Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson View Post
Fair enough Rob, I can't argue with those "rules of play." They are beneficial for everyone.

But your critics are going to say that having a budget, having a win goal and a loss limit, and not playing for comps, and setting a certain amount of time for casino action is not unique to "the Rob Singer system."

I think the critics will also say that these beneficial rules of self discipline do not justify making your "special plays" which violate the "accepted math." Be prepared for that.

But I have always said that the idea of hitting a win goal and bolting is an excellent idea that everyone should follow. It might not follow the "logic" of the math (as my critics have pointed out here) but it certainly gives you time to enjoy the win. And there is nothing wrong with leaving with more cash than you came to the casino with.
Name somebody else who doesn't play for comps. Name somebody else who doesn't get a thrill up their leg when they spot a "triple points day" sign, "car-a-month-giveaway" ads, or "free-play frenzy" promotions. Only the addicts respond to those, and almost always under the guise that they're getting some type of non-existent, theoretical "edge" or that they're not gambling but working.

Anyone who believes the special plays that deviate from optimal play are not justified for the simple reason that they go against long-term probability theory, have the most difficult of time understanding that TODAY'S session is unrelated to any that have come before or any that have yet to come. They react as if every one of the special plays I make are being played a million times today, and at the end of my session I'll be behind by X percent because of them.

You cannot pull aside any one or two parts of SPS and comment on them in the context of addiction reduction or not. You have to put all the parts together first, then analyze them as a whole vs. what the AP's do. It was exciting when I finally figured it all out, it was a blast winning all that money, and I enjoy teaching the concepts to other players as often as I can.