Camera in the room: Nit or not?

[TomTom]

Sunday I’m playin in the Rio LV when I notice some guy in the sports book room next door shooting video over the wall of the poker room. The floor was passing at the time so I pointed the guy out. Floor informs me there is nothing illegal in taking pictures so there is nothing he can do. Other players generally chime in that the place is full of cameras, am I afraid of John Walsh or what, etc. No one seems concerned that a zoom lens can pick off hole cards.

So yeah, the guy was probably just a tourist (Asians love taking pics, right?), but if I was setting this up I’d try to just look like a tourist. The guy went away after about 10 minutes anyway.

Am I being super nitty to be concerned about this?

[AKA Squared]

Was he also talking, like on a cell phone? Could you see both hands?

[bav]

Guess I thought the modern rules in casinos about cameras was you weren't supposed to get too close to individuals (don't go push people aside to get a closeup of Michael Jordan at the craps table), don't use a flash, and if the camera is bothering a player it needs to go away. Apparently not.

[BigBuffet]

[ QUOTE ]
No one seems concerned that a zoom lens can pick off hole cards...Am I being super nitty to be concerned about this?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes. How could a zoom camera see your hole cards unless you are sloppy when you peek? Unless the camera is a portable X-Ray machine seeing through your back, I wouldn't worry.

It might be a good idea to do take videos to study people for tells.

[Javanewt]

Wow, if this is OK in my casino, I want to start taking video of people playing to help me pick up tells and to learn from -- also could make a video and probably sell it. I've actually thought about doing this, but assumed it was illegal to video tape people in a casino. Apparently not. I'm sure there are a few players who don't want it on video that they are in a casino. Amazing. Wonder if the casinos would just give me video? [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] Yeah, right!

[RR]

[ QUOTE ]
Guess I thought the modern rules in casinos about cameras was you weren't supposed to get too close to individuals (don't go push people aside to get a closeup of Michael Jordan at the craps table), don't use a flash, and if the camera is bothering a player it needs to go away. Apparently not.

[/ QUOTE ]

Generally you may not take photos in a casino. It isn't against the law, but generally offenders are asked to leave. I have never seen someone resist, generally security will take their cell phone and delete the pic.

[kassdog]

My understanding of it was to protect the privacy of the players. Im at the bellogio right now and I heard the floor say that to someone taking pictures in the casino.

[bav]

A couple years ago at a WPT tourney in Bellagio they had ropes around the area which was out on the casino floor where I think they'd removed some slots and a billion people were crowded around with cameras clicking away. There were a couple security guards on either side, and all they did is go tell anyone who used a flash to knock off the flash. I get the feeling they've given up on trying to stop photography completely--when every cell phone can do it, you can't stop it. So from what I've seen they seem normally to just try to keep it to "don't be a jerk about it".

A few weeks ago I was sitting in the Mirage poker room waiting to meet out of town friends. They walked in and immediately one pulled out his camera and snapped a couple shots. A suit walked up immediately and said "not in here, please".

In OP's case, if he really cared he perhaps coulda asked the sportsbook manager to run the guy out, or just asked a random roving security droid. All ya gotta do is find one person who will tell the shutterbug "move along".

I'd just make my peek hole into my hole cards a little narrower, a little deeper, and a little darker.

[RR]

Well I can see allowing it at a WPT event. I woudl not suggest trying to take a picture of someone playing blackjack.

[steamboatin]

There are signs at the entrance of most Indiana casinos stating that cameras, including cell phone cameras are not allowed in the casino.

I had a security guard at Argosy Casino (old woman, not that matters)ask me if my MP3 player was a camera.