Can Betting Strategies Used in Blackjack Help You Win?
By Stephen R. Tabone
This article is about betting strategies used on blackjack and relates to other casino games too. I delve into that mysterious and often misunderstood world of betting strategies and systems.
I’ll attempt to explain the principal codes of why using one can lead to success and at other times fail to.
Join me in this guide as I try to make sense of what betting strategies are all about. And whether they can help players win more in the short-term or generate any long-term tangible profits. My focus will be on topics such as:
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The Macau SAR Government reported significant growth when it came to gaming tax revenue generated in January 2024. The city earned MOP$7.34 billion, or US$911 million in January, which is 365% more than it had in January 2023.
The industry is recovering:
As the Financial Services Bureau (DSF) reported back then, the tax revenue in the same month 2023 was MOP$1.58 billion, or US$195 million.
Macau suffered a lot during the COVID-19 pandemic due to various restrictions that took place back then. However, the city is recovering, and the figures prove that. In 2022, when the traveling restrictions were still in place, the revenue was MOP$42.4 billion (US$5.26 million), while after the restrictions were lifted on January 8, 2023, the annual tax revenue was MOP183.06 billion (US$22.75 billion).
According to the source, in December 2023, the GGR was MOP$18.57 billion (US$2.30 billion). Compared to December 2022, an increase of 433% was recorded.
In its report, DSF included its budget for gaming tax revenues, which were MOP$83.6 billion (US$10.4 billion) in 2024. The budget is 82% of the whole 2024 budget, which is MOP$102.0 billion, or US$12.7 billion. The revenue generated in January is 8.8% of the whole gaming tax budget the government prepared for 2024.
Upcoming auction:
Meanwhile, a second attempt at auctioning 36 real estate properties owned by former Suncity Group Chairman Alvin Chau is reportedly underway after the Macau Court’s first attempt in Sept 2023 failed to attract bidders.
According to Inside Asian Gaming, in July 2023 it was decided that the properties would be auctioned off. The auction of the belongings of Chau and Grupo Tai Tak Lei was supposed to be sold on September 11, however, the auction wasn’t a success.
The potential buyers will be able to purchase 31 parking spaces and five commercial properties. Parking spaces can be purchased for the price of MOP$1.133.000 to MOP$1.184.500, and commercial properties will cost from MOP$55.517.000 to MOP$21.9 million, which is the same price as it was at the previous auction.
The properties are worth about MOP$600 million, or US$74.5 million.
The interested parties will be able to bid on the auction which will be held on February 20.
The auction will be held a month after Chau was sentenced to 18 years in prison. On top of that, he and his partners are obligated to pay over MOP$25.5 billion in damages to the government.
Will the properties be sold this time? It’s a valid question since the Macau property market is going through hard times. The Financial Services Bureau revealed that in January only 105 properties were purchased, which is a decrease of 93% compared to the same month in 2019.
The Star Sydney will be subject to a new inquiry to assess its suitability to hold a license in New South Wales (NSW).
The NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) appointed Adam Bell on Monday to carry out a 15-week investigation and deliver the findings by May 31. The NICC isn’t happy about the speed at which the casino operator is making changes to comply with the recommendations of a 2022 inquiry.
The previous probe found that the casino was a hotbed of criminal activity, leading to a suspension of its license and an AU$100m (US$65m) fine. Lawyer Adam Bell also led up that previous inquiry, delivering his damning conclusion in September 2022.
The Star Sydney has had 18 months to demonstrate its progress
NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford explained that The Star Sydney has had 18 months to demonstrate its progress and show it is suitable for a license. He noted that the company does not lack the resources and capability to do so.
Speaking about the matter, Crawford said that the NICC was “not satisfied The Star was progressing its remediation in a timely fashion.” Some of the operator has to make include properly funding its remediation program and bolstering its anti-money laundering controls.
The post New NSW Inquiry to Probe The Star Sydney’s Lack of Reform appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
Three weeks ago, we all saw the selfie and I for one swooned like a southern belle. Shaun Deeb was on track and looking great heading into the final four months of his $1m prop bet with Bill Perkins. The six-time bracelet winner and former WSOP Player of the Year didn’t just post a thirst trap. He also shared a dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan showing 23.9% body fat percentage.
Entering the challenge, he weighed in at 306 pounds and had a body fat percentage of around 40%.
In March 2023, Deeb wagered $100,000 at odds of 10-1 that he could get his body fat down to just 17% by the start of the 2024 WSOP. Entering the challenge, he weighed in at 306 pounds and had a body fat percentage of around 40%. Perkins’ $1m was obviously a massive incentive, but nonetheless it was a tall order and most people gave him little to no chance of getting there.
Well last night, according to Deeb, he and Perkins agreed on a buy-out to the tune of $800,000. The bet is officially over, but Deeb is determined to hit his goal anyway. He has even offered to take bets on himself if anybody doubts his conviction. It would be a brave person to wager against a man who, after this, will surely go down in history as one of the great prop bettors.
Poker players love weight loss and body fat props
These types of weight or body fat bets have been all the rage in poker for several decades. Back in 2010, six-time bracelet winner Ted Forrest bet Mike Matusow that we could go from 188 pounds to under 138 pounds in just two months. With $2m on the line, Forrest ended up making the weight although the bet was never resolved.
In 2017, Matt and Jaime Staples won $150,000 from Bill Perkins after completing a very creative bet at generous odds of 50-1 . The brothers were given one year to weigh within one pound of each other. At the beginning, Matt was 134 pounds and Jaime was 304 pounds but on March 25, 2018, they both weighed in at exactly 188.3 pounds.
In 2022, Doug Polk wagered $200,000 against Perkins that he could drop from 27.7% body fat to 13.85% in 12 months. On February 10, 2023, Polk conceded defeat after only getting down to 15.1% body fat.
An escape hatch
After victory against Polk, Perkins must have fancied his chances of taking another six-figure sum from a poker pro after he locked in the bet with Deeb. Body fat bets are notoriously more difficult because you need to be meticulous with the type of diet and the type of exercise that you do. You need to cut carbs, but continue to eat healthy fats and lots of protein. Cardio workouts are not as effective as weight-training.
from 306 pounds to 221 pounds, losing well over half of his body fat
Aware of what was needed, though, Deeb hired a team who knew how to get him there. On January 25, he posted a topless photo and a scan which showed that he had gone from 306 pounds to 221 pounds, losing well over half of his body fat along the way. Three weeks on, both of those figures have continued to drop, prompting Perkins to pursue an escape hatch.
Yesterday, Deeb tweeted the outcome of some negotiations he had completed with Perkins on Friday, February 16. He said:
“Last night after discussion with my wife Ashley, we decided to accept the buyout from Bill Perkins for $800K. I can’t thank him and Charlie enough for the bet they offered – it gave me the motivation to prove everyone wrong. I’m still working toward my goal of 17%. I’m going to get there to show my kids that if I can do this, they can do plenty of things people say are too hard or impossible. I initially thought to not announce the buyout since I am determined to reach the goal, but too many people have side action to not let them know that Bill bought out and at what %.”
Determination was always his secret weapon
Deeb was understandably in triumphant mood and still bullish about his chances of hitting the target.
“If anyone doubts me on still getting there”, he said, “I’m open to taking a lot more bets on myself.”
Speaking exclusively to VSO News just moments after the announcement, Deeb added: “If I want to do something, I will do it. From Day 1, I was very committed. I was actually ready to start ozempic before the bet was offered so let’s just say I had already made up my mind.”
It is clear that from the outset that it was Deeb’s determination that was his secret weapon. I asked him about tough days along the way, but he immediately played it down, saying:
I knew the long-term EV, so I had my eye on the goal whole time.”
“Nah, it was never too hard. My trainer, nutritionist, doctor and massage therapist all kept me at peak performance levels throughout. Being an MTT pro for 20 years, I knew the long-term EV, so I had my eye on the goal whole time. I honestly had very few cravings which made it easy. I cheated fewer than ten times and when I did cheat, I only grabbed a minimum amount of the snack.”
Deeb ended his statement by making an offer to help others in the community: “Anyone who needs advice on their own goals, feel free to reach out – if I can’t help I can direct you to someone who can.”
He turns 38 in just ten days and is very conscious of the fact that he has turned his health around at a crucial point in his life. He also wants to be a role model for his kids, so seeing this 17% body fat goal through is important for him beyond any additional bets that may get booked from here on out.
The post Bill Perkins Buys Out of Shaun Deeb Body Fat Percentage Bet For $800,000 appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
