Legalities aside, in talking with several  other members of the professional blackjack community,  we all agree  it is easier to count cards  using  natural ability and skill as compared to using an electronic device.  A blackjack player who has put in the time to develop his or her card counting ability can  scan the cards of a round and know the correct count  in a fraction of the time  it would take to enter all the count values manually.   In this instance, man wins hands down over machine.

I  bet  few,  if any of the people who used the application in casinos made significant money.  Those who jumped at the chance to get rich quick probably did not take the time to learn perfect basic strategy.  With average basic strategy strategy play, even mistake free use of the program is not enough to swing the odds in players’ favor.  There is also the issue of money management.  Even with perfect basic strategy and true count calculation, players’  must size their bets not only according to their advantage, but also  relative to  bankroll.  Without proper money management, the extreme swings in blackjack will eventually wipe out any player’s bankroll, regardless of skill.

Tomorrow I’m headed to Vegas for the World Game Protection Conference, and I’m eager to get the inside scoop on what the casino world really thinks about the iPhone card counting app.  The card counting counting program will surely be a topic of discussion as it involves both card counting and cheating technology. One of my goals is to learn how casinos view card counters in terms of their bottomline and the big picture of possible threats. Casinos are constantly trying to stay one step ahead of card counters and casino crime, but I imagine  there’s not too much concern about the iPhone card counting app  in the casino world since its limitations make it suitable only for home games.

Using electronic devices in casinos hasn’t always been illegal. Prior to 1985, when Nevada passed the “anti-device” law, there were players who used computers to beat the casinos. One of those players was Keith Taft, who was featured in the History Channel series, Breaking Vegas. Taft engineered the first blackjack computer from scratch in 1970. He wrote the algorithms for the software, built the microcomputer, and designed the input apparatus. To avoid detection, the values of cards were input by levers in specially designed shoes in binary code, using one’s toes. Unfortunately for Taft, his winnings didn’t quite match his many hours of hard work and his extraordinary ingenuity.

I haven’t seen the iPhone program myself, but it’s obvious the application wasn’t intended for use in casinos. Entering all the card values by hand is a tedious process and far from inconspicuous. I suspect some of the players who have used the card counting application didn’t know they were breaking the law. Casinos are now well aware of the program and I doubt they’re overly concerned about the prospect of a legion of iPhone counters rising up and hitting casinos across the country. A felony conviction along with  jail time serve as  healthy deterrents. 

This program may be an entertaining addition to the library of available iPhone apps, but it’s not something you should ever use in a casino. No doubt there will be a few who are tempted  by the hope of getting rich quick, but when it comes to beating the house, the choice is clear. Use your natural abilities, not an illegal device. Funny thing is I’m planning on purchasing an iPhone in the next week or so. One thing’s for sure. I won’t be shelling out any money for this card counting app.