Ben Affleck Banned from Blackjack in casino for life for being too good
46 replies, posted
[QUOTE][B]Ben Affleck [/B]has been banned for life from the blackjack tables at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas, [URL="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/"][I]The Hollywood Reporter[/I][/URL] has confirmed.Affleck was in Sin City with wife [B]Jennifer Garner[/B] Tuesday when security approached him on suspicion of counting cards. A source says the guard came up to Affleck for being "too good at the game."
The hotel allowed Affleck to play other games in the casino and even sent a car for the couple.
"The hotel was very nice to them," said the source.
Although counting cards is not illegal, it is looked down upon by Vegas casinos. [/QUOTE]
[URL]http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ben-affleck-banned-life-hard-700959?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thr%2Fnews+(The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Top+Stories)[/URL]
Why would he need to win at Blackjack? The dude probably has more money than he knows what to do with.
[QUOTE=SuperHoboMan;44719079]Why would he need to win at Blackjack? The dude probably has more money than he knows what to do with.[/QUOTE]
Because it's fun? It's still a game you know.
[QUOTE=Ignhelper;44719072][URL]http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ben-affleck-banned-life-hard-700959?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thr%2Fnews+(The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Top+Stories)[/URL][/QUOTE]
I really dislike how counting cards is ground to get you removed.
If someone is good at something, and it's not inherently disruptive to the card game, i don't see a problem with it.
[QUOTE=Ogris;44719140]I really dislike how counting cards is ground to get you removed.
If someone is good at something, and it's not inherently disruptive to the card game, i don't see a problem with it.[/QUOTE]
Because muh profits
that's why.
[QUOTE=Ogris;44719140]I really dislike how counting cards is ground to get you removed.
If someone is good at something, and it's not inherently disruptive to the card game, i don't see a problem with it.[/QUOTE]
Isn't counting cards just cheating? You can be really good at cheating and it's still against the rules.
Unless I'm misunderstanding what counting cards means.
He was just living the Wayne lifestyle :(
[QUOTE=Muddykips;44719176]He was just living the Wayne lifestyle :([/QUOTE]
Or he was preparing for the role
If they can't handle card counting as a strategy, why don't they just modify the game to make it impossible?
Why pretend there's skill involved only to punish the people who actually use it?
[QUOTE=Spacewolf;44719175]Isn't counting cards just cheating? You can be really good at cheating and it's still against the rules.
Unless I'm misunderstanding what counting cards means.[/QUOTE]It's estimating what your chances are based on what cards have already been played.
If the house can't win 51/100 times then there's really no point in casinos having Blackjack tables, is there?
[QUOTE=Spacewolf;44719175]Isn't counting cards just cheating? You can be really good at cheating and it's still against the rules.
Unless I'm misunderstanding what counting cards means.[/QUOTE]
It is only cheating if you get someone else to do it. If you do it yourself then you are just good at the game.
Similar to how if you can aim really well in an fps you are good but if you have software do it for you, you are cheating.
I've been to the Hard Rock, and I'm very impressed if he was actually counting cards. Blackjack isn't a single-deck ordeal in most of the casinos, and I've seen tables playing up to [b]six[/b] decks.
[QUOTE=NeonpieDFTBA;44719285]It is only cheating if you get someone else to do it. If you do it yourself then you are just good at the game.
Similar to how if you can aim really well in an fps you are good but if you have software do it for you, you are cheating.[/QUOTE]
That's true. I guess I just never think of gambling as a "game" even though it is. They should either decide if it's a game that can be played with skill or not, rather than dancing around this middle ground.
[QUOTE=Spacewolf;44719175]Isn't counting cards just cheating? You can be really good at cheating and it's still against the rules.
Unless I'm misunderstanding what counting cards means.[/QUOTE]
From what I remember of our maths teacher telling us one class when we were bored (for some reason he did this a lot on shore leave when in the navy) he said that you would assign a score to each type of card.
You gave points for lower cards (2 through 8) and take them away from higher ones (10 through ace). After adding them up in your head the score would give you an idea of which cards are left to be played.
Our teacher used to do this, but you have to be careful about it (win small, don't be too obvious, make a few mistakes), otherwise the casino will put you on a blacklist if they catch you.
[QUOTE=Spacewolf;44719175]Isn't counting cards just cheating? You can be really good at cheating and it's still against the rules.
Unless I'm misunderstanding what counting cards means.[/QUOTE]
Card counting is just thinking about probability.
For example, if you've seen ~3 aces in a single deck game recently; the probability of blackjack is lower than the usual 1/21. Tracking all cards is really hard though so most people use scoring as above.
It's the same with progressive betting on Roulette.
First the dealer advises you that you will 'run into trouble' if you continue betting as you are.
Next the pit boss comes and advises you that you will 'run into trouble' if you continue betting as you are.
Heaven forbid you might actually win...
Then security escorts you out.
Moral of the story: Casinos don't like people who know what they're doing, and love people who have no idea.
[QUOTE=Flapadar;44719336]Card counting is just thinking about probability.
For example, if you've seen ~3 aces in a single deck game recently; the probability of blackjack is lower than the usual 1/21.[/QUOTE]
Oh, I thought it was like memorizing where the cards were exactly in the deck or something, I was wrong.
[QUOTE=Spacewolf;44719175]Isn't counting cards just cheating? You can be really good at cheating and it's still against the rules.
Unless I'm misunderstanding what counting cards means.[/QUOTE]
It's mentally estimating the chances of cards being played. If you are using a notepad or calculator of some sorts I could see the reason for the ban but if you are simply using your brain for it then this is just dumb.
[QUOTE=deggemannen;44719225]If the house can't win 51/100 times then there's really no point in casinos having Blackjack tables, is there?[/QUOTE]
Not sure about vegas but casino profits are generally mostly in slot machines
[QUOTE=Spacewolf;44719175]Isn't counting cards just cheating? You can be really good at cheating and it's still against the rules.
Unless I'm misunderstanding what counting cards means.[/QUOTE]
It's pretty stupid. It's just counting cards and considering what cards are remaining. It's banned because the players that do it can actually make an informed decision, while the other players just sit there and wonder "HOLY FUCK WHATS NEXT" instead of calculating the chance of a good hand.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;44719214]If they can't handle card counting as a strategy, why don't they just modify the game to make it impossible?
Why pretend there's skill involved only to punish the people who actually use it?[/QUOTE]
They already have machines that shuffle cards before every deal or regularly (at certain tables/casinos), but it pretty much takes all the fun out of the game and makes the side bets like perfect pairs pretty much a sure lose (I know, I know the side bets are for suckers but you still can have a decent chance if you were following the cards).
I mean if you play blackjack at the same table for while (before they reshuffle obviously) you get a feel for the cards even if you are not actively counting them. You tend to notice if a lot of face cards come up and you can adjust your bets accordingly or the exact opposite.
To be perfectly honest I have a lot of respect for people who can count cards well, especially at a crowded table, but unlike what Hollywood or 'professional gamblers' try to portray it as, it simply increases your odds of winning. It is not a sure-fire way of making money and you can easily lose the huge bet you made just because you thought the cards were running in your favour. In the end casino business is just what it says, a business and they have the right to stop you from playing at one of their tables for whatever reason they want. Unless you have been using an external device or help from someone else they cannot take your winnings away but they always reserve the right to ban you from the table or a specific game. As far as I know, they cannot ban you from the casino itself, but I might be mistaken.
Also you have to consider the size of the bets Ben Affleck was making. The saying "House always wins" holds true overall or over a long period of time, but the casino risks as much (or even more considering 3/2 payout on blackjack) money on every single bet. If he was playing big the casino can stand to suffer significant losses over a very short period of time. They will most likely cover the loss through other people, but it is still a significant loss.
[QUOTE=Lizzrd;44719223]It's estimating what your chances are based on what cards have already been played.[/QUOTE]
You mean actually playing Blackjack? Does the casino just expect you to yell HIT or STAY before you even look at the cards?
As long as you look at gambling as another way of having fun and as a form of entertainment rather than a way to make money none of this really matters actually.
So he's Batman AND Rain Man.
Edit: Brainman.
[QUOTE=Matthew0505;44719910]That's because ripping off the ignorant is the entire purpose of a casino.[/QUOTE]
Of course they do, they are in it to provide an entertainment service and make money out of it. It is not like most people going to the casino have the best of intentions either. You are doomed to fail if you are out to get rich quick.
The house always wins.
[QUOTE=zakedodead;44719369]Not sure about vegas but casino profits are generally mostly in slot machines[/QUOTE]
Not unlikely, but they want to profit from everything.
Maybe it's some training for a new movie!?
he can't help being wicked smhat
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