“Money Plays!” Revisited

Author: Mark Pilarski

Dear Mark: I walked up to a blackjack game, put $100 in the betting circle, and said “money plays.” The dealer said I had to change it into chips. I chose not to proceed with the wager. Have you ever heard of such a thing? D. P.

Back in the day when I dealt, your money could always play. As a rule, the dealer would shout out, “money plays,” and that’s that.

Interestingly, two weeks ago I wrote, and then withdrew, your question when an expert on such affairs, Bob Walters, said that I neglected to mention The Patriot Act of 2001 and the Nevada Gaming Commissions repeal of Rule 6A. He related to me that The Patriot Act was designed, among other things, to specifically narrow or eliminate the use of large cash transactions to finance terrorist activities.

Originally, Nevada’s casinos were granted an exemption when the Nevada Gaming Commission approved Rule 6A. Although it was to be the state equivalent of the federal requisite, it was considerably more feeble, and it allowed money to play at the casino tables.

Ever since the Nevada Gaming Commission repealed Rule 6A (June 2007), cash transactions in all Nevada casinos, and across the US, are governed by Title 31 of the US Code, and money no longer plays anywhere in the United States.

Good thing Bob Walters read all 342 pages of the Patriot Act. Yours truly, along with most in congress, didn’t. Interesting though how the impassioned player who feeds hundred-dollar bills into a $25 slot machine averts any such regulation while you, Donald, have to change your $100 into chips. Mr. Walters can chime in if he desires.

Anyhow, the long and short of it is that it is to the casino’s advantage when you bet chips instead of cash. Think of the stratagem of nicknames a casino chip has. A $5 chip is a "nickel" and a $25 chip a "quarter." Betting with your own hard-earned legal tender makes you realize its genuine value. Chip betting doesn’t.

So, Donald, anytime you turn your hard earned cash into chips, always spend that extra moment and cautiously think about the exchange.

Dear Mark: Last year you wrote on a blog that you were considering re-releasing an updated version of your audio series “Hooked on Winning.” Is it available yet, where can I find it, and will the price still be $9.95? B. P.

Yes, Bill, I did get around to updating Hooked on Winning, plus, based on where you download it, I made it affordable. Can you spare a dollar?

Besides having its price lowered from $9.95 to $0.99, it has been updated with much new material as well as the changes in the casino environment since the first edition.

You can digitally download the updated version of Hooked on Winning at cdbaby.com for $0.99. I recommend cdbaby.com, Bill, since based on Hooked on Winning’s 2.5-hour length, iTunes charges a premium.

Purchase it at iTunes if you wish, but my goal here, Bill, is to save you a lot of your hard-earned money, by offering you and other readers alike, a great deal of gambling education, for just a measly buck.

Gambling Wisdom of the Week:
“The house doesn't beat the player. It just gives him the opportunity to beat himself.” – Nick “the Greek” Dandalos

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“Money Plays!” Revisited

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