Blackjack player beats 3 Atlantic City Casinos for $15.1M

Rehoboth · Jun 6, 2011

Quote from caementarius:

Ok, I see what you and TGregg are saying. I assumed it was a 20% back on losses after a whole session or "stay" at the casino. On each hand? that would be crazy.

Ok that would make a lot more sense for the casino, on a per session basis rather then a per bet basis.

intradaybill · Jun 6, 2011

Quote from shortie:

Number of Decks House Advantage
Single deck 0.17%
Double deck 0.46%
Four decks 0.60%
Six decks 0.64%
Eight decks 0.66%

The following table illustrates the mathematical effect on the house edge of the number of decks, by considering games with various deck counts under the following ruleset: double after split allowed, resplit to four hands allowed, no hitting split aces, no surrender, double on any two cards, original bets only lost on dealer blackjack, dealer hits soft 17, and cut-card used. The increase in house edge per unit increase in the number of decks is most dramatic when comparing the single deck game to the two-deck game, and becomes progressively smaller as more decks are added.

WIKI

Why should we assume that wikipedia is correct? What are the assumptions for their calculations? I happened to believe that the house edge is an order of magnitude larger.

Is card counting taken into account in calculating the edge? What is the real edge of a casino against a large number of players who are counting cards? What about if dealers are chosen so that they can count cards? What about if the casino employs players who count cards?

Disclosure: I have only played blackjack once in my life and decided that unless I had a psychic next to me I could not make money.

shortie · Jun 6, 2011

Quote from intradaybill:

...I happened to believe that the house edge is an order of magnitude larger.
...

5% or more? who would play blackjack then?

bearmountain · Jun 6, 2011

Quote from intradaybill:

Why should we assume that wikipedia is correct?

wikipedia is correct. this is the result of 100's of thousands of computer simulations using basic strategy. The house/casino knows that very few players can sustain a play based on bj basic strategy.

black jack is one casino game where you can actually come out ahead. even if you break even, with comps, free meals, rooms etc that is.

Most casino's use 6 decks and shuffle after every hand. not sure how he won. maybe he is psychic!

intradaybill · Jun 6, 2011

Quote from shortie:

5% or more? who would play blackjack then?

You should know the answer. Those that read wikipedia and believe it.

Anyhow, why do people play slot machines. Or even roulette? You are shifting the focus here. I think the edge is one order of magnitide higher because of ways casino can employ to enhance it without you ever knowing it.

shortie · Jun 6, 2011

Slot machines are typically programmed to pay out as winnings 82% to 98% of the money that is wagered by players
WIKI

blackjack must have better odds because it is a "smart" game.

the existence of 15M winner indicates that casinos may not have additional "hidden" edges.

atticus · Jun 6, 2011

You don't go to AC to count cards even with a computer. He's not counting and it would be superfluous due to turnover. I know a guy who has seen him play and he's a pure marti-player. Obviously he ran really good.

Daal · Jun 6, 2011

Quote from atticus:

You don't go to AC to count cards even with a computer. He's not counting and it would be superfluous due to turnover. I know a guy who has seen him play and he's a pure marti-player. Obviously he ran really good.

How does he know?If the casinos can't spot what he was doing your friend certainly wouldn't. He is 'the chief executive officer of Heritage Development LLC, a Wyoming-based company that uses computer-assisted wagering programs for horseracing'. He doesn't sound all that dumb

Daal · Jun 6, 2011

Quote from atticus:

You don't go to AC to count cards even with a computer. He's not counting and it would be superfluous due to turnover. I know a guy who has seen him play and he's a pure marti-player. Obviously he ran really good.

Also if that's all he was doing the casinos would not have banned him, their expert teams seem to disagree with your friend

AMT4SWA · Jun 6, 2011

Quote from atticus:

You don't go to AC to count cards even with a computer. He's not counting and it would be superfluous due to turnover. I know a guy who has seen him play and he's a pure marti-player. Obviously he ran really good.

This makes total sense.....he won through money management strategy.