Skilled Players II

Casino or corporate casino policy should be set by upper-level management, in line with the desired level of financial risk involved. It is true that skilled players can represent a bottom-line risk in the blackjack pit, but there are several things which must be considered in evolving casino policy.

1. Is the risk to the casino’s bottom line significant? In other words, can individual players or teams of skilled players actually hurt the casino?

2. How much is the casino willing to risk losing valued, less-skilled players because of its handling of people considered potentially dangerous to the bottom line?

3. State law (or federal regulation) regarding whether a casino can refuse to service skilled players.

4. The point at which a player becomes non-desirable.

5. The handling of players once they have reached the point at which the casino no longer desires their play at blackjack.

I have seen, in various casinos, several levels of policy, from the absolute “no counters allowed” to “let them play, they can’t really hurt us.” Neither extreme works completely in the long run. Somewhere in between lies an ideal solution for each casino, and it is this level which is decided by upper management.

It is also important, from a liability standpoint, that policy be consistently enforced, in case the casino should be challenged in court for its treatment of a particular player.

Several levels of policy can be worked out, and they each have relatively obvious advantages and disadvantages. I do not specifically recommend any particular policy on this subject; I am presenting this for the information and understanding of Surveillance and other personnel. The only recommendation I make is that policy be determined by upper management and then implemented by teamwork between Pit management and casino Surveillance. Procedures for handling skilled players will be dealt with in the third article in this series.

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If it is noticed that a player’s hitting patterns coincide with knowledge of the hole card, it needs to be investigated, however. The player may be using a shiner, or the dealer may be deliberately exposing a part of the face of the hole card to a heavy tipper, or they may have some other relationship.

A policy of strict enforcement of game protection procedures, based on proper dealer training and progressive discipline, prevents these forms of advantage play.

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