Card Counting: How is it Detected by Casinos?

1. Playing more than one game within the same deck:
The method of playing more than one game within the same pack of cards reduces the advantage of the player, but even with multiple tables of blackjack or at a single table with two games, the croupiers will often shuffle different decks of cards prematurely or at such a frequent interval that the method of card counting becomes irrelevant, and impossible. Nonetheless, the frequent shuffling of cards in itself represents a disadvantage to the casino; this method reduce the length of the game of players who play without using the card counting technique, and in consequence this reduces the profits which can be made by the casino.

2. The frequent shuffling of cards.
The croupiers will cut the cards of the game and reshuffle after approximately 50 - 70% of the cards have been dealt, instead of the usual rate of 100%.

There is also a mechanical approach to the cards which will be continuously shuffling the deck throughout the play.

Some variations shuffle the cards which have already been shuffles while another player is in the process of playing. Other methods permit the croupier to play without interruption, by dealing the shuffled cards already player, and this helps to inhibit the counting of cards.

3. Continuous shuffling at online casinos.
In the case of online casinos, the game is shuffled at each round; this assures that the casinos keep their advantage. Certain online casinos pan out to a virtual croupier from time to time, in order to produce the impression that the cards are not shuffled at all, but remember, they are only panning to an animated croupier, it is not the actual card dealer, which is usually just a piece of software anyway.

It is thus impossible to card count at online casinos.

With online casinos which use direct dealers, or ‘live' dealers, the games are always much shuffled one the pack reaches around the half-way dealt point, this is a very early time in which to shuffle, making it harder to get the advantage.

4. The variations of blackjack.
Certain unfavourable rules can lower the advantage to the player. Since 2004, certain casinos have proposed games which present a blackjack whose natural payout rate is 6:5 instead of 3:2, and which plays in a single card game. This percentage attracts the people who are in the process of mastering card counting but who have not yet quite reached a good enough level; they are such attracted because they have heard rumours that it represents the opportunity to heighten their advantage against the house if they use the card counting technique, this is definitely not the case! When they change the games so that the payout is 6:5 this makes the game unbeatable, even for you genius card counters...although there may be a technique yet to come, that we are unaware of because we are not mathematical geniuses.

5. The environment.
Many non-professional card players make small error when they are using the card counting technique, errors which in the majority of cases are small but very significant, and which costs them the advantage over the house.

Even when person is an excellent card counter since he has trained himself at home the skills actually become a lot harder to perform while playing in bricks and mortar (as opposed to online) casino, where the environment is loud, there are many drinks available, all of which contribute towards the person losing their concentration.

6. The detection of card counters.
The detection of card counters in the casino is the remit of the work of the casino personnel (croupiers and managers), but another significant part of detection is down to the analysis of CCTV footage, which is carefully studied using information technology in order to find out the patterns and attitudes of players and evaluate the likelihood that they are using a card counting technique.

The croupiers also learn how to employ the card counting technique in order to recognise the games of players which are using the tactic.

Additionally, many casinos utilise a base rate of fixed wagers at the blackjack tables in order to put players off from playing, in the case of card counters this works because they will want to place lower bets at the beginning of the game, when they cannot well establish the likelihood of the next card being dealt being either higher or lower, and then increase the wagers towards the end of the game.

The professional card counters are well enough mastered in the art of discretion, it is possibly of equal importance to their competencies at the card counting techniques.

The film Las Vegas 21, which is based on the history of those famous professional card counters from the MIT, is a good illustration of the type of nerves needed to truly carry out the technique.

Card Counting: Introduction. Card Counting: History. Card Counting:Is it Illegal? Card Counting: How is it Detected by Casinos? Card Counting: The MIT Team. Card Counting: An Informal Technique Card Counting: The Hi/Lo Technique Card Counting: The KO Tecnique Card Counting: Hi/Opt I & II Technique Card Counting: The True Count