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Casino Security Firm Demystifies Card Counting
CALGARY --
Despite what some players have heard, there is no law against counting cards. You cannot be arrested or prosecuted for counting cards. One thing is for sure, if you do it and get caught, casino pit bosses will definitely ask you to leave their tables. You can count on being shown the door and asked not to come back. If you plan on counting cards at the table, you better bring your poker face.
The guy counting cards looks just like anyone else sitting there playing blackjack. He has a beer in his hand, possibly a cigarette lit, and he's glancing over on occasion to check out the waitresses in their sexy costumes. How are they able to determine someone is counting cards? For that answer, we have consulted Kenneth Schmidt of Real Time Gaming Security, a casino security firm based in Calgary.
According to Mr. Schmidt, "Card counters learn their trade by having a superior desire to win someone else's money. The lucky few who are gifted with sharp memories are the ones who can stack up their chips as high as the ceiling".
Despite the distraction of sexy waitresses, the pinging of slot machines, and the talk at the tables, they can keep count of the cards dealt and accurately guess the high cards left on the deck. The action is all in their mind.
"It is not so much of memorizing all of the cards that have been played", said Schmidt, "the card counter is actually keeping tabs on the deck composition, high cards versus low cards".
When casino surveillance cameras watch him, there's nothing unusual. He looks just like any regular card player, but underneath the cool exterior is an agile mind tracking the ratio of low cards to high value cards.
When it comes to tracking card counters, or discovering who is actually doing it at the tables, it really boils down to surveillance video and the instinct of pit bosses. Every single hand played in the casino is recorded by a high-definition video camera. Security personnel, or "Eye in the Sky", as they are normally referred, watch the gaming floor 24 hours a day. They normally focus on someone who is winning an unusually large amount. Sometimes the over-confidence of a player gives it away.
"The bottom line", says Mr. Schmidt, "If you're a card counter, it is not very difficult for the casino to catch-on. With modern security, and a bit of common sense and experience, pit bosses can usually spot the cheaters."
For more information on Casing and Gaming industry security, please contact Mr. Schmidt toll-free at 866-292-1998.
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