The Legality of Cards Counting

Is counting cards illegal? Counting cards, or card counting as it’s popularly called, has had its fair share of debates over the years. While some casinos call it cheating, it’s just another intelligent strategy for players to win at card casino games. Although it is not the easiest strategy to learn for card games, it is one of the most common. 

The question then remains, “Is counting cards illegal?” This one question has sparked several controversial situations in the gambling industry. This casino news looks at some controversial situations and answers the question of the legality of card counting.

Is Counting Cards Illegal? From Casino Floors to Courtrooms

Card counting, primarily associated with top casino games like Blackjack, is a technique used to determine whether the next hand is likely to give an advantage to the player or to the dealer, based on the cards that have already been dealt. It’s a skill that can give players an edge in brick-and-mortar casinos, but its applicability and effectiveness in online card games are limited.

Here are two card-counting cases that made headlines some weeks ago.

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Blackjack Player’s Case Against the Ameristar Casino 

An incident happened on the 19th of October 2021 in Colorado, where a blackjack player from Georgia was detained at a casino on the grounds of counting cards. Ameristar Casino in Black Hawk physically blocked one Joseph Shiraef for a criminal violation of the Colorado fraud statute by counting cards. It was later discovered that counting cards was not illegal in the state, and Joseph did nothing wrong.

In a statement, Daniel Carr from the Department of Revenue stated card counting isn’t illegal if done mentally. However, marking cards or using card-counting technology devices is illegal. In Joseph’s case, the casino had no right to detain him. 

He further stated that casinos had the prerogative to send a player out of their facility if they felt he was excellent at card counting. Joseph Shiraef sued the casino for $3 million, stating that he was detained for no probable cause. The case was filed in 2022 and is still ongoing today. 

Professional Player Banned After Winning $200,000

A professional blackjack player who used the ‘spot trick’ to win $200,000 in one night was prohibited from playing in New Jersey and other casinos worldwide. This happened in the 1960s, and the blackjack player Ken Uston started playing blackjack and quickly rose to fame for his ability to count cards. In one of his debut outings as a big player, Uston earned over $27,000 in 45 minutes at the Fremont Casino in Las Vegas. Uston began to gain popularity among casinos, playing several blackjack games like Multihand Blackjack Pro, etc.

When he won $200,000 in one night, the Sands Casino and Resort in Las Vegas allegedly threatened to have him arrested if he didn’t leave immediately. In the 1970s, Uston was outlawed from card rooms in Nevada, Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Europe. Uston filed a lawsuit against Resorts International in the early 1980s after the company refused to let him play blackjack there. Although he won the case, he would later be hired by the same casino as a spokesperson.

The Fine Line: Is Card Counting Illegal?

The instances above have given different scenarios where card counting has been frowned upon. This shows that it has been an old-age enmity issue between players and casinos. And to answer the question, the answer is no. Counting cards is not illegal in card games. The practice is almost impossible in an online casino, due to Random Number Generators in the game, automatic shuffles, or live dealer games.

It is universally regarded as an excellent strategy, rather than cheating, to get an advantage over rivals. Card counting allows players to choose their bets and playing tactics with greater knowledge, increasing their chances of winning.

Even though counting cards might be an effective strategy, it is considered cheating when combined with other dishonest techniques. Some counting card techniques noted as fraudulent include using devices and switching cards during gameplay. Other fraudulent ones are marking cards and collaborative cheating. Any fraudulent activity carried out while gambling is illegal and can attract heavy punishments.

Legality of Card Counting 

Even though card counting is not illegal, casinos often have policies against it. This may prohibit players who are detected employing these methods. So pause and think before taking wild bets like the blackjack insurance bet in allegiance to a card counting technique.

Find out the laws governing card counting in the state where you plan to use a counting cards strategy. You must also know the rules of the casino you intend to visit. This will let you enjoy the game without worrying about facing penalties.

Conclusion

Counting cards is a great way to enjoy card games while playing your favorite. It can also be why you win more while mastering Spanish 21 rules, for example. However, ensure you read a casino’s playing policy before using this strategy confidently. You would be better off choosing options like blackjack surrender than going against the casino’s rules and risking being thrown out.

Read more about card counting in our casino guides, so you can learn the ropes about card games, and start collecting your winnings next time you play at Slots Paradise Casino. Stay in the loop with all things casino by following our social media profiles.