What is card counting? Is it legal?

Question

What is card counting? Is it legal?

Answer 1

Card counting is neither cheating nor illegal. Anyone with a brain can do it effectively enough to wipe out the house edge. Unfortunately, casinos don't like players with brains, they want mindless drones who will throw their money away at every opportunity. That's why you can potentially get banned for doing it.

It's not really as difficult to get away with as most people think, but it still takes some work. You not only have to learn to effectively keep track of the count, but you must also be able to apply your advantage in a way that does not generate suspicion.

Anyway, go to the library and pick up just about any book on blackjack. They will all explain how to count cards. If you play blackjack more than a few times a year, it's worth the effort to learn. Even if you don't follow proper strategies to the tee, you still put yourself in a better situation to win than 99% of the people who sit at the tables.

And don't worry about getting kicked out or arrested for doing it. Unless you're playing at a professional level, they won't bug you unless you're super obvious about it. And the only way you can get arrested is if they walk you to the exit, read you the "Trespassing Act" before they kick you out, then you come back to that casino. And there's no way that will happen to you unless you're winning thousands of dollars and obviously counting. Most of the time they'll just back you off the blackjack tables and tell you to "feel free to enjoy any of our other games."

Answer 2

its a legal way to cheat in Vegas, but if they find you doing it, they;ll kick you out of the casino

Answer 3

Keep in mind that although card counting is not illegal. It is considered cheating IF you use any sort of device to help you track cards and you CAN be arrested. So if you do count cards, do it in your head.

Answer 4

it is not illegal however if a casino  even thinks you are doing it you will be ask to leave and all other casinos will be notified

Answer 5

It is not illegal, but a casino can throw you out and charge you with tresspassing if you return.

In blackjack, statistically it is better for the player if there are more tens and aces, and worse if their are more lower cards

Why? Because 10's help the dealer bust when he is required to hit. Aces help the player more because in a blackjack, the player gets paid 3:2 vs. when the dealer getting a blackjack. Conversely, low cards help the dealer when he must hit.

Because of this, a simple count will provide a value of +1 to 10s and Aces, and -1 to low value cards. As you go through the deck and count, you'll have a running count. A positive count is to your advantage and so you'll bet more.

You can also alter playing strategy upon the count to maximize your advantage. I've linked to a good beginners book with a great counting strategy.