Quote from Error 404:
Now another major point about "kicking out" or "banning" counters is that there is no real enforceable "rule" to prevent anyone from counting cards. What is enforced is the rule against collusion between players who team up. It is very hard to both count and to play at the same time. So teamwork is the effective way to take on the casinos. A strong better will be too distracted to keep a good count and be engaged in conversation with the floor people who will try and be as distractive as possible. Also cocktail waitresses who pleasantly ask if they can get anything are hard to ignore. So having a team, in which one person at the table (or even at the next table, or opposite table but in sight of the player he is working with, and that player's layout) bets small and seems to be a non factor, but does the actual counting and signals (in many possible ways) to the player. THIS is a violation of Gaming commission rules, and they WILL be thrown out if discovered.
I lived in Vegas in the early 80's and dealt blackjack and also counted cards on days off. Ken Uston had a team then that did exactly as you said. However, they were asked to leave the casinos but they could not be prosecuted for cheating at that time. Has the law changed? I would not compare what a counting team does to teams that use signals or electronic devices to communicate hole card info. gained because a dealer is flashing the card inadvertently or a dealer that is working with a player. I have never believed that any type of counting was cheating whether it was done as a single or as a partnership.
RS
