Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-09-20
Confessions Of a Gambler.

stWhae are the chances against
player in a square game of faro?" the
reporter asked an old gambler who
stood on Smithfield street lamentine
she restrictions that were placed on his
bnsiness by the Pittsburgh police.
rs'Against a sucker-a producer ]
mean?" inquired the gambler.
L mean the clerk or merchant that
drsrsin to tackle the game said the
reporter:
"Well, that's what we call the pro
dIcer, the sport explained. and then
went on. That's the class that pro-
dlces the wealth that makes gambling
business. 1t is the producer s money
that keeps the game going. The chances
he has of winning, with nothing against
him, and if he hasn't got a system, and
isn't betting high, are about one out of
two, or. maybe, two out of five-that is,
he will lose in two out of three or in
three out of five plays against the hank,
and, no matter how often he wins, he
is sure to be dead loser in the end.
If he plays big, and has system, the
dealer soon gets on to it. If heis struck
on card, OF plays three ON a side,' or
'odd and even, or both ends against
the middle it will take The dealer no
time to find it out, and, as it is his duty
to-prOtect the bank. he will shuttle the
cards so as to lay the PLAYER out cold.
The player generally sticks to his sys-
tenn and has no chance. Ii there are a
number of persons playing, of course
it is difficult for the dealer to handle
the cards in this way, but often the nu-
merous PLAYERS seen at the table are
staked players. who are playing with
the bank money. and of whom the
dealer takes no notice, as it makes no
difference whether they win or not, so
his whole attention can be given to the
producer. In nearly every bank they
have lot of cappers hanging around,
and when producer comes in they are
'staked' to start the game.
The dealer has another trick" the
sport continued, THAT we call taking
the card by the ear II the player is a
high roller that is, big better, and
has favorite card, it may lose for him
all the time. In that case the dealer
puts it on its proper pile, but, if the
player is winning, the dealer, will throw
this card down carelessly, so that it
doesn't lay squarely on the pile. Pre-
tending to straighten them up, he will
slip the card under the pile, and then
shuttle them so that in the next deal
the players chances are to lose; if the
player wins again, the dealer will again
take the card by the ear. These things
can not be done where there are q num-
Der of genuine players, for in that case
it makes little difference to the bank
who wins or loses, the players playing
each others money and the bank hay
ing the benefit of the splits
And this is what YOU call square
game?"
.'Why, of course; all this is done
merely to protect the bank, which must
have some protection. In a brace game
the PLAYER stands no more show of win
ming than he does of swallowing light
ning-rod. In the square game there is
some show for him. But every player
has his system with which he expects to
break the bank, and he finds out in the
end the truth of the saying that there
never was "a system the dealer couldn't
beat. These things are necessary, as l
said, to protect the bank. 1t is often
subject to losses by shoe-string players,
who. being deeply in debt, manage to
get hold of few dollars, and, having
nothing much TO lose, conclude to try
their luck Sometimes Il fellow wins
5000 or 800 off .shoe-strinG.' as we
call small stake, goes out and pays
hrs debts, and that ) the last the bank
Sees of the money. The chances are if
he has five or ten dollars left he'll come
back. and. if luck is still with him may
win u few more hundred. But, talk
about it as YOU may, faro is the fairest
and sJuarest game. and if man must
gamble Id advise him TO tackle nothing
else
Cant faro be beaten
Not unless you play 4 limitlcss game
and have Il mint of money to do it with.
Ii a bank has $1,000. YOU can bet $4,000
on Il card, and if it wins the bank is
busted and there's an end of it. If you
lose YOU have TO keen on doubling your
bets until vou do win. when. of course,
the desired end is accomplished. But
every bank has its limit. and when you
Get 10 it You We got to stay there. The
fact that few gamblers have money
shows which way the wind blows. It's
a rare one dies rich. The banks make
the money. the producer furnishes, and
the professional sport kind of hangs in
between the two until women or whisky
bring him to his grave. "-PtttsJHrgh
Commercial gazette.
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