,000 hours….it isn’t just WIN, Win, win, win, win all the time.
@MX-CO 4 ай бұрын
I went to a casino the other day that had a continuous shuffler, not a shoe the game, it was absolutely terrible. In abot 15 minutes I saw several players lose their entire bank roll! I lost too. If I im got 17 the dealer got 18 ... if I got 18 the dealer got 19. If I got 20 the dealer got 20. I spit Aces with a six showing. And the dealer got a 5 car 21. It was awful, I wont ever play a continuous shuffle game ever again
@khal7702 9 ай бұрын
rip casino's off is bad way of putting it, he is just evening the playing ground so casino's don't have huge advantage
@MX-CO 4 ай бұрын
Whats the best casinos to play black jack in Reno?
@mr.meseeks2037 5 ай бұрын
Can you card count computer blackjack
@RoryCMahan 9 ай бұрын
I'm a full-time table games dealer and we tell people to leave with money, get something to eat, get something to sleep, slow down on the drinks, etc. We're not supposed to do that, but most of us do. No one ever listens.
@katewild2194 6 ай бұрын
I was a pro gambler betting on horses at the tracks every day going racing five days a week not the weekends I am at the track one day and I turn to a person I know and say I am fed up keep having to court this money all the time day in day out he looked at me not knowing what to think what he did not understand was I was having to count money before and after every race it's not like you can flash buddles of cash so lots of trips to the John.
@hotwork115k4 6 ай бұрын
CASINO EMPLOYEES ARE LIKE POLITICIANS THEY START OUT BEING GOOD PEOPLE UNTIL THEY GET CORRUPTED BY THE SYSTEM THEN THEY DON'T GIVE TWO SHITS IF YOU LOSE EVERYTHING THAT'S DEAR TO YOU
@tommyfu9271 5 ай бұрын
Nah most politicians are pond scum before they get into it.
@georged5047 4 ай бұрын
Hi, if you need to cash out 16k for example, can’t you just cash out 9k and keep the rest in chips, then come the next day and cash them out without showing ID?
@skatesscience101 2 ай бұрын
No this is structuring i believe
@delavan9141 9 ай бұрын
It would be interesting to know how many more people are playing now because of the popularity and notoriety of card-counting, and how much money that brings in to the casinos. Because I bet that only a small percentage of wanna-be card counters actually beat the game.
@GusWheeler 9 ай бұрын
LFG steven
@thomasmoss1066 5 ай бұрын
Why cant you put the winnings in the bank? Or make a money order?
@sedalia9356 9 ай бұрын
No to those glasses, although not a bad try
@raqueltorres6380 9 ай бұрын
You didn’t need help walking in and no one put glue on your pants.
@paulklemer 7 ай бұрын
Hi Steven
@andersmaidment 6 ай бұрын
When a police officer pulls you over and asks questions (in the USA) the answer to their question is, "Officer, I understand you have a job to do but, under the advice of my attorney, I do not answer questions." And stick to it. And yes, you have a 5th Amendment right in the USA, even if you're not a citizen. The only exception is at the border, where they can ask certain questions you have to answer.
@uuzd4s 6 ай бұрын
Aside from the memory & Arithmetic skills, you put in as much effort (or more) into disguising your identity & card counting skills, and then suddenly start making Max bets randomly, which is basically the biggest "tell" that Casino security is looking for w/ card counters ? I've been card counting for Years from the same 4 local Casinos but am in it to take just a few Hundred a week, which the Casino's allow. It pays the bills so there's no reason to "tip my hand" by starting w/ agressive betting and being Tresspassed.
@Longtack55 8 ай бұрын
My young nephew made $400k from online poker, and now coaches poker players. Auto-shufflers will screw counters. Adept players give the house a 2% advantage while dummies give the house 6% or so Ive been told.
@projectdesign4675 6 ай бұрын
Here's a comment......get your chips, put them on the table and walk off for a phone call and meander back......have a faux wife keep getting chips from you...many things you can do to look disinterested.....also, when you play big (get someone else's players card ) and bring diversion (such as asking for comps/dinner/show/limo service)?
@zencity-xt5ky 9 ай бұрын
The host sounds more like a researcher, but interesting conversation...
@zencity-xt5ky 9 ай бұрын
😂🎉
@ligafftheindifferent3495 6 ай бұрын
When casinos ban mid-shoe entry, is the Big Player strategy defeated? It certainly seems so.
@tmtmtlsml 6 ай бұрын
Yes, that particular method of team play is reliant on mid-shoe entry. I've also run across casinos that limit how much a player can bet when they join mid-shoe to prevent this as well
@VladimirVladimirovich1952 7 ай бұрын
I know next to nothing about counting cards, Steven’s background and gambling games etc. But could someone explain why a professional card counter would show his face on a podcast? Sounds counter productive to a guy actively counting cards as a profession.
@tmtmtlsml 6 ай бұрын
The most obvious reason is that he receives a sizeable income from his videos and the assorted sponsorships that he gets through them. Colin Jones from Blackjack Apprenticeship also publishes videos about card counting (and casinos in general) for the same reason: it increases his non-blackjack revenue.
@holyearth 5 ай бұрын
Where ISN’T he banned from?
@paulsansonetti7410 9 ай бұрын
The money comes from old guys ,who can't do it anymore, willing to bankroll you for splitting the profits
@wombatfeeder999 5 ай бұрын
How can you ensure that your teammates are not ratholing money and saying they had a loss?
@OfficialCANVAS 2 ай бұрын
That wouldn't be a teammate would it?
@nik07nik 9 ай бұрын
Mate...no on the clear frames.
@drmedwuast 6 ай бұрын
why does he say "gemerally"
@jan-olofharnvall8760 9 ай бұрын
Questions! Why would any casino let Mr Bridges in? Wouldn’t they, at least the big ones, keep track of the likes of him?🤨 Not that the casinos won’t turn a profit and if they don’t I wouldn’t loose sleep over it😂
@HarringtonKyle 9 ай бұрын
I believe these gamblers are all losers in the end
@benjamindover2483 7 ай бұрын
@@HarringtonKyleit's mathematically proven you can win
@algroulx1774 5 ай бұрын
33:30 ethical decency in casinos...I heard this story from a dealer who said casinos would gladly give new clothes to old people if they peed themselves cause they would remain addicted to their slot machine and not go to the bathroom.
@sialee5926 9 ай бұрын
We all need to rip off the casinos, since their machines & card games are so RIGGED!!
@KayFabe87 4 ай бұрын
They are not actually “rigged”. They just have a built in mathematical advantage, that when applied to a basically unlimited timeline and unlimited bankroll, results in a profit for the house. The individual player typically has a limited bankroll and limited time at the tables. The house advantage in blackjack is only about 1-2% if the player plays in accordance with blackjack ‘basic strategy’. The worst odds for the player are at the Roulette table where the house advantage is about 5%.
@NextScamdemic 4 ай бұрын
Is it a crime to give your chips to another individual and they cash them in? (I'm assuming it must be a crime because someone has had to have thought of that idea before)
@tawnos1787 6 ай бұрын
Civil forfeiture is just one of the many ways our government here is corrupt. But regarding your concerns about lying to a cop, you don't have to lie to them, because you don't have to answer their questions at all.
@freefallappz 9 ай бұрын
the lifestyle sucks… Spending your life in those terrible places . Ugh 😂
@tmtmtlsml 6 ай бұрын
I would gladly spend my time in casinos making a comfortable hourly rate than at a regular 9-5 job. It's not without its bad days, but no job is
@kc2150 6 ай бұрын
The continues Card Shuffler Take over most of Europe, it is not possible to count Cards at these Mashines
@MediumDSpeaks 6 ай бұрын
Funnily enough, what Stephen says about being a white male in your 20s being the sign of a cars counter was proven right anecdotally when Stephen met an old Asian man at a casino and thought he was just a terribly bad gambler, only to later meet the man who knew Stephen had been counting and in fact himself had made thousands of dollars because he was doing a type of counting so much more advanced and complex than Stephen could understand that Stephen couldn't tell whatsoever that he had just stepped into that man's action and messed up his counting game
@ligafftheindifferent3495 6 ай бұрын
There are not really any "more advanced and complex" counting systems in the way you imply. There are more complex systems, but they are only SLIGHTLY more accurate. In effect, two counters playing the same table but using different systems will more or less always reach the same conclusion about bet sizing and play deviations. If they do get different answers, the difference in EV will be very small. Now it is possible that the other guy was tracking aces, hold carding, or some other method that is not card counting and will not look at all the same because the basic method of getting an edge is simply different and looking for different things.
@tommyfu9271 5 ай бұрын
Being an Asian person when it comes to card counting is a super power. You can get away with absolute murder and play for hours on end.
@rce4651 6 ай бұрын
how do you lose 30k without giving out id? something does not add up?
@TonyYeungExe 9 ай бұрын
Chris looks look with glasses.
@NMLP92 6 ай бұрын
You don’t have to tell US cops if you have anything. 5th amendment.
@austingutierrez4701 9 ай бұрын
Quit cutting ppl off mid sentence
@raqueltorres6380 9 ай бұрын
I am a table game’s dealer by career. It is adult entertainment just like the strip club❤
@jasonetter9171 9 ай бұрын
Absolutely 100% lie to the cops if they ask you if you have cash on you.
@HarringtonKyle 9 ай бұрын
Why would you talk to cops?
@ryanchristian6020 9 ай бұрын
Wouldn’t this basically end your career. ( just started vid)
@paulsansonetti7410 9 ай бұрын
Get a car with an electronic stash box to stop the cops from finding it ,or just never operate a motor vehicle US cops actually steal more than burglars through asset forfeiture
@faismasterx 5 ай бұрын
Card counting isn't even worth it, unless you're bet spreads are into the thousands of dollars.
@bearcat729 9 ай бұрын
The computer cameras with AI will shut this all down soon.
@sirrathersplendid4825 9 ай бұрын
Then again, you could probably harness AI to do a very sophisticated form of card-counting for you.
@belchicola 6 ай бұрын
That's what people thought when 21 the movie came out! - back in 2008.
@johnodonoghue651 9 ай бұрын
Sounds like a lot of trouble for such a low payout after breaking up the loot between everyone. No wonder he is doing youtube now.
@gzartuche 9 ай бұрын
Guy need to learn his rights js
@stephenkearny1504 9 ай бұрын
Some of this is bullocks. A family member used to count cards same process as Mr. Bridges and he lost his entire bankroll after hundreds of hours. I hear that counting completely takes the fun out of the game as well. From all the backoffs and trespassing he can no longer play at many casinos now. He tells me there is no such thing as zero risk or a long run that guarantees lush winnings.
@patheticpear2897 9 ай бұрын
If a small edge does not guarantee winning in the long run, how do Casinos make their money?
@lencumbow 9 ай бұрын
Yeah, it takes the fun out of playing like knowing chess openings takes the fun out of chess. Much more fun to not know anything and just wing it.
@YellowMouse998 9 ай бұрын
Its clear to me you may have a family member who card counts, but you have no idea.
@gabagabago0l 8 ай бұрын
Or hes just bad at counting? Why did your family member fail when steven and thousands of counters make a lot of money.
@isaacchassman6453 9 ай бұрын
This guys a nerd and makes no money on a 1-2% edge
@YellowMouse998 9 ай бұрын
Not true Isaac. Clear to me you have no idea
@gsomethingsomething2658 5 ай бұрын
Nerds rule the world. Haven't you noticed?
@isaacchassman6453 5 ай бұрын
@@gsomethingsomething2658 there are like 3 nerds that have all the money, but no, they are the exception
@Vincent35361 9 ай бұрын
It is no longer a story that the world is experiencing a global economic crisis, I am very happy that I received 41,000 USD from my 13,000 USD investment every 10 days.
@Hansen721 9 ай бұрын
This must be an investment with Mrs. Laura Karen
@Hansen721 9 ай бұрын
She helped me to recover what I lost when trying to recover.
@Debra5316 9 ай бұрын
Wow, I'm surprised someone mentioned that Mrs. Laura thought I was the only one dealing with her.
@Clark4597 9 ай бұрын
I'm a long term investor. Withdraw my profits of over $56,000 last week
@Bobby5315 9 ай бұрын
Long term investment is the best now. I invested $20,500 with Mrs Laura and i top up my trade with $500 every week. Now, I'm having over $147,345 on my dashboard. Toping up your trade is really important....
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