Siddiqui: The blackjack speed demon and the rules of engagement

  For weeks I’ve been picking up pieces of information from the Strip about the blackjack playing style of high roller “Omar” Siddiqui, the former Fry’s Electronics executive from San Jose who is currently under federal indictment for fraud and money laundering after playing and losing well in excess of $100 million in Las Vegas casinos.

Here’s a little more:

  At one Strip resort, Siddiqui’s action was so coveted that an entire crew of dealers was taken off the floor and trained to cater to his quirkiness. Dealers were told not to look at him or talk to him. (Barbra Streisand supposedly had a similar rule, but I don’t think Siddiqui can sing a lick.) Second, and this may prove to be important, the dealing crew was instructed to move the cards as fast as possible. Only the most skilled dealers, ones who could deal with a blurring speed, could work Siddiqui’s table, I’m told from a veteran casino insider with first-hand knowledge.