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Casinos Warn iPhone Card-Counting App is Illegal
An anonymous reader writes "Gaming commissions in Nevada are informing casinos that a new card counting program has made its way to the Apple iPhone, called Hi Lo. This program can be used in the Stealth Mode. When the program is used in the Stealth Mode the screen of the phone will remain shut off, and as long as the user knows where the keys are located the program can be run effortlessly without detection. Randall Sayre, of the Nevada Gaming Commission says 'Use of this type of program or possession of a device with this type of program on it (with the intent to use it), in a licensed gaming establishment, is a violation of NRS 465.075.'"
Card counting really doesn't work that well in Vegas casinos unless you go with a distributed ring: its pretty obvious when an individual is card counting, if you miscount slightly the casino ends up winning big, and the casions can really mess you up, from shuffling more to "backrooming" you and intimidating the F-outta you.
But if they start suspecting this (which is easy, its just like detecting any other card counter, and then looking more fully at where you keep your hands), then they can not just backroom you, but through the legal process, make you WISH they'd just have settled for the old days when they'd have shoved your iPhone where the sun don't shine.
Test your net with Netalyzr
Better yet, with the screen off, how do you, uh, see what the count is??
Whale
Counting cards is NOT illegal
Using a device to assist you in counting cards IS. Geico pointing out that drunk driving is illegal, but that doesn't mean that Geico is MAKING drunk driving illegal.
Further more, whoever submitted the post used a clever trick known as synonyms. Citing a violation of one of the many Nevada Revised Statues is the same as, gasp, warning that the app's usage IS ILLEGAL. Granted the headline could've included, "use of" instead of just the app name would be far more clear. But oh well.
Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
Card counting on your own, isn't that hard. Sure, it takes a bit of practice, but, it isn't rocket science.
I played with it awhile...I just made sure I first memorized basic strategy....the set play for everything based on your cards vs the dealer.
Once you get that down like 2nd nature...you start going with the +1 -1 for the low and high cards showing up on the table...divide the count by number of decks used to that point..etc.
Not rocket science, but, it does take some practice.
Even if you were using this iPhone app...you'd still have to have basic strategy memorized.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
iPhones still suck.
You mean it's unlawful for any person at a licensed gaming establishment to use, or possess with the intent to use, a brain?
Ah, well, no surprise there.
Sounds like you missed out and some of the fun... Pole Dancers and 'free' drinks sound liek a nice way to spend an evening...
Spelling and Grammar errors have been added to this post for your enjoyment
Sounds like you missed out and some of the fun... Pole Dancers and 'free' drinks sound liek a nice way to spend an evening...
And to lose a lot of money.
Umm I am not sure you understand how Blackjack works -- the dealer can't 'counter' basic strategy, since they do not have a choice about which action to take, and you are only playing against the dealer -- the way the other players play has no effect on your odds of winning. The reason casinos don't mind if you use basic strategy is that even using basic strategy, a player will still win less than 50 percent of the time. Basic strategy is something that should ALWAYS be used, and cannot be countered.. you will just still lose money (although not quite as fast) as you would otherwise (unless you count cards as well).
...Or go and play poker, which is a different proposition altogether since you're playing against the other players at the table rather than the house.
Bah... You lose what you can afford too.. Figure you'd be spending the money doing something else for entertainment. Many forget that's what gambling is, entertainment.
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It ain't cheatin' if they disclose it beforehand.
I have a fundamental problem with the phrase "defraud a casino". Isn't that like saying "rob a thief"?
No, not really or at all. You go to the casino, willingly, and put money down on a game of chance to win. The casino, by law, states the odds of you winning. You have a willing decision to make. Play or not play. A thief robs you, you have no chance to win, and you have no willing choice to make.
Casino's are a legitimate business model. If you don't like the odds then don't play the game.
I do not support "The Man". I also do not support your irrational stupidity
In the 'high roller'/VIP rooms you still see traditional shoes more often. The bigger players like them, both because it's more traditional, and because they at least operate under the illusion they have a better chance of winning.
Now, lowly players like me still would prefer a shoe, but the casinos know that CSMs make more money - *not* by preventing card counting (which isn't happening at the low tables anyway) but by simply cutting out the time it takes the dealer to shuffle. More hands per hour = more money.
And you 'lose money'(aka spend money) to get drunk and distracted at other places.. AS long as you don't lose more then you can afford you're all good.
Spelling and Grammar errors have been added to this post for your enjoyment
You mean cheat.
No, cheating conducted by the house, not an individual employee cheating to enrich himself, but actual cheating by the casino at a card game is very rare. I've worked in a casino (riverboat in Iowa) and gambled at almost every casino in the Midwest, and have only seen or heard of real casino cheating once. That was at a tribal casino in South Dakota. They were caught removing cards from a blackjack deck.
To prevent this, and assure the gamblers that the cards are all there, most casinos have implemented a strict procedure for introducing new cards in play. First, the factory sealed decks are brought to the table by pit personnel. They are opened by the pit, but the cards are removed from the box by the dealer. The cards are then spread out on the table, face down, to check for imperfections on the backs. Then they are flipped face up and counted. All cards must be accounted for before the deck is put into play. The same process is repeated for all decks coming into play. When it is time to change those cards for a new deck, the same procedure is followed in reverse. The cards are inspected to assure they are all still present, re-boxed, and set aside for possible further inspection. This is all done in front of the gamblers, who could easily spot missing or duplicate cards. They take this very seriously.
It's rare because they already have a statistical edge against the player; they don't need to cheat. They also need to make sure that the gambling public doesn't associate their establishment with cheating, and stop patronizing them. Then they wouldn't make any money. A casino jealously guards its reputation.
... and that's when the C.H.U.D.'s came at me.
Here's the thing. If you are going to a casino to get money, you are kinda missing the point. The whole essence of the casino is sin, getting the drinks and the hookers and the whole nine yards of decadence and then a good steak, cigar, and a game of cards. That's a man's way to do things.
I mean, you could go to Disney and blow a few hundred bucks on Dumbo balloons... or you could go to Vegas, and gamble, get hammered and get laid. Hmmm, if you are going to blow money, why not blow it something cool. Believe me, once you get married, the gambling, cards, drinking are all going to go away.
The only thing that sucks about so many casinos and bars is that you can't smoke at them. What a stupid thing. A bunch of people whining about second hand smoke and then they all drive home drunk. It's just stupid. Quit being such a pussy about cancer, and smoke up.
This is my sig.
Looking at your credit card receipts, I could probably show you 100 examples of you pissing away money on nonessential items in less than 5 minutes.
To each their own I guess...
Sounds like someone really sucks at gambling, to me.
For the record, aside from one time, I've never left a casino with less money than when I arrived. Sure, maybe it wasn't a jackpot, but I still came away with a profit AND had a good time.
Maybe your tinfoil hat gets in the way of your gambling ability, or your ability to enjoy frivolous things.
WRONG. If another player is playing poorly, he is affecting how the cards come out of the deck. For instance, if another player "hits" on a 20, and takes the Jack that would have (should have) accompanied your Ace, he has most definitely played in a way that affect your odds of winning.
Actually, this helps you on average, since you have slightly more information about the composition of the remaining cards in the deck if your neighbor hits.
Because it's not too hard to throw out the few people who bother to learn to count cards well themselves. Those people might even be a benefit (for a while) because a winner tends to get other people playing.
It's a real pain to detect and throw out every idiot who can download an iPhone app.
"You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war." -- Albert Einstein
Ah, yes, Albert Einstein, the great statesman. Truly the one to turn to for theories of diplomacy, and not such paltry matters as physics.
Yes, because a man with such a brilliant mind for theoretical physics can't possibly have any insights into anything else.
"You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war." -- Albert Einstein
IOW if you want to cheat at gambling better gamble with something less serious like the economy.
Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
It is incorrect to believe that every gambling game is entirely random. There are some *variables* that are random with most games, but it is not true that every gambling game (there are some) is wholly random. That's why card counting is a "problem" for the house, for example.
You seem very passionate about this particular topic. You should get that looked at.