Is Card Counting in Blackjack Illegal?

Card counting is a casino card game strategy used to predict when the next hand is likely to give a probable advantage to the player. Card counters are a class of advantage players, who attempt to win at blackjack by keeping a running tally of all high and low valued cards seen by the player.

Card counting allows players to bet more with less risk when the count gives an advantage as well as minimize losses during an unfavorable count.

Although card counting is not illegal, casinos may ban card counters they identify. The first thing to understand is that casinos are businesses.

They have the right to do what they want on their property, within the law. That means they can set their own rules, and if you don’t like them, you can take your business elsewhere. .

So, if a casino decides it doesn’t want card counters on its premises, it can ask them to leave or refuse to let them play. It’s perfectly legal for casinos to do this in most jurisdictions.

There are some exceptions, however. In Nevada, for example, state law prohibits casinos from barring card counters.

So if you’re caught counting cards in Nevada, the casino can’t ask you to leave or refuse to let you play.

The same is true in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Although Pennsylvania doesn’t have any specific lAWS prohibiting card counting, Pennsylvania casinos can still ban players they suspect of counting cards.

So, while card counting itself isn’t illegal, casinos have the right to kick out anyone they think is counting cards. If you’re caught counting cards, the best thing to do is apologize and leave quietly. Don’t make a scene or argue with the casino personnel; it won’t do any good and will only make them more likely to ban you from returning.