The Casino Con by Steve Gore and Gregory Wilson is a multi-phase card routine in which you explain why numerous casinos went bust using joker cards from the very same defunct casinos. The product comes with a DVD, 2 poker chips, a gimmicked inexpensive plastic wallet and 20 specially made cards.
The routine is Steve Gore’s and he had Gregory Wilson endorse it and even perform it for the DVD. Wilson always brings electricity to any routine and it was a valuable addition. In addition to Gregory Wilson, there are numerous performances by other magicians and a long segment in with British mentalist Peter Turner discusses the trick with Gore.
Basically, the performer shows 10 card that he takes out of the plastic wallet. He shows that each card’s back design is the logo of a different Las Vegas casino that has closed such as The Sands, The Desert Inn, Aladdin and many others. Each card is a joker. The performer asks the spectator to hold a poker chop in his hand and not to look at it. Then, the spectator chooses any card and immediately reveals that the poker chip matches the logo of the selected card. That is the first phase. Now, the second phase, which in my opinion not necessary and I think many will discard it. The spectator looks at the value of the poker chip and it is $25. The performer takes a closer look at it and hands it back and it is $25,000. Second phase completed. The third phase then starts. The cards, which had been placed back in the plastic wallet, are taken out and dealt in one of a variety of ways. The two hands are compared and of course the spectator has 5 jokers, but when the performer’s cards are examined, they are shown to be a Royal Flush. This phase can be totally fooling if you use one of the seemingly free ways of dealing the cards.
The quality of the DVD production is not fantastic. Many parts look like they were shot with a camcorder on a tripod. The audio is not great and overall I found the explanation to be a bit repetitive. That being said, it is easy to understand the instructions and the trick is easy to perform. There is minimal audience management needed and the trick has a nice patter to it and if you are looking for a routine that is not over in 30 seconds, this has some nice heft to it.
For those who like gambling routine, you are gonna love The Casino Con. And, at $29.95, it is a great value.
This great trick can be purchased from any Murphy’s Magic dealer.