Watch The Player: Secrets of a Vegas Whale

The Player: Secrets of a Vegas Whale is a captivating TV show produced by Bloomberg in 2014. The show is hosted by the award-winning journalist, Trish Regan, who explores the world of high stakes gambling in Las Vegas. The series delves into the life of Don Johnson, a professional gambler who won over $15 million playing blackjack at three casinos in Atlantic City in just six months. His gambling spree attracted attention from the media, casino owners, and blackjack players around the world, making him a legend in the gambling industry.

Trish Regan interviews Johnson, researchers, insiders, and casino authorities to understand the tactics and skills used by experienced gamblers. Through the show, we learn that Johnson's success wasn't just based on luck, but on a strategy he had meticulously crafted over years of practice.

The Player offers an in-depth analysis of the blackjack game, revealing how Johnson would only play blackjack games that had the most favorable rules such as a payout of 3:2 instead of 6:5. He also relied heavily on strategies like card counting, hole-carding, and shuffle tracking, which helped him to predict the dealer’s hand and ultimately win big.

The show also explores the lifestyle of a Vegas whale, revealing the perks that high rollers receive at casinos, including free lavish accommodations, first-class travel, and high-end dining experiences.

Throughout the series, Regan raises critical questions about the ethics of gambling, the role of casinos in society, and highlights the challenge of regulating the gambling industry. She also investigates why casinos allow high-stakes players to win huge sums of money and whether this is a sustainable business model.

Another essential aspect of the show is its focus on the emotional and psychological tolls of gambling. It highlights the destructive effects of compulsive gambling, as it can lead to addiction, debt, and eventually bankruptcy. The Player provides insights into the struggles some gambling addicts face and the challenges they encounter in their fight against addiction.

Overall, The Player: Secrets of a Vegas Whale is a well-researched and informative series that offers a comprehensive analysis of the world of high-stakes gambling. Trish Regan's expertise in financial reporting comes in handy as she leaves no stone unturned when it comes to investigating the mechanics of high-stakes gambling in Las Vegas. The show also provides an intimate look at the life of a professional gambler and the lucrative business that casinos operate.

If you are fascinated by the gambling industry, enjoy the thrill of the game, or interested in learning more about the players and strategies used to win big, The Player: Secrets of a Vegas Whale is a must-watch.

The Player: Secrets of a Vegas Whale is a series that ran for 1 seasons (9 episodes) between January 21, 2014 and on Bloomberg