Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-28
CONFESSIONS OF A GAMBLER.
Methods of Protecting the Bank and of
Fleeing Innocent Players.

Fleeing Innocent Players.
What are the chances against a
player in square game of faro ?" the re-
porter asked of an old gambler.
Against sucker-a producer l
mean ?'' inquired the gambler.
Il mean the clerk or merchant that
drops in to tackle the game" said the
reporter.
"Well, that's what we call the pro
ducer,'" the sport explained, and then
went on: "That's the class that pro-
duces the wealth that makes gambling
business. 1t is the producers money
that keeps the game going. The chances
ne has of winning, with nothing against
him, and if he hasn't got 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 bank,
and no matter how often he wins,
he is sure to be dead loser in the
end. If he plays big and has a
system, the dealer soon gets on to it. If
he is stuck on card or plays three on
9 side, or odd and even or 'hnth 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 in the cold. The player generally
sticks to his system ard has no chance.
If there ere number of persons play
ing, of course, it is difficult for the
dealer to handle the cards in this way
but often the numerous players seen at
a table are staked players, who are
playing with the banks 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
card by the ear If 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. Pretending 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. Those
things cannot be done where there are
number 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 having the benefit of the splits"
Sand 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 brace game
the player stands no more show of win
ming than he does of swallowing light
ming 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 system the
dealer couldn't beat. These things are
necessary, as / said, to protect the
bank. It's 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 do,
conclude to try their luck Sometimes
fellow wins 5000 or 500 on a shoe
string, that we call small stake. goes
out and pays his debts, and that's the
last the bank sees of the money. The
chances are that ii he has IS or $40 left
he will come back, and if luck is still
with him, may win few more hundred.
Cant faro be beat?"
"Not unless you play limitless game
and have mint of moneyIto do itlwith.
If bank has $4,000 you can bet $1,000 on
a card, and if it wins the bank is busted.
and there's an end of it. If you lose you
have to keep on doubling your bets until
you do win, when, of course, the desired
end is accomplished. But every bank
has its limit, and when you get to it
you've got to stay there. The fact that
few gamblers have money shows which
way the wind blows. It's 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 whiskey brings him to
his grave. ."-Pittsburg Commercial Ga