Do Casinos Beat Up Card Counters

Blackjack Card counting has existed since the 1950s. Casinos initially struggled to deal with successful card counters.

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Never Stay in One Spot Too Long. Prior to the 2008 Great American Recession, casinos were more. First things first, you can't really be an effective card counter if you don't know the ins and outs of basic blackjack strategy. Sure, you could count the cards, but it wouldn't result in you winning anything. Try to walk before you run. It's in your favor to practice in casinos, if you plan on counting cards at casinos. You should walk into the casino knowing how you are going to play every possible hand and do not deviate from it. No hunches, no hesitations, etc. Play like a machine. There are three things needed to beat the house in the long run: 1. You must be a skilled player with an effective card counting strategy. You can't beat the house with your cards.

However, they’ve spent the past several decades understanding this advantage play (AP) method and how to combat it. Casinos have since added multiple decks, instated unfavorable rules, and learned how to spot APs.

These days, the industry even has technology on their side. They use facial recognition technology and databases to identify APs and keep their info on file, respectively.

That said, casinos seemingly have a big edge in this game of cat and mouse. Many blackjack players feel that card counting is dead as a result.

In reality, though, card counting and table-based advantage gambling is just as alive as ever. I’ll cover why this is the case and what you can do to win a fortune today.

Learning Card Counting Is Easy

You’ve likely seen card counting showcased in movies. This AP method is often portrayed as a complicated process that only geniuses can employ.

But counting cards isn’t really that complex, and you can learn it in minutes. Below, you can see the main components of card counting when using the popular Hi-Lo system.

Assign Values to Cards as They’re Dealt

Your first task as a card counter is to watch cards as they’re dealt and assign the following values to each type:

• High cards (A through 10) = -1
• Neutral cards (7 through 9) = 0
• Low cards (2 through 6) = +1

You need to keep a running tallying and add or subtract 1 as each card comes out of the deck. This count is known as your “running count.”

Convert Your Running Count into a True Count

Understanding the running count is a nice start. However, you need to have a “true count” to account for the multiple decks featured at most real money blackjack games.

You must divide the running count by the estimated remaining decks to make this conversion. You estimate the amount of decks left by visually looking at the shoe.

Here’s an example:

• +9 running count.
• You estimate that 3.5 decks remain.
• 9 / 3.5 = 2.57
• Your true count is +2.57

You may have trouble determining how many decks are left at first. Furthermore, you might not be so precise on the remaining decks (i.e. 3.5) and true count (i.e. 2.57).

But the more precise you are, the better you’ll be at knowing your exact advantage or disadvantage. You should become more comfortable with these aspects over time.

Determine Your Edge (If Any)

Once you have the true count figured out, you can apply it to see if you have an advantage over the casino. Here’s how the true count correlates to an edge or disadvantage in various scenarios:

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• +3 true count = 1.77% player’s edge
• +2 true count = 1.17% player’s edge
• +1 true count = 0.58% player’s edge
• 0 true count = 0.42% house edge
• -1 true count = 0.80% house edge
• -2 true count = 1.53% house edge
• +3 true count = 2.05% house edge

You gain an advantage when the true count is at or near +1. However, you don’t want to raise your bets until reaching a +1.5 true count or higher. A more-favorable count helps you make higher wagers with more confidence.

Raise Your Bets to Capitalize On Your Edge

You determine your bet size based on your advantage in a given hand. Assuming the casino holds an edge, then you flat bet.

But you want to gradually raise your wagers as the true count becomes more favorable. Here are examples on how you can determine your bet sizes:

• +4 true count = $300
• +3 true count = $200
• +2 true count = $100
• +1 true count = $25
• 0 true count = $25
• -1 true count = $25
• -2 true count = $25
• +3 true count = $25

This model represents a 1-12 bet spread. $25 serves as one unit, while $300 represents 12 units (300 / 25).

You need to spread your bets from low to high to make long-term profits. However, you don’t want to get crazy with a 1-25 spread or higher. Pit bosses can easily spot this massive difference.

Consider Strategy Deviations Based on the Count

You can further increase your profits by knowing when to deviate from proper strategy based on the count.

The main idea behind card counting is to wager more when the deck is rich in aces and 10s. Your chances of getting a natural blackjack are higher at this point.

Another perk to counting cards is that you can tell when more high cards (favor you) exist than low cards (favor dealer). Dealers, who draw to a hard or soft 17, benefit from low cards, because they have a smaller chance of busting out.

Assuming you go away from basic strategy at the right times, you can further boost your edge. Here’s an example:

• You’re dealt an ace and 7 (soft 18).
• The dealer’s upcard is 2.
• Basic strategy dictates that you stand in this situation.
• However, the true count is a very favorable +3.
• The deck features a large number of high cards that could bust out the dealer.
• You double down as a result.

You don’t necessarily have to make these strategy deviations to win with counting. But you can increase your advantage even more when doing so.

Why Do People Consider Card Counting Dead?

Back in the 1960s, famed gambling author Edward Thorp refined card counting to the point where he gained a sizable edge over casinos.

However, Thorp’s Ten Count system wouldn’t hold up in today’s blackjack world. Worse rules, enhanced surveillance, savvy pit bosses, and facial recognition make counting tougher than ever.

You need to put far more effort into winning blackjack profits today. Many players take this as a sign that card counting is dead.

They don’t see a way to get around the databases, facial recognition, and RFID tracking inside chips that are used today.

Of course, card counters are still making money today. Therefore, those who think this AP method is dead are wrong.

You Can Still Win with the Right Approach

You can win through card counting alone if you’re skilled enough. But you should consider adding more layers to your approach in the form of shuffle tracking, different appearances, and more.

Shuffle Tracking on Top of Counting

Shuffle tracking is mixed with card counting to capitalize on weak shuffles. It can also result in less scrutiny from the pit boss and surveillance.

This technique calls on you to look for opportunities where aces and 10s are grouped together. You want to follow these card batches, or “slugs,” as they’re placed into the discard tray.

Once the shoe has been dealt, the dealer pulls cards out of the discard tray and begin shuffling.

You continue visually tracking the slugs as the croupier shuffles. If the dealer uses a “one pass” shuffle (weaker than two pass), you can successfully employ this method and determine where the slug might come out during the next shoe.

Assuming you’ve done a good job at tracking the slug, you can raise your bets once the slug cards begin coming out.

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Shuffle tracking accomplishes two main goals:

1. It gives you a bigger advantage by helping you track aces and 10s.
2. It masks your counting efforts.

Regarding the latter, increasing your bets towards the end of the shoe is a big sign that you may be counting. You’re more likely to determine that the deck is rich in high cards at this point.

With shuffle tracking, though, you can more accurately locate a slug of good cards. If this slug is earlier in the shoe, then you can also spread your bets earlier too.

Switch up Your Appearance

You can hit the casino multiple times within a year or even month by changing your look. Different appearances make it harder for gambling venues to recognize you after multiple hot nights.

You don’t necessarily have to wear disguises. In fact, flamboyant looks can attract unwanted attention from the pit boss.

A better plan is to slightly alter your appearance. You can go unshaven with glasses one time, for example, then be cleanshaven the next.

Be Careful with Spreading Bets

Again, you want to be mindful of how large you’re spreading bets. The bigger the spread, the more likely the pit boss will take notice.

Of course, you must vary your minimum and maximum wagers by a fair amount. Otherwise, you won’t make any money.

But you also want to avoid being greedy and going from a $10 minimum to $500. A 1-100 spread like this will almost assuredly lead to you being thrown out.

Know Where to Count Cards

Some of the best US casinos are more tolerant than others when monitoring advantage players. Ideally, you’ll play at gambling establishments that gives you the benefit of the doubt.

Every casino has its limits regarding APs. The best plan is to research casinos ahead of time and chose those that have a reputation for being lenient.

Stay on the Move

The worst thing you can do as an advantage gambler is continue hitting the same casino again and again. One huge session can draw attention from the pit boss and surveillance – let alone multiple big wins in a row.

You want to stay on the move and continue traveling from casino to casino. This practice is much easier in major gambling destinations, such as Atlantic City and Las Vegas.

Assuming you’re good enough and have a large bankroll, you might even consider playing in various states. This way, you avoid developing the AP stigma in single gambling destination.

Conclusion

Card counting is much easier to learn than Hollywood makes it seem. You can earn money through counting if you practice enough and develop good skills.

That said, card counting isn’t dead in any capacity. Even with their sophisticated technology and trained employees, casinos are still losing money to APs.

Of course, counting cards is also tougher than at any point. The best APs counter this by improving their skills even more.

Some of the things that you can do to boost your profits include shuffle tracking, changing your appearance, researching casinos, and staying on the move. The more layers you throw on top of your card counting approach, the more money you stand to win.

But first thing’s first: you need to thoroughly learn basic card counting. After you feel comfortable in your counting abilities, you should proceed to the advanced AP techniques.

The casino’s battle to keep card counters from beating them is well known. They routinely use various measures to identify advantage players (APs) and kick them out.

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Of course, they’re not always successful in this endeavor. But they do catch a lot of card counters and ban them.

If you’re interested in counting cards, you can benefit by knowing what techniques casinos use to identify and/or stop APs. Here are 7 methods that casino is used to root out counters.

1 – Lower Natural Blackjack Payouts

The general public has a common misconception that casinos spend massive amounts of time looking for and chasing APs. The movie 21 has a lot to do with this idea.

Pit bosses do spend some time looking for counters. But for the most part, casinos let the rules work for them.

The worst of the bunch involves lowering the natural blackjack payout from 3:2 to 6:5. This single change increases the house edge by 1.39%.

Everybody from APs to amateurs have to deal with 6:5 payouts in many casinos. But card counters are largely to blame here.

Gambling establishments use 6:5 payouts to lower potential profits for APs. But they also benefit by making more money off unsuspecting novices too.

2 – Add More Decks

Just like with 3:2 natural payouts, real money blackjack tables previously featured single-deck games. A single deck lowers the house edge by 0.5% when compared to the common eight-deck shoes of today.

Aside from increasing the house edge, more decks also make it tougher to have confidence in your count. Here’s an example to explain:

• A table features a six-deck shoe.
• You start counting and have a +4 count after one deck.
• Normally, a +4 count would be really good.
• But with five decks remaining, your +4 count isn’t as strong.

Some casinos dangle single-deck blackjack to draw players. This move works because many gamblers understand that a single deck is more favorable than multiple decks.

However, casinos also include 6:5 natural payouts. The 1.39% house edge increase from 6:5 payoffs definitely overshadows the 0.59% decrease from a single deck.

3 – Allow Less Deck Penetration

Deck penetration refers to how much of the shoe a dealer goes through before shuffling. If they deal four out of eight possible decks, then they’re allowing 50% penetration.

This concept is extremely important to card counters when it comes to the common multi-deck games of today. You stand a better chance of winning money when you get further into the shoe.

Again, you can have more confidence in your counts after seeing more cards. Fewer remaining cards make it more likely that positive counts will result in profits.

For example, a +2 count can lead to profits. However it provides a thin edge that won’t necessarily result in winnings at 50% deck penetration or less.

You want fewer cards left, so that a positive count indicates a larger percentage of 10s and aces remaining in the shoe. 75% deck penetration, or better, is ideal for making this happen.

Some casinos do allow this amount of penetration so that they can keep games moving faster. As a result, they rake in more profits from amateurs.

Other casinos, however, are too leery of card counters to allow 75% of the shoe to be dealt. You definitely want to avoid these establishments.

4 – No Mid-Shoe Entry Rule

As covered above, deck penetration is really important with regard to successful card counting. You want to see as many cards/hands as possible to gain more faith in your count.

If this is the case, though, why not just count off to the side and jump into the game later with a favorable count? Actually, many counters from the past used this exact strategy.

Most blackjack tables feature a sign that states “no mid-shoe entry.” You can’t enter these games until a new shoe starts.

The no mid-shoe entry rule is specifically designed to prevent wonging. If casinos didn’t institute this rule, they’d get crushed by APs.

5 – Chat with Players

Pit bosses have a lot of responsibilities around the gambling floor. Therefore, they don’t just sit around watching for card counters all day.

However, when a pit boss does catch wind of a potential card counter, they need to monitor their play. Sometimes, just the pit boss standing and watching the player is enough to back them off.

Other times, though, the pit boss takes a more-direct approach that involves chatting with the player. They may start out with a harmless conversation about the game or another matter.

But their end goal is to get the player to stop counting or even kick them out, depending upon the casino’s policy. These chats let the AP know that they’ve potentially been spotted and need to stop counting.

6 – Limit Bet Sizes

Sometimes, the talks described above result in the pit boss taking action. One of their favorite methods for dealing with counters involves limiting their bet size.

The pit boss has two different options in this case:

• Cap how much the player can bet (e.g. no more than $50).
• Force the AP to flat bet (e.g. $10 every hand).

The first route ensures that APs can’t take advantage of positive counts. After all, one needs to raise their bets at some point to capitalize on positive counts.

The second route accomplishes the same goal—only in a more-extreme manner. It doesn’t matter how skilled a card counter is if they can only bet $10 on every hand.

Pit bosses can limit bet sizes when they’re unsure if a particular player is actually counting. Assuming the gambler isn’t counting, they may continue playing even if they’re only allowed to flat bet.

7 – Ban Players & ID Them

The most-extreme method for dealing with card counters involves banning them from the casino. A ban may extend to all of the corporation’s properties.

If you get caught counting at MGM Grand, for example, then you’ll be banned from every single MGM casino throughout the world.

Many gambling establishments try to get your ID after catching you counting. They use this information to ensure that they can better identify you, in case you ever try stepping foot in their casino(s) again.

In the worst-case scenario, they’ll enter you into an international database of known advantage players. Such a database allows many casinos to check for your info if they suspect that you’re a card counter.

You may think that you must hand over an ID upon request. After all, casinos need to ensure that they only allow players who meet the legal gambling age.

The truth of the matter, though, is that no casino employee can legally force you to provide identification. Only a law-enforcement officer can do so.

If you’re a serious card counter, then you should never give a casino worker your ID. They’ll likely use this info against you and ensure that gambling establishments can better identify you as an AP in the future.

Conclusion

Casinos have known that card counters can beat them ever since the 1960s. They’ve spent considerable time learning how to spot card counters and stop them.

Rule changes are one simple way to hurt an AP’s bottom line. Unfavorable rules, such as 6:5 natural payouts, severely lower a card counter’s profit potential.

Of course, some APs still make money even with bad rules. So, casinos also have pit bosses watch for suspected counters and take necessary actions.

You might find this information discouraging, but you’re better off knowing it than not. That way, you know what to watch out for in case you get into card counting.