Is Card Counting Illegal at Casinos?

A suave man sits in a suit at the blackjack game table. His admirers look on in anticipation to see the final deciding hand. The other players have stoic looks because they know they will lose. The hand is revealed, and the table erupts in joy. This is a casino scene from almost every action movie in Hollywood - and it is always revealed that the protagonist was using a card counting system to his advantage to beat the odds. And this is where the card counting fever comes from.

Anyone can count cards if they learn how to do it right. It is a relatively simple playing strategy that relies on accuracy and concentration. The only thing you need is an alert and present brain. 

In a game of blackjack played with a single deck of cards, the house edge is almost zero if you play using the optimal method. You will eventually break even. The odds of winning blackjack are high, and it is these odds that make the game perfect for card counting. 

Card counting means keeping track of specific cards when the dealer plays through the deck. You do everything else as normal - play with the best strategy - and you will know which cards will come up for you and the dealer when the next hand gets dealt. 

When you have an insight into these odds, you can decide more easily when to bet, big or small. If you have more low-numbered cards left on the deck, you might be out of luck because your chances of getting a blackjack are low. The dealer is also less likely to get a bust, which is getting over 21 points worth of cards, because of the rigid betting rules. High-numbered cards are most desirable. 

If you count cards correctly, you can likely increase your odds of winning by 1%. While that doesn't sound like much, it's a tried and tested way of doubling your bankroll by winning more money at the games. 

The hi-lo or High-Low system is one of the easiest ways to count cards at the blackjack table. With this strategy, the card counter only has to keep track of three groups of cards: the high numbers, the low numbers, and the middle numbers. This is how it works:

• For every high-number card the counter sees played on the table (the 10s and all the face cards), he/she will subtract one from his/her tally. 
• The middle cards - sevens, eights, and nines - are ignored. 
• For every low-number card - the sixes to the twos - he/she will add one to his/her tracking record.

For example, if the running tally is more than three, the cards coming up are likely to be high-numbered, so it's in your favour to place a high bet. On the other hand, if the tally is less than two, the odds are in the dealer's favour because you are likely to get low-numbered cards - so you should place small bets. You reset the count and start again when the cards get shuffled. 

It sounds like a lot, but running a count can be quite easy once you get the hang of the steps. Card counters need a lot of practice, so you must play several rounds with a team before you practise it at the casino. You simply need to keep your eye on the card's value and the game's goal. But you can expect to make mistakes when you initially get into it. 

Counting cards is a long-term strategy, and to build up your 1% edge, you need to play by the optimal method, round after round. Simultaneously you must keep track of the ratio of the cards being dealt and flipped on the table.

Contrary to what most people believe, the truth is that card counting is not illegal. Most casinos would like you to believe it is, but it's not. It is not even considered cheating - the player is simply thinking one step ahead of the pit boss or dealer. You play the game exactly as the casino offers it. You're simply better than everyone else.

Card counting is not illegal under the laws of Ireland. No law states that casino goers cannot count cards. If you're playing blackjack at an online casino based in the US, you should also be aware that no federal, state or local laws ban card counting - unless you are using some type of external card counting device or have people helping you with your card count. 

Keep this information at the forefront of your mind should you ever get caught. It is important to know your rights - the police cannot arrest you for counting cards or convict you of any crime. However, casinos reserve the right to ask you to stop playing. Some casinos will immediately eject you from the premises and prevent you from redeeming your chips with the cashier. Sometimes, the casino might even ban you from playing with them again. 

However, casinos have a good reason to stop card counters - they want to protect their house edge and know that card counters can and will cost them money. 

Ways Casinos Can Catch and Prevent Card Counting

There are five main ways a casino catches or prevents card counting: