Card counting is a tough technique to master; however, if done perfectly, it can have a huge positive impact on the RTP rate received while playing Blackjack. Many people wonder if counting cards at a casino is legal. In the UK, it’s technically allowed to count cards.
In this article, Heart Bingo explains how card counting works and how it fits within the confines of the law!
The Legality of Card Counting in the UK
Card counting is not illegal in the United Kingdom, although casinos have the right to refuse service if they suspect a player is engaging in this practice. No external devices or computer programs can be used while card counting at UK casinos but as long as the player is purely using their brain, nothing illegal is happening.
Is It Possible To Count Cards?
Counting cards is possible through methods such as the high-low system, which assigns a value to each card dealt, enabling players to keep track of the ratio between high and low cards.
As the name suggests, this involves keeping track of high and low cards that are used during play. In a nutshell, this allows the player to get an idea of the ratio of remaining cards in the deck. Higher cards such as tens and aces are typically more valuable to the player, while lower cards such as fives and sixes are normally more beneficial to the casino.
This strategic approach allows players to make more informed betting decisions based on the contents of the remaining deck. For example, if there are many high cards remaining, card counters will increase their bet as the advantage swings in their favour.
Is It Cheating If You Count Cards?
Card counting stands as a legal strategy in the UK and does not constitute cheating under British law. Players use this technique to gain insights into the cards that might come next, meaning that they are simply making informed bets.
This method purely relies on skills and memory without external assistance from devices or computer programs, aligning with the legal gambling practices enforced by UK gaming legislation.
Casinos hold the authority to ban players they suspect of card counting, despite it being a legitimate tactic. This action stems from their right to serve anyone based on casino policies designed to maintain fair play and security.
There are two measures that casinos will often employ to stop players from counting cards at their tables:
- Flat Bet – This means that the player must stick to one bet size with every hand of Blackjack. Doing this takes away the advantage of card counting, as the bet cannot be increased when there are more high cards left in the shoe.
- No Blackjack – As Blackjack is the only casino table game where the odds can be tipped in favour of players if they card count perfectly, many venues will simply tell players that they’re welcome to play any other game, just not Blackjack.
It’s worth mentioning that if you are refused service at a casino, as it’s private property, you do have to adhere to their policy. With that being said, the casino must cash out your chips, should you have any.
How Can You Know If Someone is Counting Cards?
Moving on from whether card counting qualifies as cheating, we now explore how casino staff and fellow players might spot a card counter in action. Casinos train their employees to watch for certain behaviours that are common among those using this strategy.
A key sign is consistently raising or lowering bets in patterns that directly correspond with the count of the deck. Observers may also notice a card counter appears intensely focused on every dealt card rather than socialising or enjoying complimentary drinks.
Casino surveillance teams use advanced technology to monitor playing tables closely, looking for anyone employing betting strategies indicative of card counting. Many staff members will also know exactly how to count cards, giving them insight into whether raised bets are simply a coincidence, or they coincide with the count.
Who Invented Card Counting?
The person credited with inventing card counting is Dr. Edward O. Thorp, an American mathematics professor. He published this strategy in his book known as ‘Beat The Dealer’, which was released in 1962. This laid the basis for blackjack strategy and showed players that an advantage over the house was possible. Naturally, this was all done with statistical insights to back up the claim.
Thorp’s methods revolutionised casino game strategies and have greatly influenced both gambling laws and casino regulations around the world. He utilised computer simulations to test his theories, confirming that by keeping track of certain cards played during a game, a player can then have informed decisions that may improve their chances of winning.
This breakthrough turned Blackjack into a target for advantage players using card counting techniques to tilt odds in their favour.
What Are The Different Card Counting Systems?
There are several different card counting systems used by players in Blackjack. The High-Low system is one of the most popular and involves assigning a point value to each card.
Values are +1 to low cards (2 to 6), 0 to neutral cards (7 to 9), and -1 to high cards (10 to Ace). As the game progresses, they keep a ‘running count’ based on these values. This is then divided by the number of decks that remain in the shoe to give them a ‘true count’.
When this count is positive, it means more low-value cards have been dealt, leaving a greater proportion of high-value cards in the deck. This signals to the player that it’s an advantageous time to increase their bet size.
Another common system is the KO System, which is similar to the High-Low but does not require true count conversion.
There is also the Omega II system which assigns different values to cards than the High-Low, aiming for more accuracy. The Hi-Opt I and Hi-Opt II systems are more complex with additional side counts for aces and sevens. It’s incredibly tough to master but can offer higher RTP than other methods if done correctly.
These various systems provide players with different approaches to tracking the ratio of high cards to low cards remaining in a deck, helping them make more informed decisions while playing Blackjack in UK casinos.
Card Counting Online: Is It Possible?
It’s worth mentioning that at an online casino, such as Heart Bingo, card counting cannot be utilised fully. This is due to cards being shuffled on a more regular basis, or the cards drawn from the deck being totally randomised during each hand to ensure fairness. With that being said, some players use online blackjack games to hone their skills!
