Where Is the MIT Blackjack Team Now?

The MIT Blackjack Team was a group of students and ex-students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard Business School, Harvard University, and other leading colleges who used card-counting techniques and other sophisticated strategies to beat casinos at blackjack worldwide. The team operated from 1979 to the early 2000s, and during that time, they were able to win millions of dollars from different casinos.

However, as with most things in life, all good things must come to an end. In 1993, the team went into retirement due to increased security measures by casinos and internal conflicts within the team itself.

Since then, many of the former members have gone on to pursue other careers and ventures. Here is a look at where some of them are now:

1. Bill Kaplan

Bill Kaplan was one of the co-founders of the MIT Blackjack Team.

After retiring from blackjack in 1993, he went on to found a company called FreshAddress which specializes in email address appending services for businesses. He has also become a philanthropist and has donated millions to charitable organizations like Opportunity International.

2. J.P. Massar

J. Massar was another co-founder of the team who played a crucial role in organizing it in its early years.

After retiring from blackjack in 1989, he went on to become a successful entrepreneur by founding several companies including NetMarket which was one of the first online shopping websites.

3. Mike Aponte

Mike Aponte was one of the most successful players on the team who played under various aliases such as “The Counter” or “Joe Andrews”.

After retiring from blackjack in 2000, he went on to become a professional speaker and founded a company called Blackjack Institute which offers training for aspiring blackjack players.

4. Jeff Ma

Jeff Ma was one of the youngest players on the team who later became the inspiration for the book and movie “21”.

After retiring from blackjack in 2001, he went on to become an entrepreneur and has founded several successful companies including TenXer which is a productivity software solution for businesses.

5. Johnny Chang

Johnny Chang was one of the most successful players on the team who played under various aliases such as “Mr. M” or “John C”.

After retiring from blackjack in 1993, he went on to pursue other ventures and became an investor and consultant for various businesses.

6. Laurie Tsao

Laurie Tsao was one of the few female players on the team who played under various aliases such as “Miss Brown” or “Linda”.

After retiring from blackjack in 1993, she went on to become a successful entrepreneur by founding several companies including one that specializes in technology consulting and another that provides financial services for businesses.

7. Semyon Dukach

Semyon Dukach was one of the later members of the team who played under various aliases such as “The Geek” or “Mr. M”.

After retiring from blackjack in 2000, he went on to become a successful entrepreneur by founding several companies including Global Cycle Solutions which provides energy solutions for developing countries.

8. Andy Bloch

Andy Bloch was one of the later members of the team who played under various aliases such as “The Rock” or “Joseph”.

After retiring from blackjack in 2000, he went on to become a professional poker player and has won millions of dollars in major poker tournaments around the world.

In conclusion, the MIT Blackjack Team was a group of brilliant individuals who were able to achieve greatness through their collective intelligence and hard work. Although they have all moved on to pursue other ventures, their legacy still lives on in the world of gambling and beyond.