MIT Blackjackers?!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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MIT card counters - blackjack anyone?
I just watched this Horizon documentary (UK) about card counters who out-smarted big casinos and made millions by using statistical/probability related techniques. There was a group called the 'Amphibians' who studied at MIT. Alot of the 'counters' were MIT students actually. It was fascinating, they increased their chances of winning by using a scoring system which tipped the odds their way by about 1%. They would wait until the remaining cards in the deck was more likely to deal in their favour before betting big money.</p>

<p>They were soon rumbled when they tried the same thing in Europe, hoping to evade the facial-recognition system which had successfully deterred such activity in the states, only to find the casino security escort them to a back room..</p>

<p>A picture was taken of them and sent to Vegas where it was scanned by said recognition system, revealing them as MIT students on the card-counters database. They were told to never enter the country again or suffer the consequences.

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<p>Can you imagine how ingenious MIT's students are?</p>

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<p>read "Bringing Down the House"...</p>

<p>I don't know if they were banned from any coutnries... Card counting isn't illegal (well I think it may be now in Vegas); what they did was totally legit. Besides, I don't think a casino has the authority to ban someone from a country, hehe. They were banned from several casinos...</p>

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<p>I read like half of that book. Very cool, but you can't do it unless you have a smart ass team already. I had to put to book down cuz it was my cousins, and I was only there temporarily.</p>

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<p>haha i read that book
it was sweet</p>

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<p>the best part of the book was how they fooled us into thinking it actually happened :)</p>

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<p>it did though...</p>

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<p>h88, if we both end up at Caltech or MIT, let's hit the casinos for dough.</p>

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<p>ROFL - I'll be there. :P</p>

<p>BTW emmittisgod, Bringing Down the House was a great read, thanks.</p>

<p>On a side note, check out this link: <a href="http://semyon.com/abc%20primetime.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://semyon.com/abc%20primetime.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>I think it's near-impossible to successfully card count these days. I'm sure they are hawks for this stuff now ;/</p>

<p>Glad you enjoyed it h88.</p>

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<p>They would catch on once you started winning millions...but winning 25k is too small to draw their attention.</p>

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<p>Yea it actually happened. Actually, the interviewer and I had a nice conversation about this.</p>

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<p>If I go to MIT, I plan on joining a blackjack team. You guys can join me or not. Your choice.</p>

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<p>I am with you if I get in there.</p>

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<p>I looked at that link, and at the bottom it mentioned a movie about the MIT guys. I followed it up on imdb and found nothing of it. It would be awesome if they actually followed through with the movie.</p>

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<p>i think you have to be scouted for the bj team.</p>

<p>also, if you want to start something on your own, the pictures of all the entering freshmen is sent as a package to all the casino security companies, so you're profiled before you ever enter a casino.</p>

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<p>what?! how is that legal, let alone ethical?</p>

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<p>That's nonsense. I'm with reggie on that one.</p>

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<p>I also doubt it however.</p>

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<p>doubt what?</p>

<p>why is counting cards illegal or unethical? you're not changing the rules and/or odds of the game, you're playing as SMART possible. There's nothing wrong with smart playing. If that's the idea, why don't you play chess by not making the best move?</p>

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<p>I doubt that the casinos have pictures of all the MIT freshman. Could be though, I know the MGM Casinos use facial recognition software. Unlikely, however. It is not illegal or unethical. I've done it myself with success...over 2.5k in profits. It is also a huge rush, one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.</p>