Dundee college student develops Blackjack software to beat casino card counters

On 10.15.09, In Blackjack, Gambling, by admin

A recent news story, distributed via the BBC News, suggested that a university student, who studies in Dundee, has made a piece of computer software that can monitor blackjack tables with such precision that it can pick out card counters or dealer mistakes. The PC programme looks at the dealers actions and assesses the decisions [...]

A recent news story, distributed via the BBC News, suggested that a university student, who studies in Dundee, has made a piece of computer software that can monitor blackjack tables with such precision that it can pick out card counters or dealer mistakes. The PC programme looks at the dealers actions and assesses the decisions that are made by people at the table.

In the movie 21 (starring Jim Sturgess and Kevin Spacey), with it’s story taken from the story ‘Bringing Down The House’, a group of maths students make a vast amount of money from counting cards at blackjack in Sin City casinos. 21 suggests that card counting is done via a series of complex maths calculations based on the cards already dealt by the dealer. While not illegal, counting cards will usually result in casino patrons being barred from the venue.

Counting Cards is still a much followed practice and several known organisations that attempt to count cards throughout Britain. The student who came up with the programme that could see an end to card counting is sure to attract worldwide acclaim and is expected to be presented to most of the key casino operators in the near future.

In related news, a director of a top UK based casino has indicated (see source) that casinos are no longer concerned that blackjack players have an edge over the house through use of beginner level strategy. He explained how his staff had been trained to “ignore” card counters, “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 abrupt end it would be no surprise to see even more complex, and no doubt illegal, methods of beating the casinos showing up in the very near future.