Blackjack Card Counting – Is it Legal?



Under US law, blackjack card counting is legal, provided the player or team does not use any mechanical or electronic or any other type of device for the card counting. If you are counting cards in your mind and get caught, you cannot be handed over to the police, cannot be charged with any crime and will not face any fine or jail term. However, there is a “but” – and a big one.

 

Casinos are private property and right of admission is reserved. If they ask you to leave, then you must and you have no recourse in law against that decision. Just as unruly casinos players are ejected from the premises, so are suspected card counters. Those who follow blackjack news, will realise that the frequency of removal of card counters is on the rise. This is hardly surprising, because card counting still results in losses to casinos of millions of dollars every year.

 

Two thoughts arise from this discussion.

 

·       How do casinos catch blackjack players counting cards

·       What steps casinos use in removing blackjack card counters

 

How do casinos catch blackjack players counting cards

 

Blackjack card counters track cards removed from the shoe, while making small bets during that time. If and when the remaining cards in the shoe become favourable to the players, the card counter significantly increases the amount bet. The casinos independently track the shoe and also the bets of each player. This enables them to identify blackjack card counters.

 

 

What steps casinos use in removing blackjack card counters.

 

It begins politely. Two suited men will come alongside the player and request him or her to leave the table. The chips will be cashed and the suspected blackjack card counter escorted to the door. If resistance is offered, the suited men will start disturbing and harassing the player till he is compelled to leave. I have even read of drinks being “accidentally” tipped on the player. Only in the last resort, any physical force is used, because that may open the door for legal action against the casino on grounds of manhandling.

Author: Harsh Nevatia has 20 years’ experience of creating content on online gambling and understands how the system works.

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X (Twitter): @HarshNev

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