Quitting the 9 to 5: From Accountant to Blackjack Pro | BJA107

Have you ever contemplated leaving your job to pursue Card Counting as a profession? Our guest “Plazity” did just that. An accountant-turned-blackjack professional delves into his journey of leaving his office job to pursue a life on the road while playing high stakes Blackjack. In this interview Plazity provides invaluable advice & practical tips on what to consider, the potential return, and the risks involved in what it’s really like to play full-time Blackjack.
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0:00 Training Process
3:45 Card Counting Sabbatical
9:02 Leaving Job to Count Cards Full-Time
12:08 Playing Style
17:54 Road Lifestyle
24:18 Playing Pro vs as a Beginner
32:00 Credit Card Churning
36:48 Backroom-ing
40:24 Advice for Beginners
43:42 Card Counting Stories
48:39 Future plans for Blackjack

[@conorreilly5510]

Love these video interviews. Thank you for sharing your story!

[@cameronlynch2194]

I love Plazity. He’s one of the most helpful people on casino 411

[@aceten1682]

He made 465k? Listened to the entire thing and didn't hear anything about 465k. Maybe I missed it

[@Robert1546_Sea]

Weird no one answered you.

[@blade6321]

Great interview! Lots of real world considerations.

[@friday_witch]

In my opinion, going to a new job or grind of some form needs to be for the love of that. You can use the hatred of your current job as motivation to get you moving, but your reason for actually moving needs to be out of love for your goal.

[@paulklemer]

AP is always more exciting in the beginning but it wears you out as time goes on

[@DaveFromVh1]

This was a great food podcast that featured some great discussion of blackjack as well

[@alexmacdonald9182]

i think his lens has something on it cause it's all blurry

[@Anonkontello]

It’s to conceal his identity

[@SEANPOL203]

😂

[@PdiseOG]

Hey Colin at what true count do we play with multiple hands? Id like to be tested out soon im almost ready i have BS mastered, deviations as well. i can keep track of the running count perfectly both at casino and home, i am now on bet spread management

[@internetexpert8153]

can we get more interviews with card counters? im really interested in peoples beginning stories, especially the ones who may have started off rough and persevered through the hard start.

[@timmyg000420]

Seems more and more like a scam. Especially with these automatic shufflers which make it impossible to count cards. Plus the possibility of busting a $100,000 bankroll!!!???

[@chuckecheese4124]

I love this guys take on eating healthy. Very important to me to eat healthy and exercise. Gotta take care while out there. Refined foods are very bad, also knowing what restaurants cook with is golden. Making the best choice of food. I mostly eat once a day and fast for 23 hours, this has its advantages being on the road.

[@milehighgambler]

Couldn't imagine having to eat casino food for an entire year lol. Definitely good advice on eating healthy

[@MX-CO]

I Agree completely I've been doing keto and mostly carnivore and I feel so much better from not eating processed foods! I've also been walking a lot and hitting the gym. I travel with a camper and use the grill to cook a Ribeye steak daily, I rarely eat out anymore

[@bryanvaldez2963]

What BJ app can you download to help practice?

[@josephmorgan6985]

Hey Collin I’m next I just want to know what is the best one to pick

[@leonsi2169]

Any New Orleans Louisiana black jack tables worth it?

[@justindircksen]

Can you refuse to go to the back room? How does that work?

[@Kirix]

This lifestyle speaks to me. I wanna sign up

[@Robert1546_Sea]

You and everyone else. Difference is 99.9% of people aren't willing to do what it takes to get there.

[@vinnyg4301]

hahah i love watching his series on youtube.

[@OPPOSMITE]

What's getting backed off mean?

[@Jaylan-gn5kt]

Where can I take the test

[@awful999]

i have to play thru those negative shoes and man it sucks but yesterday the count was high i put three units up and hit a blackjack

[@matthaverly98]

Can you explain the "2 X 150" betspread?

[@salvadorvallejo6145]

Hello, quick question here hopefully someone has an answer😅 I like to be dealer in blackjack, but I’m uncertain in what does dealer do with a soft 18 and players have for example an 18 19 and 20 let’s just say. Does dealer stay because it’s not soft 17, or can dealer draw to improve his hand?

[@josephstearns2267]

The dealer has to stand on 18

[@stephenkearny1504]

As an accountant also, I can commiserate with Plazity and I understand why he would want to leave the CPA life. Instead of a 5 though I'd give accounting and CPA work about a 1! I hate it 99%. I think its a miserable occupation with mostly miserable people to work with. Takes a special person to like accounting.. Nice to hear about someone who got away from the tax and accounting BS and made a good way into AP.

[@jeremiahmatos6009]

Also and accountant , rating it a 1 is an understatement. Especially with being at a big 4 like it sounds with Plazity

[@sebastianromero420]

Yeah special ed

[@lilricky2515]

Surprised that he's not disguising his voice, especially after Griffin announced a few months back that they were selling voice recognition software to the casinos to identify people. I know casinos are watching Blackjack Apprenticeship and other counting channels on KZbin

[@shepardswayllc1034]

Hello everyone! I would love to learn perfect basic strategy for blackjack and I want to know what books I should consider purchasing. Thank you

[@Saulman1984]

Bringing Down the House, Beat the Dealer, and Blackjack Bluebook II are the top 3 books available, Blackjack apprenticeship has a few books too on their store site.

[@paulklemer]

Pit bosses probably shake from fear when Colin walks into a casino 😱

[@timsatterfield9752]

If they actually recognize him, they will simply just let the table he is at play through half the shoe, no more...or ask him to leave. Easy peasy.

[@matthewgreenewald9219]

Genuine question I am 23 and started practicing basic strategy at 17. Obviously you pick things up and drop them but over all i have practiced a lot. As of rn I was in a casino counting for the first time last week. I only back counted till a true 1 then played the table min (15) till a true -1. Is that a loosing game?

[@blessahblessin3671]

Did you lose? If not I would say it wasn’t a loosing game 😂

[@mikecara8181]

You did fine…

[@gabagabago0l]

Just get a proper bankroll with a good bet spread and you'll do fine.

[@Counting3s]

Hey Colin great videos thank you for all you do. I've been learning for about 3 weeks now and I have BS memorized and I can do a pretty good job keeping the running count on the BJA app at the same time. Would it make sense to wong in at a TC 2 then keep my bet spread lower like a 1-5 then just wing back out at TC 0? From my understanding, you only need a big bet spread when you're playing even while having the disadvantage.

[@huckleberryfinn8795]

Yeap that is a good strategy

[@sebastiandierks7919]

Great interview, love this channel so much, it's really helpful! Maybe a little off topic but does anyone has tips on counting in Europe? Seems to me the continent is flooded by continuous shuffling machines :( Got the skills and the bankroll, but not the locations.. Would be nice to try it out when I hear stories like theirs, but it's kind of too much of a commitment to travel/move to the US for this, lol. At least when starting out.

[@Thesimple6ix]

There's a KZbinr from the uk who counts cards for a living his names Steven bridges you can search him up hes got dope video's

[@danielwilliams9753]

Interesting interview. I have a high degree of confidence of who it is but obviously since it is concealed I will not say anything. Really enjoy this stuff Colin, thanks.

[@rce4651]

when some loses 40K in a session,, doesn't the casino already have the player information even when not playing rated?

[@huckleberryfinn8795]

Once at that level, yes, you cant even deal with that much money without ID and paperwork.

[@paulklemer]

What is a good/perfect vehicle for a full-time AP that drives a lot?

[@mattvisconti8456]

Just off the top of my head a hybrid suv would be decent. Depends on the company you get it from but you're going to want some space for the inevitable sleep in your back seat.

[@paulklemer]

@@mattvisconti8456 I need a spacious vehicle because I will be living in in half the time

[@ryandailey3820]

Honestly, consider a Tesla Model Y. Can essentially fit a double size matress in back with seat down, has “camp mode” to keep climate controlled. Road tripping is MUCH easier than people claim, only note that you would need to charge once every two hours or so. I need to pee by then anyway, so not a problem.

[@mattvisconti8456]

@ryandailey3820 charging every 2 hours seems...dangerous though? Depending on where you're at you might really have to be selective with your driving, yeah? Idk maybe I'm wrong but I'm just thinking if you're on a trip and in like the mid west are charge stations that common now?

[@ryandailey3820]

@@mattvisconti8456 good question! I was actually surprised myself at how ubiquitous the Tesla chargers are. Probably one AT LEAST every 100 miles across all major interstates, East West and North-South. The only time you would ever have to really sweat the range would be if you’re getting far from the interstate AND in the winter, when your range comes down with colder temps (below freezing).

[@javiervarela9612]

Waht does that "2 by 1000, 2 by 75" mean?

[@coobybooby933]

2 hands of 75 each or 2 bets of 1,000 each

[@MX-CO]

Im considered giving the AP life a try, I have a Small camper that Tow with my truck, I have no obligations right now ao as long as I can consistently get positive EV I could easily travel for 6 month, I used to ge a Dealer (years ago) but I think I could do it. Ive been practicing locally but with a small bank roll but winning consistently.

[@rce4651]

need to build a roll

[@sondjata]

So he was playing. 6:5 table which apparently went uncommented on. Why was he playing that in the first place?

[@XxOffTonexX]

It definitely sounds strange. Maybe he was trying to earn cover for lower ev. Maybe the he can get more hours at a better table if they see him fishing it up at 6:5 blackjack haha.

[@sondjata]

Well, better IMO to play JoB or Bonus poker. Lower house edge than 6:5 BJ

[@sondjata]

Also, I personally can barely stomach playing a losing game. I'll only do it with free play at places I'm rated.

[@alejandroromo3710]

$10 Golden Corral! Whaaaaat! Lol 😂 $20 here in SoCal

[@MX-CO]

Whats a long back to back losing streak? Is 10 hands in a row back to back unusual? 😢

[@maximusfrank2835]

Nah. I think they mean by bad loosing streaks- loosing money after a lot of hours- not loosing a stool or so many hands in a row

[@OPPOSMITE]

What's going low or the lingo around the $1k bets? Not sure what all that stuff meant? I'm looking to get involved into this so understanding everything is key... I'm new to this but really want to take it to the next level.. What's 2 by 75 mean? 2x75...? What's all that stand for man? Please help me out

[@iam_nonnii]

Don’t take anything to the next level . Just do it for fun bro

[@danielwilliams9753]

The 2x75 means he is playing 2 spots at $75 each.

[@Phlegethon]

Just bet when you think the cards are good man that’s how you will be a millionaire you need to study the flow of the cards

[@asynk8728]

Loved the interview but why blur him when he is clearly who he is ? Was this video planned before his rise to fame last year ?

[@pauldalnoky6055]

Atlantic city, homie.

[@kylegunn2599]

Isn't card counting dead with them randomly shuffling all the time?

[@jettyslots710]

you just play at a 2 deck or higher shoe instead of a CSM table. You can count cards on an 8 deck shoe as long as the deck pen is good, and the table rules are decent.

[@emmanuelvacakis4463]

Try that at Graton casino and you will lose everything. It’s continuous shuffle machines, or 6-5 blackjack on double deck and single deck games hit soft 17 games.

[@Phlegethon]

Gotta bring Yoshi back

[@mikir1741]

I'd sigh up, but the program is more than the average monthly pay here and lack of close casinos idk about it

[@Solitude47152]

Casino’s owned by a company make millions of dollars for their shareholders year in year out. If a couple of individuals were able to win a few games of blackjack that’s a drop in the bucket to the over all scheme of things

[@lancelot9837]

This guy who is blurred and has a youtube channel is already known as a card counter and a pretty good one and is known to vegas etc wonder why he’s blurred lol.

[@harrisonsmith345]

Who?

[@basemsayed3050]

Casinos won’t let you play the game right with even 1-3 spread for more than 3-4 hours. I was full time AP. And quitting because of this. It is not a good career and unsustainable. We have to show others honestly the other side of the coin. Yes, you can make $100/hr but for how long? And where ? Even with best soft skills and cover plays, it is business at the end and they will tell you “ u r the best person we have met, but no Bj for you” and you won’t cash money without ID. Gaming are in the same bed with them. Casinos ruined it for us Collin.

[@TheIbney00]

I constantly get time here in Vegas with a 1-3 and 1-4 already buddy. You might just have a bad act

[@cancarriz]

I think it also depends on where you've played at. If you are closer to sweaty shops, then yeah, it's hard to get the time in. Where I'm at, I've been able to get a lot of hours in, but what did me in is the traveling. It's a tough feat when you have a family, and you have to be on the road playing for considerable amounts of time. I think you're only partially correct. It might be unsustainable if you have certain restraints that tether you closer to places that you've burned out. But if you don't, sky could be the limit. New casinos in the states open up on average 1 to 2 per year.

[@paulklemer]

I hope you made a lot of money while you were at it

[@paulklemer]

Why are casinos and gaming in the same bed? They should sleep separately

[@mattvisconti8456]

​@@TheIbney00 congrats on playing break even lol

[@lmatthew]

Playing fulltime, we basically need have good bankroll management as well as mental strength to know when is good to walk away. Chasing a loss inadvertently will spiral down a rabbit hole and you can end up worse

[@honeriley]

I'm not an AP. But I'm fascinated by the philosophy. I've heard that as long as Colin thinks conditions are +ev and his bankroll is not at risk, he doesn't walk away irrespective of whether he's on a massive downswing. But he probably plays a near optimal game and is less emotionally effected than many.

[@andrewshepherd1579]

You're obviously not an advantage player🤣The point is to play as much as you can...even if you are losing. Card counting is one long session. The cards don't remember when you have quit while you are up OR down.

[@user-bx9ri2qv3y]

@@honeriley That's because in the long run, you will be up money, no matter how bad the variance streak is there is currently.

[@samuhlm2]

how is his biggest sesh only 19.9k if hes betting 2x1k? Why did he answer the show ID question in such a weird and incomplete way? He mentioned the ctr but that didn't get anywhere close to the heart of the question he was asked. I felt like he answered a lot of the questions in this manner.. Not saying hes making it up but it just didnt come across as experienced as I would imagine it would be. Also I feel like they definitely would just look at the tape and see how many times you were incorrectly paid out on wins/they would catch the incorrect payout way before 20 mins from by the ppl viewing from up above.

[@derrikferguson3219]

Hello everyone. 😁

[@JeffMartinez648]

Poor guy eating at Golden Corral,,, if you seen the kitchens you’d never eat there again 🤢

[@mikecara8181]

AP is a very rough way of life

[@taylorplummer9185]

Listening to this in the background while I do the payroll like 👀👀

[@justindircksen]

The thing I’ve noticed... Successful AP players 'can' make good money but live poor. It’s pretty wild.

[@zalix512]

Dusty’s boy.

[@paulklemer]

How did that beard grow so thick? 🧔

[@fljetgator1833]

... he must have seen an infomercial and bought their product . 😐 .... 😆

[@alexbremner8459]

Only 16 learning to count cards now but hopefully this could be a career I could do and hopefully it’s still legal in 5 years

[@bobbyb7708]

Don’t plan to count cards as your full time occupation. Please pursue something more sustainable. Count cards as a hobby outside your job.

[@iam_nonnii]

Dude don’t

[@mattvisconti8456]

Not a whole lot of point. You're not going to have a bankroll that allows you to travel the US. That's virtually the only way to be full time is to travel casino to casino across the country

[@filthyrat2181]

Go to dealer school and be a blackjack dealer instead 100x easier and realistic

[@TheFrenchPug]

I was able to do it in the 90s. I always expected to win and did...eventually. But you will hit a losing streak that will rip your soul out. And you have to be willing to take those big hits. It's different when it's your real money.

[@andrewmartin7697]

Don’t get me wrong, this interview was very informative but my GOD some people need to work on their enthusiasm. This guy sounds like he’s falling asleep at the sound of his own voice

[@vr2854]

These guys make more money on KZbin than blackjack...all these stores good but he played for two years and retired and decided to train others.. interesting... bankroll and risk reward ratio makes blackjack one of the worst investments you can put your money

[@morganbolderman3990]

465k over 4 years, with that kind of grind and lifestyle, not doing very well frankly.

[@droppedmydagger3834]

Yes, making double the average American income over 4 years is not doing very well at all.

[@DjangoGroen]

166K per year is so much money. How is he not doing well?

[@haniotis3421]

If he's gone over 300 days per year, you're probably right. If he's gone only 7-8 months, though, that's pretty good imo.

[@timmyg000420]

​​@@DjangoGroen 115k a year, no benBueno! no retirement plan, no 401k, living on the road, paying for food, meals, hotel, gas, etc. No bueno!

[@DjangoGroen]

@@timmyg000420 for 115k you can build a good retirement. I think we are talking country difference

[@paulrichards1921]

Next time, disguise your voice too.

[@emmanuelvacakis4463]

If you like traveling and spending that money, and it’s fun for you to play, then go for it. But play blackjack for a living these days is out the window. Even if you find a great game, they won’t let you play if you count cards. At least for me, the amount of money you make minus travel expenses and many hours doesn’t make it worth my time. You need to play with black chips. You need to bet $1000 or more on rich decks to make $100 an hour. It’s also very dangerous to be walking with huge amounts of cash. Crime is way up especially in California.

[@milehighgambler]

It's not for everyone, but it's definitely doable. Most casinos even provide you a basic strategy chart now. It's not as mafioso as people make it seem. If your casino is shady, it's a clear sign not to play there

[@emmanuelvacakis4463]

@@milehighgambler casinos welcome players to play basic strategy. Basic strategy players are losing players. Casinos don’t like it when players increase their bets with the count, because then they become winning players, especially when they player the correct deviations from basic strategy. If they don’t know you, then you can play for a while until they figure out what you are doing.

[@neatstuff1988]

I just don't believe the first guy's Story. I think he's a big Effort.😢 You can't do it not be at all excited about it. Matter if I can't do anything very well and not be excited about it.

[@crummydryver]

Waiting for Joe748 to bust out his guitar and sing "La Grange". RIP Arnold.

[@benchoflemons398]

Bro just said he uses his Amex points for GCs 🤦‍♂️ Also you’re not supposed to spend money on the plat btw. It’s a terrible earner.

[@paulklemer]

Colin, how come you are not hiding your face? Don't you want to play in casinos anymore?

[@Dhurklyfignnij]

He makes his $ selling courses not actually playing 🤡

[@zakizdaman]

The gold pan sellers made more money than the gold miners

[@coreydenegar7698]

Get yourself an ebike

[@Jeremy_the_bot]

I'm bored. Get me someone more interesting.

[@emmanuelvacakis4463]

That diet on the road is awful. Microwave, electric, or induction cooking is awful and causes heart attack, atrial fibrillation and cancer. Prepared foods, junk foods suck. This pandemic will not go away until we collectively as a society put McDonald’s and Coca Cola out of business.

[@sebastianromero420]

What a waste of time

[@fljetgator1833]

Great beard.. 🥸 .... 😆