Casino Con – Steve Gore and Gregory Wilson
$29.95
http://www.murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=56263

The Hype:

The faces of 10 vintage Jokers are shown, then the backs are displayed to be from 10 different casinos that have been demolished. The spectator shuffles the Jokers and lays them on the table. You give them your "lucky" poker chip to hold unseen. They now choose any of the Jokers on the table, and your poker chip matches the casino chip they are holding... every time! 

For the second phase, you shuffle face up so they see the different array of Jokers again. Then you fairly deal the 10 cards face down into two piles, giving you and your spectator a 5-card poker hand. You proudly proclaim that they have a "Five of a kind!" with the matching Jokers... you do too, but you turn your cards over to show your 5-of-a-kind happens to be in Spades, as the cards have transformed into the Royal Flush in Spades! 

No wonder all those casinos closed! 

- Easy to learn with no difficult sleights or moves! 
- Minimal pocket space and instant reset. 
- No rough and smooth. 
- A devious method that is a close-up worker's dream! 
- Featuring Performances by Steve Gore, Gregory Wilson, Chris Funk and Peter Turner. 
- Special explanation and ideas session with Steve Gore and special guest Peter Turner.

My Take:

I am always glad to see Gregory Wilson’s name associated with a trick. I know that it will be well thought out and made of quality materials. To be fair, this is pretty much Steve Gore’s project with Gregory consulting and making suggestions. But the net result is worth it.

What you get in the package. 20 beautifully printed casino cards (all from defunct casinos) two poker chips, a special plastic wallet and a well produced DVD.

This is a devastating trick for your audience and it is extremely easy to do. There are two phases to the main effect. Three if you want to throw in the transition between phase one and two. Steve gives two ways to perform the first phase. First is if you are working on a table and second with no table. Both methods are easy and foolers but I think the card selection from the standing position is actually a lot stronger than the seated version. This is the one I will be using. Looks 100% honest (but we know it isn’t, don’t we?)

The transitional phase involves changing a $25.00 poker chip into a $25000.00 poker chip. Two methods are shown (Spellbound and Bobo Switch), Neither is difficult and if you can handle coins, I would suggest using this phase (although the trick is fine without it.)

The third phase is basically the 10 Card Poker Deal. Steve gives four methods to do it, all easy to do. By the time I had watched the second phase I was telling myself what I would do. Boris wild wrote a wonderful book on the 10 Card deal based on a method by Paul Gordon. I was not surprised when the third method taught was Paul’s from his Gold Rush Trilogy. I have been doing this for a while so this is definitely the version I will be doing.

The DVD starts out with several performance videos. I found the first a little jarring as the background noise was very distracting. Still, the performance was great and the other performances were much more watchable.

Las Vegas is the Mecca of magic so it makes sense to do a Vegas themed routine. Everyone has heard of Vegas and has either been there or wants to go. This trick allows you to take them on a brief journey of Las Vegas history where they can see the cards used in long gone casinos. And they will be fooled. And you will not have to work hard to do it. Plus, it is a lot of fun to perform. If you can spin a good yarn, you can make this into a showpiece.

I usually love stuff Gregory comes out with and this is no exception. I will be in Vegas next month and I guarantee you that Casino Con will be in my bag.

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