If you follow my column regularly, Ron, you will notice my commentary ordinarily puts me on the side of the player. With machete in hand, I am always willing to slash through the green felt jungle for my readers. Most would call me a casino adversary/player advocate. Thank you. But in the case of a casino cheating a player, Ron, I would be remiss if I didn't say with 100 percent conviction that the casinos are in no way out to cheat you.

There are two key reasons why casinos don't play the game of deception. First, most casinos are publicly traded companies on the NYSE not interested in exposing their gaming license to loss with any inkling of cheating going on. Also, here in Nevada, you won't find a more regulated industry chock-full of rules that would close a casino down for defrauding the public.

A second, if not even more significant reason, is the way casinos reap their profits-paying players less than the true odds. Meaning, every game offered to the player is mathematically in the casino's favor. Example: When you flip a coin there is a 50/50 chance of your winning. But instead of getting even money for every dollar you wager, you are paid 99¢, or 83¢ or maybe even 75¢. This in a nutshell is how casinos operate their license to print money, paying you less than even money on every bet you make.Now, if every single wager placed in the casino is based on that principle, why, Ron, would they ever want to swindle you? That's not to say that a rogue employee on his own never tries to manipulate the cards in the casino's favor. That is why the casino manager watches the shift manager, who watches the pit bosses, who watches the floorman, who watches the dealers-with the eye in the sky (camera in the ceiling) watching everybody. It doesn't take long for a dishonest employee to be weeded out.