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!

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. 

Colin and Joe748 are joined with guest T. Dane to explore the evolution of casino surveillance and advantage play. T. Dane shares over 20 years of experience, from the shift to digital surveillance to catching card counters and uncovering techniques like hole-carding. They also discuss facial recognition, generational changes in players, and his journey writing books on the art of surveillance.

If you’re looking to dig deeper into these topics check out T. Dane’s books: The Art of Casino Surveillance: An Insight into Modern-Day Game Protection  and Behind The Black Dome: An Advantage Player's Guide to Casino Surveillance.

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!

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