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Baccarat for a living?

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by RiddickBull, Mar 15, 2013.

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  1. RiddickBull

    RiddickBull VIP Whale

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    Do you think it possible to play baccarat for a living? My idea was to win 1 unit per day for 3 days per week. Total of 3 units per week. Units would start at $500 then gradually increase to $5k.

    Just curious on what other baccarat players think.
     
  2. atom

    atom High-Roller

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    I've never played Baccarat, but, put simply, it is impossible to make a living playing a negative expectation game, unless casino promotions (slot club, etc) outweigh the expected loss. I don't believe any such situation exists, but if you find it, please send me a PM and then keep it to yourself. ;)
     
  3. CaptainJack

    CaptainJack Low-Roller

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    Pretty sure this thread will get moved...but how exactly do you plan to win 1u per day?

    I sense a Martingale coming.
     
  4. C0usineddie

    C0usineddie VIP Whale

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    why not just bet $500 per day on a hand of blackjack or a point number in craps or just red or black at roulette.

    Once you win you are done for the week.

    of course what happens if you lose?
     
  5. undathesea

    undathesea Grandissimo

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    I sense Martingale as well... and I sense variance on one bad day leading to finding a new job the next day.
     
  6. RiddickBull

    RiddickBull VIP Whale

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    No Martingale system - this is the worst system ever. I won't tell my system, but my last 6-7 trips to vegas have been successful, winning more than 1 unit per session. Just curious on what people think.
     
  7. dankyone

    dankyone VIP Whale

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    No, you cannot play baccarat for a living. I will leave it to others to explain why...
     
    Last edited: Mar 15, 2013
  8. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    I recall a grad student posting a similar thread, lasy tear I think. I recall the thread being pretty well ridiculed. Mostly because of the execution he proposed. I'm not going to say its impossible. I just think you would need a big bankroll to back you up or a lifestyle that doesn;t have much expense. That way, you can survive volatility
     
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  9. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

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    It is a negative expectation game. If you somehow found a legitimate actual way to beat it and start doing that every day, casinos will figure out what you are up to and 86 you.

    More likely you haven't, and you'd lose a lot of money trying to do this.

    In the meantime, its fairly absurd to ask if this is possible without being willing to tell your system. The answer to your question depends 100% on that system. And if your system was mathematically valid, you'd already know that and would not need to ask if this was possible.
     
  10. Ike

    Ike Low-Roller

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    Why only win 1 unit per day? Why not have a session at every casino on the strip once a day, 7 days a week. Win a unit a day at every casino. You will be RICH!
     
  11. RiddickBull

    RiddickBull VIP Whale

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    As with all systems, it is never 100%. The point of wining 3 units per week is to limit the gambling time and the stresses that come along with it. Yes, winning 1 unit everyday would make you rich. However, playing everyday involves more risk and stress. I was considering accepting a job out there and playing on the weekends. With baccarat, I could double or triple my salary. Maybe even more. As always, there is risk, but what doesn't have risk in the workforce other than a 9-5 job.

    I know most times people can get up 1 unit in baccarat. The problem is greed and money management. Almost all people are not satisfied with winning 1 unit including professionals and those who play for fun.

    Thanks for the input.
     
  12. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

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    Based on this response, I can say with VERY high confidence that NO, you aren't going to be able to play baccarat professionally. We've had people on here before trumpeting a similar approach to blackjack.

    You cannot beat a negative expectation game with money management. It just doesn't work. Either your loss tolerance and win goal are the same, and you win and lose a similar # of sessions but with a few more lost, or you have a higher loss tolerance than win goal, win more often, but the times you lose are bigger and erase all your winnings.

    In fact, thinking you can do this is very similar to the magical thinking behind martingale. Its just a slowed down version of it.
     
  13. Kickin

    Kickin Flea

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    +1 :thumbsup:

    LOL. Ike is right. Simple induction. If you have a system that lets you win 1 unit per session why play only 1 session per day. Whatever you define a session to be of course. Your gambling life is 1 session, so is every trip, every buy-in, every bet.

    I think the OP is punking us. :)
     
  14. DMSCR

    DMSCR High-Roller

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    Well hope you have a huge bankroll, a big appetite for risk and other sources of income in case things goes against you.
     
    Last edited: Mar 15, 2013
  15. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    You know those studies that say the US is #42 (or whatever) in the world in math...?

    I used to just roll my eyes and say to myself, "that can't be right".




    I don't say that any more.:cry:
     
  16. atom

    atom High-Roller

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    Nevyn is correct. You cannot beat a negative expectation game over the long term via money management. There are a few ways it is possible, but not easy, to gain an income gambling professionally: poker, sports betting, video poker and blackjack. All require a sizable bankroll (to survive losses) and all require that the player be highly skilled and disciplined. I'd rather earn my living the old fashioned way.
     
  17. PopMegaphone

    PopMegaphone VIP Whale

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    Before you make any decision I highly recommend thoroughly reading the website wizardofodds.com. The site is run by a gaming math professor at UNLV.
     
  18. RiddickBull

    RiddickBull VIP Whale

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    I know it is possible to make a living in poker or sports betting. How can you make a living in video poker and black jack? Both are negative expectation games.
     
  19. PopMegaphone

    PopMegaphone VIP Whale

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    BJ can have a positive expectation if you count cards. VP can have positive expectations (although it is debatable if you can make much of a living playing this). Again, go to http://wizardofodds.com/ and thoroughly read the site. I hope you find it enlightening.
     
  20. Kickin

    Kickin Flea

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    Its possible to make a living playing anything. But you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya punk?
     
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