In the game of blackjack, the dealer receives two cards: one facing up and the other facing down as the hole card. The hole card remains hidden until players have made their decisions.

“As a hole-card reader, I have an advantage because I can see the dealer’s card before it is revealed,” Gina Fiore states in her memoir. “Knowing the hole card gives me the edge over the house.”

Transitioning from a dealer to a player, Fiore capitalized on the casino’s lack of awareness to pioneer her career in advantage play. She utilized a combination of mathematics, courage, and social skills, adopting various identities, building teams, and navigating the challenges of the industry.

Fiore’s expertise in a male-dominated field elevated her reputation, making her an authority on advantage play. Her insights have been shared through teaching, writing newsletters, and being the focal point of the documentary Miss Brown released in 2023.

Her memoir, Advantage Player: A Memoir of Blackjack, Backrooms and Beginnings, is set for release on Oct. 27, offering a glimpse into her illustrious career in gambling.

Q: How much did you make advantage playing in your career?

A: My teams and partnerships collectively generated around 15 million. Personally, I estimate earning around 3 million.

Q: What are the top three rules to advantage playing?

A: Adaptation, seizing new opportunities, and maintaining trustworthy connections are essential in advantage play.

Q: You learned to deal before you learned to count a deck. What did standing on the house side teach you that you took advantage of later?

A: Working as a dealer shed light on the casino’s perspective, revealing that not everything revolves around the players. This insight helped consolidate my advantage play strategies.

Fiore’s journey is a testament to resilience and innovation in the realm of advantage play, portraying a remarkable narrative of overcoming adversities and thriving in a challenging domain.