Monte Carlo, Caesar's Palace and Harrah's are just a few names that conjure images of high rollers. Chips stacked dozens high and the noisy sound of one-armed bandits complete the mental picture. Gambling is a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide. Few countries haven't cashed in on casinos. Some, like Monaco, France and the United States have become gambling meccas. The stakes are high. It's little wonder that card counting remains a large problem for profit-mongering casino owners.
Casino managers have had little but instinct to rely upon for detecting card counting until recent decades. Sophisticated computer programs make card counting and other forms of cheating harder to pull off today. Even the barest of casinos have relatively extensive closed circuit camera systems to monitor players and staff. All of this surveillance is in a clandestine effort to stave off profit loss.
Card counting is a particularly difficult act to monitor. Many gamblers argue whether the practice can even be considered cheating at all. It remains one of the oldest ways to beat the house in history. Brilliant minds have been counting cards as long as gambling has existed.
Card counting takes extraordinary mind power. It's not something the average gambler can do, which is fortunate for casino owners. Unfortunately, those who are able to count cards stand to rake off hundreds of thousands of a casino's profits.
The 2008 movie "21" starring American actor Kevin Spacey was an informative and eye-opening look at card counting. The plot involves a group of high-IQ college students and an unassuming math professor. The group conspires to take casinos for hundreds of thousands of dollars playing Blackjack. The savvy professor teaches his charges to count cards. The team develops elaborate schemes, codes and secret identities to avoid detection.
Movies such as "21" have sparked the debate as to whether card counting is illegal or merely pesky for casino owners. Technically it is not illegal in most regions. However, individual casinos have the right to eject and ban patrons caught or suspected of card counting.
Now casino owners have another tool at their disposal to prevent profit loss due to card counting. It comes compliments of Wesley Cooper, a doctoral student and mathematician from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. The system is by no means complimentary though, unlike the drinks handed out by casino management to high rollers. The system of software and "smart" cameras comes with a hefty price tag.
Many casinos, like the Monte Carlo, are eager to hand over their money to install the sophisticated system. The "smart" cameras read and analyze the actions and body language of Blackjack players. Algorithms compile and analyze statistical information. The system arguably has a memory better than even the most seasoned of human casino surveillance staff.
Cooper's system is currently in the testing phase with a secret client, presumably an international casino chain. The system will be in high demand if the current trial proves to be as successful as predicted. The price tag probably won't be a deterrent. After all, the world's busiest casinos may save upwards of millions in losses by installing it.
Blackjack players beware. Card counters stand to be caught much faster, whether it's the Monte Carlo or your local hotel.
Author Resource:-
A guide for Monaco and the Monte Carlo casino can be found at yourmonaco.com
How to get official tickets for the Monaco GP are also on the site.
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