Some say yes, some say no....
What do you think? :+clueless
What do you think? :+clueless
IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
- Thread starter THE SHRINK
- Start date
cheapseats
EOG Master
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
Well, whatever it is, the dealer likely is not on the phone with another player. I just stay away, if I cant get it live, I dont need it-simple.
Well, whatever it is, the dealer likely is not on the phone with another player. I just stay away, if I cant get it live, I dont need it-simple.
winkyduck
TYVM Morgan William!!!
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
like most here i, too, say: 100% HELL YES!
this is why i have NEVER played on line BJ or any other game except Poker
when i saw Jay Cohen in his "(Prison) Camp" outside Vegas i saw many things and learned many as well. while there i made sure to ask him something along the lines of if online games such as BJ and the like are fair or rigged and thus something i should play or avoid. the look he gave me is one i will NEVER forget and his reply was along the lines of "HELL NO" on the subject of whether i should play games online or not
NEVER forgot that - never will - never will play BJ or any game other than Poker online
like most here i, too, say: 100% HELL YES!
this is why i have NEVER played on line BJ or any other game except Poker
when i saw Jay Cohen in his "(Prison) Camp" outside Vegas i saw many things and learned many as well. while there i made sure to ask him something along the lines of if online games such as BJ and the like are fair or rigged and thus something i should play or avoid. the look he gave me is one i will NEVER forget and his reply was along the lines of "HELL NO" on the subject of whether i should play games online or not
NEVER forgot that - never will - never will play BJ or any game other than Poker online
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
i wonder...does that include the wsex casino....and if hes sure online casinos are rigged why wouldnt the poker rooms also be?
the poker rooms have 1000000 times more incentive to rigg the outcome than the casinos do....
and to answer the initial question...of course they are all rigged, poker and casinos.
i wonder...does that include the wsex casino....and if hes sure online casinos are rigged why wouldnt the poker rooms also be?
the poker rooms have 1000000 times more incentive to rigg the outcome than the casinos do....
and to answer the initial question...of course they are all rigged, poker and casinos.
Viejo Dinosaur
EOG Master
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
I work in the business and I don't go near online casino gambling....but I have seen some winners; just not very many...
Of course I can say the same thing about live casino games...
Wouldn't want an electronic gadjet throw dice or deal cards for me...
I work in the business and I don't go near online casino gambling....but I have seen some winners; just not very many...
Of course I can say the same thing about live casino games...
Wouldn't want an electronic gadjet throw dice or deal cards for me...
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
If you REALLY believe that, then you're not as sharp as I thought you were. Conversely I'M NOT EITHER, as I've played OL. The odds against a dealer ANY dealer consistently getting the cards they do is impossible. No "brick & morter" place ever has, and I've been playing for over 35 yrs! One day just for the hell of it I kept track of 200 hands. In that time I had 3BJ & b2b 10 cards 9 times, of those 9 I got 4 pushes. The D had 31 20's & 12 BJ's. Also busted "hard 12"2348ji23e, 10 out 12 hands, the D busted the H12 once.:doh1 Haven't played for over 2 yrs and NEVER will again. If you do and by some miracle get up on them, QUIT!!! And cash out if you can. Luckily I was only playing $5 a hand.
If you REALLY believe that, then you're not as sharp as I thought you were. Conversely I'M NOT EITHER, as I've played OL. The odds against a dealer ANY dealer consistently getting the cards they do is impossible. No "brick & morter" place ever has, and I've been playing for over 35 yrs! One day just for the hell of it I kept track of 200 hands. In that time I had 3BJ & b2b 10 cards 9 times, of those 9 I got 4 pushes. The D had 31 20's & 12 BJ's. Also busted "hard 12"2348ji23e, 10 out 12 hands, the D busted the H12 once.:doh1 Haven't played for over 2 yrs and NEVER will again. If you do and by some miracle get up on them, QUIT!!! And cash out if you can. Luckily I was only playing $5 a hand.
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William Lee
Banned
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
People win playing black jack online. I won alot playing online black jack at both BetJamaica and Youwager but also lost alot at both. Down more than up over all. But just like at a real casino most are down more than they are up too. Bottom line is online casinos might be rigged to a point of the sportsbooks getting some of their money back from losses. If you feel a sports book was hit hard a certain day, stay away from their casinos cause they can easily get some money back. But if you are a steady loser at their sportsbook, try their casino, you'll win some cash so they keep you at their place.
People win playing black jack online. I won alot playing online black jack at both BetJamaica and Youwager but also lost alot at both. Down more than up over all. But just like at a real casino most are down more than they are up too. Bottom line is online casinos might be rigged to a point of the sportsbooks getting some of their money back from losses. If you feel a sports book was hit hard a certain day, stay away from their casinos cause they can easily get some money back. But if you are a steady loser at their sportsbook, try their casino, you'll win some cash so they keep you at their place.
BEANTOWNJIM
Banned
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT ITS DEFINITLY FIXED I WAS UP CLOSE TO 9 DIMES ONLINE THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT WAS LIKE I COULDNT WIN ANOTHER HAND.FIRST OFF IT WAS A MIRACLE I EVER GOT UP THAT MUCH PLAYING 100 DOLLARS A HAND THEY MUST HAVE HAD A COMPUTER GLITCH THAT GOT FIXED.
IF YOU NOTICE THE DEALER WILL SHOW A PICTURE CARD ALMOST 85% OF THE TIME YOU BUST EVERYTIME YOU TAKE A HIT ON 12 - 15 THE DEALER VERY SELDOM BUSTS ITS UNBELIAVABLE.IT GOT SO BAD AT THE END WHEN I WAS LOSING BACK 8500 DOLLARS I WAS TAKING A HIT WHEN I HAD 18 BECAUSE I KNEW THE DEALER WAS SITTING ON 20 WITH THE PICTURE CARD SHOWING.ITS THE MOST FIXED THING YOU CAN PLAY 2348ji23e
THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT ITS DEFINITLY FIXED I WAS UP CLOSE TO 9 DIMES ONLINE THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT WAS LIKE I COULDNT WIN ANOTHER HAND.FIRST OFF IT WAS A MIRACLE I EVER GOT UP THAT MUCH PLAYING 100 DOLLARS A HAND THEY MUST HAVE HAD A COMPUTER GLITCH THAT GOT FIXED.
IF YOU NOTICE THE DEALER WILL SHOW A PICTURE CARD ALMOST 85% OF THE TIME YOU BUST EVERYTIME YOU TAKE A HIT ON 12 - 15 THE DEALER VERY SELDOM BUSTS ITS UNBELIAVABLE.IT GOT SO BAD AT THE END WHEN I WAS LOSING BACK 8500 DOLLARS I WAS TAKING A HIT WHEN I HAD 18 BECAUSE I KNEW THE DEALER WAS SITTING ON 20 WITH THE PICTURE CARD SHOWING.ITS THE MOST FIXED THING YOU CAN PLAY 2348ji23e
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
Hell yes..Hogan never touches that stuff
Hell yes..Hogan never touches that stuff
ShavenCoinpurse
EOG Dedicated
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
Definitely rigged.
I still play for fun sometimes for $1-$3 hands when bored. I already know the outcome of some hands before the cards are turned because you can recognize patterns/hands.
Definitely rigged.
I still play for fun sometimes for $1-$3 hands when bored. I already know the outcome of some hands before the cards are turned because you can recognize patterns/hands.
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
I only play at CRIS. It is not rigged.
I only play at CRIS. It is not rigged.
WVU
EOG Master
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
I know with 99.99% certainty that blackjack from the major software providers are fair. I have many millions of hands of data to back that up. This topic comes up every couple months or so. Some of you guys try it and play a few hundred hands and claim it is rigged when you lose.
I know with 99.99% certainty that blackjack from the major software providers are fair. I have many millions of hands of data to back that up. This topic comes up every couple months or so. Some of you guys try it and play a few hundred hands and claim it is rigged when you lose.
MadCapper
Head <in> Moderation
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
When Pinnacle just opened its online casino I was playing Carribean Stud and was dealt TWO "4 of a kinds" with the dealer QUALIFYING in a span of 15 minutes. I have played stud for 10 yrs and I NEVER was dealt a "4 of a kind"! Let alone TWO in a 15 minute span. I won over 15K in the Casino in a 2 hr span. I lost, and im not exaggeratin, at least 95 of my next 100 hands. Lost everything and more back to them.
I still have the transactions copy from the night I would like to forget.
When Pinnacle just opened its online casino I was playing Carribean Stud and was dealt TWO "4 of a kinds" with the dealer QUALIFYING in a span of 15 minutes. I have played stud for 10 yrs and I NEVER was dealt a "4 of a kind"! Let alone TWO in a 15 minute span. I won over 15K in the Casino in a 2 hr span. I lost, and im not exaggeratin, at least 95 of my next 100 hands. Lost everything and more back to them.
I still have the transactions copy from the night I would like to forget.
BEANTOWNJIM
Banned
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
TESTING,TESTING I JUST WANT TO SEE IF I AM OFF POST REVIEW :finger004
TESTING,TESTING I JUST WANT TO SEE IF I AM OFF POST REVIEW :finger004
JerseyShop101
EOG Dedicated
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
The problem is that even when bettors win, whether it be a small amount or a large amount, most don't stop until it is all gone. Mostly because once they start losing they want that "high point" back, most likely going on tilt and losing it all. And thats when they say it is fixed. Your best chance is to go in with a realistic predetermined stoppage point, and then quit.
Of course, thats easier said than done.
Its a lot easier to lose 10 hands of blackjack in a row than it is to lose 10 straight wagers in a row.
The problem is that even when bettors win, whether it be a small amount or a large amount, most don't stop until it is all gone. Mostly because once they start losing they want that "high point" back, most likely going on tilt and losing it all. And thats when they say it is fixed. Your best chance is to go in with a realistic predetermined stoppage point, and then quit.
Of course, thats easier said than done.
Its a lot easier to lose 10 hands of blackjack in a row than it is to lose 10 straight wagers in a row.
JerseyShop101
EOG Dedicated
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
Why would WVU lie? Its his opinion. What would he have to gain from it? Unless he owns his own online casino or something.
Why would WVU lie? Its his opinion. What would he have to gain from it? Unless he owns his own online casino or something.
Doug
2
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
Are you ?
I'm with the guys saying rigged. The few times I've played it, the cards ran awfully strange.
Jim, no casino at Matchbook.
Are you ?
I'm with the guys saying rigged. The few times I've played it, the cards ran awfully strange.
Jim, no casino at Matchbook.
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
I guess that depends on your definition of "rigged".
IMO, I wouldn't consider it rigged if, by use of random number generation, the casino randomly shuffles six decks of cards (or however many decks they want to use) and deals them out exactly the same order as the generator put them in there.
However, if the game is somehow "rigged" to make sure the house has a 1% or 2% advantage, or the dealer will win 52% of the hands, then rigged is rigged.
I'm inclined to believe it isn't rigged, but like most, I've experienced the same sort of bad luck that many on here have. I've gone through streaks where the dealer will win 12 hands in a row (and of course, the last four or five I've upped my bet trying to recoup my losses because 'I can't possibly lose 8/9/10 hands in a row'). By the same token, like Jim, I've gotten way, way ahead of the house many times, so most of the time I'd say that the cards had been in my favor the majority of the time I built up my bankroll. I was one of those lucky people who took Oddsmaker up on their free $100 promotion, bankrolled it up to $1500, cashed out and was paid by them. The vast majority of that was done by playing BJ, though I did hit one big slot machine payout (on a lark), maybe $500 or so.
I've also read about people who've done studies about the randomness of the cards dealt, and at a certain online casino at least, the way the cards came up virtually proved it was rigged. Supposedly, if the dealer had a two card bust hand (between hard 12 and 16), the software would 'peek' at the top card. If the card was a face card, the software would silently burn that card, and the next card on the deck was dealt to the dealer regardless of what it was. This prevented the dealer from busting much more than he otherwise would have.
At any rate, I've built a nice bankroll (for me, anyway) several times playing BJ online, only to lose the entire amount in a matter of minutes as I hit a losing streak and start increasing my bet. For whatever reason, there sure seems to be a correlation between increasing my bet size and my percentage of lost hands increasing. Not enough of a sample size to prove anything, but it happens often enough to make me think it sure isn't completely random.
I guess that depends on your definition of "rigged".
IMO, I wouldn't consider it rigged if, by use of random number generation, the casino randomly shuffles six decks of cards (or however many decks they want to use) and deals them out exactly the same order as the generator put them in there.
However, if the game is somehow "rigged" to make sure the house has a 1% or 2% advantage, or the dealer will win 52% of the hands, then rigged is rigged.
I'm inclined to believe it isn't rigged, but like most, I've experienced the same sort of bad luck that many on here have. I've gone through streaks where the dealer will win 12 hands in a row (and of course, the last four or five I've upped my bet trying to recoup my losses because 'I can't possibly lose 8/9/10 hands in a row'). By the same token, like Jim, I've gotten way, way ahead of the house many times, so most of the time I'd say that the cards had been in my favor the majority of the time I built up my bankroll. I was one of those lucky people who took Oddsmaker up on their free $100 promotion, bankrolled it up to $1500, cashed out and was paid by them. The vast majority of that was done by playing BJ, though I did hit one big slot machine payout (on a lark), maybe $500 or so.
I've also read about people who've done studies about the randomness of the cards dealt, and at a certain online casino at least, the way the cards came up virtually proved it was rigged. Supposedly, if the dealer had a two card bust hand (between hard 12 and 16), the software would 'peek' at the top card. If the card was a face card, the software would silently burn that card, and the next card on the deck was dealt to the dealer regardless of what it was. This prevented the dealer from busting much more than he otherwise would have.
At any rate, I've built a nice bankroll (for me, anyway) several times playing BJ online, only to lose the entire amount in a matter of minutes as I hit a losing streak and start increasing my bet. For whatever reason, there sure seems to be a correlation between increasing my bet size and my percentage of lost hands increasing. Not enough of a sample size to prove anything, but it happens often enough to make me think it sure isn't completely random.
Doug
2
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
I've gotten way, way ahead of the house many times, so most of the time I'd say that the cards had been in my favor the majority of the time I built up my bankroll.
.........................................................................................................
Isn't if shuffled after every hand ?
I've gotten way, way ahead of the house many times, so most of the time I'd say that the cards had been in my favor the majority of the time I built up my bankroll.
.........................................................................................................
Isn't if shuffled after every hand ?
mr merlin
EOG Master
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
It is extremely rare to lose 10 hands in a row in live blackjack, happens all the time and worse online.
WVU
EOG Master
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
you have no clue about me and what I know about online blackjack, but I would say I am one of maybe a couple of dozen people in the world who have as much experience playing it and researching it.
you have no clue about me and what I know about online blackjack, but I would say I am one of maybe a couple of dozen people in the world who have as much experience playing it and researching it.
WVU
EOG Master
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
define extrememly rare and define "happens all the time". Keep in mind you will see 10 times the amount of hands playing online versus live.
define extrememly rare and define "happens all the time". Keep in mind you will see 10 times the amount of hands playing online versus live.
shdw01
EOG Dedicated
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
I have played a shitload of times online and I have won some and lost a LOT.....
to be quite honest, I do not think it is "100% random" as suggested....I do think over the long haul online stats and live stats will even out.
I have noticed there seems to be much more variance in online BJ. At first I thought it was because there are far more hands being played online in a shorter amount of time (similar to frequency of losing to one-outers in poker).....but it is pretty ridiculous the number of times and length of the streaks that I have encountered.
FWIW, I do not play at the "bigger" name books....they have shut down my casino and have only played the past few years primarily at smaller online clients that support local agents.....
basically, stay away.
I have played a shitload of times online and I have won some and lost a LOT.....
to be quite honest, I do not think it is "100% random" as suggested....I do think over the long haul online stats and live stats will even out.
I have noticed there seems to be much more variance in online BJ. At first I thought it was because there are far more hands being played online in a shorter amount of time (similar to frequency of losing to one-outers in poker).....but it is pretty ridiculous the number of times and length of the streaks that I have encountered.
FWIW, I do not play at the "bigger" name books....they have shut down my casino and have only played the past few years primarily at smaller online clients that support local agents.....
basically, stay away.
Doug
2
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
I still don't trust online BJ.
I'd expect that if I took 10k, and played ( Basic strategy) at $100 a hand until I lost the 10k ( no matter how many hands it took), then did the same in a real casino ( same rules, except for the shuffle every hand)), I'd last longer ( more hands, not time) at the B&M casino.
I choose $100/hand because I think online is rigged to let the $2 bets win.
Remember video poker was rigged in LV in the late 80's/ early 90's at bars serviced by American Coin.
If you can rig it in Vegas, you can rig it online from places like CR, a lot more easily. Online BJ and VP are somewhat similar, IMO.
I still don't trust online BJ.
I'd expect that if I took 10k, and played ( Basic strategy) at $100 a hand until I lost the 10k ( no matter how many hands it took), then did the same in a real casino ( same rules, except for the shuffle every hand)), I'd last longer ( more hands, not time) at the B&M casino.
I choose $100/hand because I think online is rigged to let the $2 bets win.
Remember video poker was rigged in LV in the late 80's/ early 90's at bars serviced by American Coin.
If you can rig it in Vegas, you can rig it online from places like CR, a lot more easily. Online BJ and VP are somewhat similar, IMO.
Doug
2
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
<table width="500" border="0" cellpadding="5"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" valign="top" align="left">COLUMN: John L. Smith
<!-- QUICKREAD --> Harris case nothing compared to the big one that went away <!-- UPPER SIDEBAR --> </td></tr><tr align="left"> <td valign="top" width="120" align="left">
<map name="sidebar"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,1,91,33" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/1997/Mar-12-Wed-1997/news/"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,34,91,57" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/1997/Mar-12-Wed-1997/sports/"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,58,91,85" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/1997/Mar-12-Wed-1997/business/"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,86,91,116" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/1997/Mar-12-Wed-1997/lifestyles/"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,117,91,145" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/neon/"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,146,91,175" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/1997/Mar-12-Wed-1997/opinion/"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,176,91,206" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/in-depth/"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,207,91,237" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/help_about/classifieds.html"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,238,43,265" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/help_about/"> <area shape="rect" coords="44,238,91,265" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/cgi-bin/current.cgi"> </map>
</td> <!-- TEXT of COL1 --> <td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="340"> <!-- BYLINE -->
<!-- STORY --> At the worst possible time, the apparition reappears.
Right when elected officials and gaming regulators could use a respite from the criticism of Nevada's casino industry, the bloody ghost of a former computer specialist is about to materialize.
But wait. It's not ex-Gaming Control Board lab technician Ron Harris, who has so thoroughly embarrassed the state's regulators after being caught cheating video poker machines. Harris is the subject of a segment on ABC's "PrimeTime Live" news magazine. Videotapes of Harris generated by the state attorney general's office, which found their way into the hands of investigative reporter Brian Ross, are replete with unsubstantiated allegations of corruption and wrongdoing throughout Nevada's casino industry.
State politicians and gaming regulators continue to fret over the potential fallout of the so-called Harris tapes with a public already skeptical of the propriety of casino contraptions.
But Harris is not the man haunting this issue.
It's the ghost of Larry Volk who figures to send chills up the spines of gaming's critics from California to Connecticut. I've been writing about Larry Volk for years in an attempt to keep his story alive.
Volk was the American Coin Co. computer technician who said he was ordered by the slot machine company's owners to design a program to prevent video poker machines from paying off jackpots with maximum coins bet. The gaff protected bar owners from being hit with large jackpots. That is, until a control board investigation exposed the scam in 1989 and a raid at 93 locations led to the confiscation of more than 1,000 machines.
Larry Volk was everyone's star witness. He figured to help put owners Rudolph and Rudy LaVecchia behind bars -- and not the kind that serve whiskey.
But Volk never got a chance to testify.
On Oct. 1, 1990, Volk was shot in the back of the head as he stood under the carport outside his mobile home at 5514 Petaca Road. Las Vegan David Lemons was later charged with murder, but a jury failed to convict him.
On Sept. 16, two weeks before he was killed, Volk's mobile home was bombed by persons unknown. By the time agents with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms completed their inquiry, Volk was dead. <!-- TEXT of COL2 -->
Between the time of the bombing and the time of the shooting, Volk -- the key witness in one of the biggest slot rigging cases in the history of the state -- was not protected by the Metropolitan Police Department, the control board or any federal law enforcement agency.
He was left in the open like a target, like an easy mark, like the sucker he turned out to be. He was a sucker for trusting strangers with his life.
In the wake of the shooting, the cases against the LaVecchias crumbled. They relinquished their gaming licenses and were ordered to pay a $1 million fine. Instead of fighting the sanctions, the LaVecchias left Las Vegas.
Ron Harris may not know two things about what really goes on inside today's corporate gaming industry, but he knows plenty about Larry Volk and the American Coin case. He was the control board's leading lab technician in the case against the LaVecchias. He interviewed Volk. he told me in a jailhouse interview in January 1995 that he felt partially responsible for Volk's death -- and that state authorities were well aware of the danger the programmer was in.
Which leads us back to tonight's story on ABC. In an act sure to bring cackles of laughter, some of Nevada's top politicians are coming out early in an attempt to brush aside the piece on the control board lab technician who went bad. What their double-bright political advisers have failed to tell them is that the Harris issue pales in comparison to the related story of Larry Volk. By going public, they set themselves up for another barrage of editorials accusing them of shilling for the casino crowd.
Larry Volk is the reason Ron Harris was videotaped. Had Volk submitted to a video deposition, he might have been able to further implicate the owners of American Coin.
Instead, he was killed, and criminal cases at the county and state level died with him. That was in 1990, a long time for a widow to suffer, an eternity for justice to go undone.
The reality is, the gaming industry will easily survive tonight's broadcast. For all his ominous allegations, Ron Harris has no credibility.
But after six long years, the bloody ghost of Larry Volk has yet to be exorcised.
John L. Smith's column appears Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. He can be reached at John_L._Smith@lvrj.com.
<hr></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table width="500" border="0" cellpadding="5"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" valign="top" align="left">COLUMN: John L. Smith
<!-- QUICKREAD --> Harris case nothing compared to the big one that went away <!-- UPPER SIDEBAR --> </td></tr><tr align="left"> <td valign="top" width="120" align="left">
<map name="sidebar"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,1,91,33" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/1997/Mar-12-Wed-1997/news/"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,34,91,57" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/1997/Mar-12-Wed-1997/sports/"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,58,91,85" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/1997/Mar-12-Wed-1997/business/"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,86,91,116" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/1997/Mar-12-Wed-1997/lifestyles/"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,117,91,145" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/neon/"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,146,91,175" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/1997/Mar-12-Wed-1997/opinion/"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,176,91,206" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/in-depth/"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,207,91,237" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/help_about/classifieds.html"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,238,43,265" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/help_about/"> <area shape="rect" coords="44,238,91,265" href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/cgi-bin/current.cgi"> </map>
</td> <!-- TEXT of COL1 --> <td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="340"> <!-- BYLINE --> <!-- STORY --> At the worst possible time, the apparition reappears.
Right when elected officials and gaming regulators could use a respite from the criticism of Nevada's casino industry, the bloody ghost of a former computer specialist is about to materialize.
But wait. It's not ex-Gaming Control Board lab technician Ron Harris, who has so thoroughly embarrassed the state's regulators after being caught cheating video poker machines. Harris is the subject of a segment on ABC's "PrimeTime Live" news magazine. Videotapes of Harris generated by the state attorney general's office, which found their way into the hands of investigative reporter Brian Ross, are replete with unsubstantiated allegations of corruption and wrongdoing throughout Nevada's casino industry.
State politicians and gaming regulators continue to fret over the potential fallout of the so-called Harris tapes with a public already skeptical of the propriety of casino contraptions.
But Harris is not the man haunting this issue.
It's the ghost of Larry Volk who figures to send chills up the spines of gaming's critics from California to Connecticut. I've been writing about Larry Volk for years in an attempt to keep his story alive.
Volk was the American Coin Co. computer technician who said he was ordered by the slot machine company's owners to design a program to prevent video poker machines from paying off jackpots with maximum coins bet. The gaff protected bar owners from being hit with large jackpots. That is, until a control board investigation exposed the scam in 1989 and a raid at 93 locations led to the confiscation of more than 1,000 machines.
Larry Volk was everyone's star witness. He figured to help put owners Rudolph and Rudy LaVecchia behind bars -- and not the kind that serve whiskey.
But Volk never got a chance to testify.
On Oct. 1, 1990, Volk was shot in the back of the head as he stood under the carport outside his mobile home at 5514 Petaca Road. Las Vegan David Lemons was later charged with murder, but a jury failed to convict him.
On Sept. 16, two weeks before he was killed, Volk's mobile home was bombed by persons unknown. By the time agents with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms completed their inquiry, Volk was dead. <!-- TEXT of COL2 -->
Between the time of the bombing and the time of the shooting, Volk -- the key witness in one of the biggest slot rigging cases in the history of the state -- was not protected by the Metropolitan Police Department, the control board or any federal law enforcement agency.
He was left in the open like a target, like an easy mark, like the sucker he turned out to be. He was a sucker for trusting strangers with his life.
In the wake of the shooting, the cases against the LaVecchias crumbled. They relinquished their gaming licenses and were ordered to pay a $1 million fine. Instead of fighting the sanctions, the LaVecchias left Las Vegas.
Ron Harris may not know two things about what really goes on inside today's corporate gaming industry, but he knows plenty about Larry Volk and the American Coin case. He was the control board's leading lab technician in the case against the LaVecchias. He interviewed Volk. he told me in a jailhouse interview in January 1995 that he felt partially responsible for Volk's death -- and that state authorities were well aware of the danger the programmer was in.
Which leads us back to tonight's story on ABC. In an act sure to bring cackles of laughter, some of Nevada's top politicians are coming out early in an attempt to brush aside the piece on the control board lab technician who went bad. What their double-bright political advisers have failed to tell them is that the Harris issue pales in comparison to the related story of Larry Volk. By going public, they set themselves up for another barrage of editorials accusing them of shilling for the casino crowd.
Larry Volk is the reason Ron Harris was videotaped. Had Volk submitted to a video deposition, he might have been able to further implicate the owners of American Coin.
Instead, he was killed, and criminal cases at the county and state level died with him. That was in 1990, a long time for a widow to suffer, an eternity for justice to go undone.
The reality is, the gaming industry will easily survive tonight's broadcast. For all his ominous allegations, Ron Harris has no credibility.
But after six long years, the bloody ghost of Larry Volk has yet to be exorcised.
John L. Smith's column appears Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. He can be reached at John_L._Smith@lvrj.com.
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Dante
EOG Veteran
Re: IS ONLINE BLACKJACK RIGGED?
sharp post.... I think they let you win a few times then when they can tell you are doubling up the next bet to try to regain your losses they take it all and fast
sharp post.... I think they let you win a few times then when they can tell you are doubling up the next bet to try to regain your losses they take it all and fast