Card Counting iPhone App Has Casinos On Alert

LAS VEGAS — Nevada gambling regulators have warned casinos about a card-counting program for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch that can illegally help players beat the house in blackjack.

Card counting by players is not illegal in Nevada but using a device to count cards is considered a felony.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board warned casinos of the program last week.

Nevada learned of the program from California gambling regulators who said officials at an Indian casino found customers using it.

But board member Randy Sayre says the agency hasn't received any reports of the program being used in Nevada.

Card counting can help blackjack players determine when they are likely to win a hand and should adjust their bets.

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Information from Las Vegas Review-Journal: http://www.lvrj.com/

Comments

[JBS]

Want to make a small fortune in a casino?

All you gotta' do is walk in with a large fortune and sit down at the table.

[dukeitout]

The article says "Card counting by players is not illegal in Nevada." Are these casino's not charitable or what.? Card counting is a mental process wherein the player attempts to use his god-given smarts to outsmart the house. If you can outsmart the house consistently and the house knows this, you are subject to banishment under threat of physical harm. I am welcome at all the casinos unfortunately.

[cylindar]

There are a lot of ways to scam casinos without this application. Purely amateur.

[Jeffer]

It's not difficult to count cards per se. What's difficult is the mental discipline to keep up with the count. Most importantly, you can't act like a counter. Casino staff can count too and if you start deviating from basic strategy and wildly varying your bets you will have a floorman and a camera on you pretty quick. As for cell phones in casinos, try playing with a bluetooth. You'll be politely but firnly asked to take it off. Same with an Ipod. And someone has to input the data for the app to count. I doubt that any casino will stand for someone inputting the cards on an Iphone while they play.

[the-lexicon]

I just had an idea.

I'm going to write an iPhone app that makes you seem more desirable to women.

just like that, I'm a millionaire! Think I'll take my money down to Foxwoods, and double it!

lexicon

[hidflect]

Card counting is a casino PR ploy (now). Fact is, they've worked out a shuffle routine along with a policy (in some casinos) of immediately retrieving busts and blackjacks to the shoe that pile up large cards in groups thusly also leaving small cards in groups. It's too long to go into the stats but it alters the odds noticeably against the player. Took me 5 years to work it out. Stick to craps.

[Ramirez]

The only advantage the casinos need is an honest game and plenty of customers.

The shuffle procedure you describe does not exist, and if it did it would create an opportunity for the player.

[3dtrix]

I hate it when you're right (no pun intended), R - and yes, I AM following you...

[JScott]

They've changed the routines of shuffling, usually they have a machine. So for a single deck game they put the played cards into it and another one is retrieved, so it's actually multiple decks played, but unless you are there when they machine is loaded you don't know how many decks are used. Wonder why they even have this, I mean you are on the phone while your are playing, that's a give away. Initially some casinos banned cellphone use in the gaming areas but it seems useless and I've noticed that they don't have that warning as you enter some casinos.

[netzwerg]

iPhone Software??
Counting is relatively easy and a good brain trainer. No need for an iphone app.

[AnotherMike]

So is exercising and watching what you eat, but there's an application for that too...

[rightsize2005]

LOL

[rebelzz]

Another reason why the house always wins. Why do people still gamble again?

[Deaninphilly]

I do it because it's fun. I give myself a set amount of money sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. Either way it is my entertainment. I play the tables and I love the wheel of fortune slot. I like sounds of the casinos, going to a show and having dinner. Some people will spend hundreds going to an uppity, the newest and greatest restaurant and then hitting the bars, I go every once in a while to the casino.

If someone is incapable of controlling themselves by not gambling everything they own, well that is their problem not mine. Too many nanny laws as it is and it is high time people start taking personal responsibility for their own actions again in this country.

[philko]

The "house" always wins in the restaurant biz, the theater biz, the movie rental biz, etc., too.

So, if you look at casinos as entertainment (as Dean here does), then it's just another entertainment choice and there's no reason not to gamble.

OTOH, if you think that you can beat the house (a prospect at which you stand as much chance as beating the restaurant­/theater/m­ovie rental "houses"), then you may have a problem and should consider *not* gambling.

[3dtrix]

You could not be (much) more mistaken - restaurants are among the riskiest businesses (check the bankruptcy rates) - next to theaters, and as for gambling - I'm up in the thousands (a pretty fair hand at Blackjack, if I do say so myself).

[deepintheheartoftejas]

I don't care about winning money. Follow basic strategy and you can keep your losses low while drinking for free all night.

[JBS]

Like state lotteries, it's a tax collected from people who don't understand mathematics.

[PoliticalCrave]

Glad they got the "counting cards is not illegal" part right. It doesn't matter what it is. anything that is tangible that one is using besides their brains is going to be illegal in the casino. The first 30 mins of the most CASINO should give you an idea on what is legal and what isn't

[walk0nwalls]

like CASINO the movie?

That was an awesome movie.

[CologneCitizen]

Yes, best movie about Las Vegas about that time, mid sixties, early seventies, almost Oscar worthy. De Niro and Pesci rock.

[bubbuh]

Even with a five deck shoe, one only needs to track 20 each of 13 different cards. This is hardly difficult after a little practice. Leave the ipod home. Better yet, don't buy one.

[Jeremy Nguyen]

here's my response to the article in comic strip form!

http://www.jeremywinslife.com/2009/02/17/iphone-gambling/

Enjoy!

[peskime]

Who knew my Iphone was so damn handy.... lol

[trunk65]

SORRY, HIT POST TOO SOON. As i was saying, in the 6 years I dealt I saw enough human misery to last a life time. Divorce,ba­nkruptcy,a­nd suicide are all by products of this predatory business. Good luck to all of you.

[formerprosecutor]

You must be speaking of Wall Street

[trunk65]

I am leaving this site for the same reason I left the gaming business. Too many fools and braggarts claiming they know how to beat the house. In 6 years at Harrah's,

[horsey]

think i would of left the business after 2 years if it was as bad as you described...

[KillTheMessenger]

There is a very easy way to beat the house: you load up on the all you can eat buffet and skip the casino completely.

And that is pretty much the only way one can beat the house.

:-)

[Webtopia]

The app in question can be purchased from iTunes for $3.99

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=294151538&mt=8

[bugsbonzai]

Does that come with ten grand for bail?

[horsey]

use a hidden cam at the table to show the cards, your partners get a live feed in the van outside and your partner 50 feet away gets it on her blue tooth. she gives you a wink and a nod....the next thing you know you're walking out the door with 20k.