The Blackjack Apprenticeship Podcast

Continuing our AP Life Skill series this year, Joe748 and SD1 talk with former federal prosecutor Stef Casella, an expert on asset forfeiture and money laundering. Casella explains how asset forfeiture laws work, their history, and how they impact professional gamblers carrying large sums of cash. They discuss the legal process, law enforcement’s perspective, and how to protect yourself from wrongful seizures while on the road.

This week, we’re revisiting the first time Nickels—our incredible Community Moderator on the forums and chat—made an appearance on BJA. In this episode, we dive into his journey to becoming a professional advantage player, strategies for spotting and seizing opportunities in the casino, how to capitalize on rare (and valuable) casino promotions, and much more.

Joe748 and SD1 are digging into the mailbag today to tackle a wide range of questions from the nuances of beatable side bets and card counting strategies abroad to dealing with casino heat and maintaining longevity as an advantage player. They also dive into the psychological challenges of card counting, the corporate grind versus the freedom of advantage play, and even the strategy behind winning at UNO.

Today we're talking to Andrew Uyal, the author of "Blackjack Insiders". He began his career as a pit boss in Las Vegas before learning to count cards from his supervisor. With insider knowledge from the casino operations side the two teamed up to count cards across the country and built a sizable bankroll. Andrew ultimately made the decision to return to casino supervising, where his firsthand understanding of both sides of the table continues to shape his unique perspective on the industry.   You can also see the video of this podcast on the BJA YouTube channel!

We're off this week but this is a favorite interview from the vaults that a lot of you may not have heard before. Enjoy! We talk about how a part time card counter and full time construction worker has earned six figures counting cards. He's driving the company truck to the casino, using casino money to pay for his wedding; all while getting a lot of comps (cruises, flights, hotels, TVs, and a Dyson vacuum).

SD1 and Joe748 are joined by BCD and SmurfAP to explore how professional gamblers stay healthy on the road. They discuss balancing fitness with long casino hours, and navigating travel diets. Packed with tips and personal stories, this episode offers practical advice for thriving in a high-pressure lifestyle. This is the first episode of our 2025 series in AP Lifestyle Skills. Each month we'll deep dive into a skill Advantage Players need to succeed at the lifestyle. 

T. Dane, a casino surveillance expert with over 20 years of experience and author, shares fascinating insights on the evolution of casino surveillance and advantage play. He discusses the transition from analog to digital systems and the role of facial recognition in modern gaming. T. Dane reveals strategies for monitoring player behaviors, like tracking card counters, while emphasizing mentorship's impact on his career. Intriguing tales of cheating and the challenges of surveillance in fast-paced environments round out this captivating conversation.

Today Joe748 and SD1 hang out with L_EC, a professional card counter. He was last here in 2021, a lot has changed since then. L_EC shares his journey from starting with a small bankroll and enduring a grueling 400-hour losing streak to eventually joining teams, playing solo, and mastering the art of advantage play. He reflects on the challenges of bankroll management, adapting to different team dynamics, and balancing his personal life while pursuing a career in advantage play.

Colin is joined by SD1 to tackle more community questions on card counting, blackjack strategy, and bankroll management. They dive into creating convincing “acts” to stay under the radar, the pros and cons of working with investors, and strategies for managing multi-currency bankrolls. Between questions they dive into stories, including high-stakes splits, team play mishaps, and the importance of learning from ploppies (non-counters). Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just curious about the blackjack lifestyle, this episode has something for everyone.

We hope everyone who celebrates has a great Thanksgiving! While we're out of the studio, enjoy one of our favorite previous episodes that you may have missed with Bootcamp graduate PingPong.  In this interview we discuss: – Learning to think ‘outside the box’ for $8 million – Advice for those considering transitioning from part time into full time card counting – Trusting the math while continuing to explore new ways to generate EV – To play rated or not to play rated? – How the people having the most success are well networked