Why Casinos Ban Card Counters
Casinos are in the business of making money. Card counting is one of the few legal ways to turn the odds in your favor, effectively making the casino the loser.
The House Edge
Normally, the casino has a roughly 0.5% edge over a perfect Basic Strategy player. A card counter, however, can gain a 1-2% edge over the casino by betting big when the deck is hot.
Is It Illegal?
No. But casinos are private businesses. They can refuse service to anyone for any reason (as long as it's not discriminatory against a protected class). "Winning too much" is a valid reason for them to ban you.
How They Catch You
- Bet Spreads: Jumping from a $10 bet to $100 bet suddenly is a huge red flag.
- Plays deviating from Basic Strategy: Taking insurance when the count is high (which is correct) but not when it's low.
Professional counters use "cover" or "camouflage" to hide their skills. Learn the basics first on our home page.