Q: Can the casino ban card counters?
A:
This depends on where you play. In Atlantic City, where games of skill are not permitted, the casinos are not allowed to ban skillful players. In Nevada, casinos are allowed to refuse service to anyone at any time for any reason. Players are routinely "barred", usually by being asked to leave or by being told that they are welcome to play any game other than blackjack. If you are barred but persist in trying to play, the casino can have you arrested for trespassing.
Q: Is card counting illegal?
A:
No. The casinos would like you to believe that card counting is illegal, immoral, and fattening, but the fact is that card counters are simply using a greater level of skill than the typical blackjack player. The Nevada courts have ruled that blackjack players are free to use any information that is made available to them, provided that there is no collusion between a player and casino personnel. For example, if a dealer accidentally handles the cards in such a way that a player can see the dealer's hole card, the player can make use of this information without breaking the law.
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I've yet to lose, but I never win big enough to attract too much heat from the pit critters.... also, I can't afford the high dollar tables, so I hang out with all the tourists (I love 'em, they keep the table games profitable for the casinos and rules of the game fair for the smart players) on the low dollar tables... I blend in and act real surprised at my "dumb" luck...
To find out more about blackjack, stats and gambling check out:
charm.net
blackjackinfo.com
conjelco.com
atext.com
Finally, an article on casino tactics and recommended counter-measures... This is so ridiculously off topic that I've decided to post the entire article rather than the URL... You'll like it even if you aren't a hard core gamblaholic like me... enjoy..
Spying on Blackjack Players
by Allan Pell
gamblevision.com
Do casinos spy on players? Sometimes. But this is specialized work best left to pros, so they pay hired goons to do most of their spying. One company that has received a lot of media attention lately is Griffin Investigations, Inc. famous for creating the legendary "Griffin Book."
Over 250 casinos rely on Griffin to keep track of gambling cheats, and general riff-raff they'd like to keep out of their premises. Private detective agencies are the secondary line of defense which the casino industry employs to protect themselves. There are other companies out there, but Griffin is the big-dog on the block as far as card-counters are concerned.
Company headquarters for Griffin is at 4528 West Charleston Blvd. Las Vegas, Nevada. 89102. Their phone number is (702) 870-5131. The company is run by Andy Anderson, CEO and chief investigator. (I'm sure they love to have you stop by for a free tour of their facilities.)
Griffin maintains a huge casino-enemies data base, dealing with everyone from game-cheaters, to player-grifters (like rail-thieves), to blackjack card-counters. It's a sad thing that honest, skillful blackjack players (like card-counters) are lumped into Griffin's bag of scum along with cheaters--and someday this policy might come back to haunt them.
For example, according to a recent issue of Blackjack Forum an Indian casino in Michigan identified two players as card-counters with Griffin's help, then proceeded to violate the rights of these individuals after a large win. The players were approached in their room (on the reservation--a big mistake to stay where you play!) by Reservation Police. Their room was tossed, their money stolen/confiscated, and they were strip-searched. Thank goodness no one was hurt, but what if scenario occurred overseas--say for instance in an Asian casino? What if the players were intentionally injured, or even killed by unscrupulous casino management? It's not too far fetched of an idea. In the late 80's two players were severely beaten by Benny Binion's security in the Horse Shoe--both required extensive hospitalization. Later they received both an enormous six figure judgment, but that's another story... <<<one of the Binion family was sent to jail on racketeering and other mob-connected charges, but the Horse Shoe casino is my favorite place to play in Shreveport, LA>>>>
Sooner or later, somebody is going to get hurt or even killed by one of Griffin's clients, just because they were skillful blackjack players. Andy Anderson and his company may well be held responsible in a court of law. A federal civil rights law suit is just waiting to be filed somewhere, somehow. At a recent poker game at the Sahara a few weeks ago I conversed with a civil rights attorney--I gave him the low down on Griffin, the general casino spy network, and some player horror stories. This attorney was surprised that no lawsuits have been filed so far. But it's just a matter of time. And don't expect the casino industry to be protected by the suck-up court system in Nevada. If something happens its going to be in a Federal Court. Look out Andy, the vultures may soon start to circle!
How does Griffin track counters?
Griffin Investigations maintains a database, referred to in the professional Blackjack community as..."The Griffin Book." The last time I saw "The Book" it was a spiral bound mug-shot directory. Griffin's clients receive "The Book" and regular update installments. As I said earlier, Griffin is the second line of defense. Many of Anderson's mug shots are from the casinos' first line of defense, their own security system and video cameras. Another source or information is through police records and contacts. Griffin is the distributor of the information to the other clients. The casino may identify the card-counter (most likely scenario), or Griffin may identify the suspect blackjack player or cheater.
On a recent Fox Network television show, Andy Anderson was featured--on the job, in his car, on the Vegas Strip where he received a call from an Australian casino. He opened up his lap top computer, and received a live video casino surveillance feed from Australia showing closeups of the player at the table! Truly amazing! The man in the video was winning, and the casino wanted to know who he was and why he was winning. Anderson opens up another lap-top, and on it is an electronic version of "The Griffin Book." Anderson quickly matches the player's face to the mug-shot in his electronic "book." If I remember correctly, Anderson identified the man as a known blackjack cheater.
If you have ever been asked to leave a casino ("86'ed" as the professional blackjack community likes to call it) for strong blackjack play, the casino most likely has shared your photo (taken without your permission or knowledge by the casino eye in the sky) with the Griffin agency. If so, you are most likely in the "Griffin Book." If you have ever been arrested for cheating a casino (especially in Nevada, Connecticut, or New Jersey), you will be in the Griffin data base. Even if you weren't caught (you were faster than the fat casino cops), your mug will most likely be in the Griffin Book. If you're ever on a winning streak with lot of chips in front of you but you were never positively identified (like if you and a friend discreetly cashed out the chips over several days) you still will probably end up in the Griffin Book. Remember, to receive large cash sums you must file the proper government forms--you have then inadvertently registered yourself with the Casino, Griffin and even the IRS. If you are currently on a hot streak, playing the same casino over and over again, expect the pit-boss to call up Andy Anderson and give him a live video feed of your play. Anderson will analyze your game, and if you're card-counting, voila! You're in the Griffin book.
How do I keep out of the Griffin book?
In an interview with the Las Vegas Review Journal, Griffin's Andy Anderson admitted that has tracked many "college math whizzes" who pay their way through college with Blackjack winnings. There is no low that the casino dirt bags won't stoop to, like depriving smart young kids from earning an honest living.
Once you're in "the Book" you might as well wrap it up unless you can become a master of disguises. Best to stay out of it altogether. Here's some tips that may keep you out of the Griffin book...
1. Griffin monitors Internet sites, (like this one--kiss my rebel a__ Andy!). So do not use your real name, and if you can, post all messages under aliases on Blackjack sites and chat rooms. Here at gamblevision.com you can post under aliases.
2. Don't show up to "card-counter parties" that are posted on web-sites, or advertised in gambling publications--they may be infested with casino industry spies. Don't go to gambling industry conventions.
3, Don't use cash machines or credit cards in the casino. It's easy to match your face with the withdrawal records. Credit card numbers are now easily linked to databases containing your address and posibly financial history records and more.
4. Don't play where you stay. This invites trouble. Believe me, its no fun when casino security busts into your room as you're counting out large stacks of money. ("Card counting? Why no officer. I'm just a little 'ol drug kingpin.")
5. Don't park where you play. If there's a juicy game, where you've been taking out money, survey your escape routes out of the casino. A big winner will most likely be followed to their car--wherein the license plate will be run, and bingo you're in the Griffin book. If you're got the huevos, carry a big can of pepper spray. Pepper-fogged security slobs are less likely to chase you down and confiscate your winnings (Note: be sure you can run very, very fast!). Take a cab back to your car--take two cabs! Wander through a busy mall, then disappear!
6, Learn counter-surveillance techniques. Be aware of your surroundings. Learn how to dump a surveillance tail. A good book dealing with this subject is "By Way Of Deception" by Victor Ovstrosky an ex-Israeli Mossad agent. Or look in books published by Paladin Press--full of military, intelligence and counter intelligence books. Volume 3 of my Blackjack Bootcamp video series discusses some of my personal tricks of the trade.
7. Develop alternate identities. Passports, drivers licenses and credit cards can be obtained legally. Again look into the Paladin Press books.
8. Develop your "act" (casino comportment). Keep changing your act. Be different people in different places. Learn to change your appearance (no make-up, it is easily spotted). If you use fake beards or mustaches--go with the best money can buy. The cheap stuff looks phony.
9. Learn "team play." This is one of the ways surveillance is currently being foiled. Start a team--train your own people, or join a legit team. Be prepared to be tested and investigated.
10. Learn to keep your mouth shut. Recently suspected blackjack team players have been approached by attractive women--in reality they're casino spies. A big mouthed player bragged that he was on a counter-team. They were made! If something seems too good to be true, it usually is! Beware of scams and traps. Do not give any advice to other players on or off the tables. You are not a teacher! You are there to make money. Don't tell anybody anything at all. Be suspicious of anyone trying to pry personal information out of you.
11. Absolutely do not apply for "casino rating cards" under your real name. Best of all don't apply at all. They may run your finger prints left on the application form, and bingo they've got you. Not far fetched at all, any local cop working for the casino on the side can do the job.
If you have any additional tips, stopries or comments please share them with me on our discussion board.
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Spank them hard for me...
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Allan Pell
...if you're really bored and still want more advice on "blending in"...read gamblevision.com |
