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University student creates anti card counting software

Posted on 17. Oct, 2009 by admin in Blackjack

A news article, distributed via the BBC (see original), tells us that a university student from Dundee has produced a computer programme that can monitor casino Blackjack tables with such precision that it can spot card counters or dealer related errors. The computer application looks at the dealers actions and judges the decisions that are made by the people playing at the blackjack table.

In the movie 21 (starring Kate Bosworth and Kevin Spacey), stemming from the story ‘Bringing Down The House’, a group of students make a massive profit from counting cards in Vegas casinos. 21 suggests that the act of counting cards is performed via a number of complex math calculations based on the cards already dealt on the table. While not an illegal activity, counting cards will generally result in casino regulars being barred from the casino.

Counting Cards is still a widely followed practice and several known groups that try to count cards throughout Britain. The maths student who came up with the software that could potentially end card counting is set to attract worldwide acclaim and is expected to be put in front of many of the major casino operators in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, a leading member of a top UK based casino has suggested that casinos are no longer concerned that blackjack players have an edge over the house through use of basic strategy. He explained how his staff had been trained to “ignore” people counting cards, “unless they were seen to be using a computer or other device”.

With the prospect of card counting at casinos is likely to come to an end it would be no surprise to see even more complex, and most likely illegal, ways of exploiting the casinos showing up just around the corner

Tags: 21, Blackjack, card counting