The Blackjack Apprenticeship Podcast

Colin and BJA pros Joe748, SD1, and Nickels answer community questions fresh off a bootcamp. They cover everything from bankroll management and avoiding heat when not playing negative counts, to side bets, player’s cards, and favorite blackjack books—all while sharing casino stories and lessons from their own experience.

Colin interviews legendary MIT Blackjack Team pro Mike Aponte about joining the team, rebuilding it after the failed “Strategic Investments” era, and how ruthless training, selective recruiting, and disciplined team play turned a $300k bank into multimillion-dollar wins. Aponte details his checkout gauntlet, cover tactics, and why intangibles (calm under pressure, “firing the bets”) matter more than math alone. Mike also teases Housebreakers, his feature documentary exploring advantage play across casinos, poker, sports analytics, and finance. This interview was done in person, if you'd like to watch rather than just listen click here to see it on the BJA YouTube. 

Fresh off a BJA bootcamp, Colin sits down with Nickels, SD1, and Joe748 to tackle the question: What are the ethics of advantage play? They unpack ethics vs. legality, the role of deception and cover stories, and where “acting” at the table crosses a personal line. The crew debates dealer errors, shot-taking, whole-carding, and the Phil Ivey edge-sorting case, plus trespass/ID requests and how one AP’s choices can affect the whole community. They also talk about handling back-offs with grace, treating casino staff and “ploppies” like humans, and knowing how to switch the act off when you leave the floor. 

In this episode, Joe748 and SD1 sit down with StaticBlackjack, RobertMoser, and Badluck to discuss their journey from solo card counters to running a coordinated blackjack team. We dive into bankroll building, team rules, handling casino heat, trust-building, EV-based profit splits, and the perks and challenges of team play. We dig into road trips filled with burritos and back-offs, the trio reveals what it takes to succeed together in the world of advantage play.

Card Counter and BJA member GreaseMonkey joins Colin to discuss: Why he got into card counting, what is was like playing on his own bankroll, what is was like being bankrolled by another player and deciding how Blackjack fit in his life.

Colin, SD1, and Joe748 answer questions covering everything from advanced card counting systems and AP travel stories to risk management and career advice. They discuss the pros and cons of different counting systems, share insights on maintaining an edge, and offer practical advice for both new and experienced players, including safety tips for carrying cash. 

Colin, Joe748, and SD1 are joined by tax expert Gary Kondler to break down how new legislation could impact gamblers’ taxes. Gary explains the proposed 10% cap on deductions, how it affects pros and recreational players, and why W2Gs, 1099s, and session accounting matter more than ever. They cover real-world examples, what gamblers can do to prepare, and why planning ahead is critical as these changes loom. New 90% gambling loss deduction rule Impact on different gambler types Professional vs. amateur gambler status Session method reporting Practical tax strategies Audit risks and triggers If you want to contact Gary for your tax needs you can find him here

BJA member and Bootcamp grad "Ballaboy2234" joins Colin to discuss: Training with a co-worker - Taking advantage of a side count early in his career - Mid career losing streak and reality check - The effects of Covid on his career - And more! See the Opportunity/Risk video here: https://www.blackjackapprenticeship.com/opportunity-risk-graph-video/

In this month's mailbag Joe748 and SD1 tackle top questions from the YouTube community and the BJA forum. They dig into the most common tells of a card counter, dispel myths about the risks and rewards of advantage play, and offer practical advice on navigating casino culture as an aspiring or experienced card counter.

Joe748 and SD1 interview Dr. Timothy Fong, a UCLA professor and leading authority on gambling addiction, about the neuroscience, risk factors, and real-world consequences of gambling disorders. Dr. Fong explains how gambling impacts the brain, why some people are more vulnerable, and discusses both the moral responsibilities of casinos and the urgent need for better regulation and treatment options. The conversation dives deep into the normalization of gambling, the rise of online platforms, and practical advice for those at risk.   See more of Dr. Fong's work here: