Ben Affleck learned that even if you are an A+ list mostly movie actor that you will get banned if you win enough money from casinos counting cards in blackjack. Counting cards is not illegal. Casinos just tell a player they are too good and ban them from ever playing again in that casino. You will probably also get banned from other casinos. Ben Affleck has been banned after winning too much money playing blackjack at the Hard Rock Casino in Vegas. Most of us would have been thrown out. Ben and Jen were given a car ride back to their place. If he had a run at a game that had better casino odds they would have welcomed him back, but because he was playing blackjack, he was banned. I'm sure there will be some casino in Vegas who will take the chance and garner the publicity and let him play there.
I still think there shoulda been a back room beating. Just to keep everything Vegas-like as much like CSI as possible
ReplyDeleteI always think you must have to be pretty smart to be a good card counter. My memory's shot to pieces.
ReplyDeleteEven with single deck, counting takes a lot of mental energy. You have to remember every card that has been played. And with six decks, it's supposed to be impossible! The MIT students proved it wasn't.
ReplyDeleteThey're working with usually 6 decks or so in Vegas which makes card counting all the more difficult. It's the law of averages & a lot of concentration counting with one deck. Card counting numerous decks takes some SERIOUS skills. Damn Ben, hats off to you.
ReplyDeleteWas he actually counting cards or is that just assumed because he was doing so well?
ReplyDeleteYup Vegas bosses are pouty little bitches
DeleteWow, I didn't realize he had so much on the ball. I guess if he's winning that much at least he's not drinking or things.
ReplyDeletePoor poor, broke casino. Nobody ever thinks about the poor casino owners.
I'd do it too if I knew how.
ReplyDeleteI could probably card count with one deck and some practice. Any more than that I doubt it. My brother work in casinos and he's caught people cheating before, although I don't know about card counting.
ReplyDeletePoor Ben. If he needs a place to play, I volunteer my place for some strip poker.
ReplyDeleteHow do they know someone is counting cards? My dad got booted for counting cards in Vegas probably 40 years ago. They just asked him to leave.
ReplyDeleteWho knew he was able to count?
ReplyDeleteAffleck is so smart that the casino got caught
I'm not so bothered by someone putting one over on the casino as I am with who's doing it. This is a very successful and very rich movie star. He doesn't need the money. That's one epic addiction you got there Ben.
ReplyDeleteThis. He's got it bad.
DeleteAgreed
DeleteThe funny part is that it was this week during "a romantic getaway " with Jennifer Garner.It must be romantic a trip at Las Vegas with a gambling addict
ReplyDeleteHigh limit bj. Is usually 2 decks so easy to count if you know what your doing. I dealt 2 decks for 10+ years easier to count than you think.
ReplyDeleteIt's done pretty much as Stu Ren describes, is why so many players want the leftmost seat, and is a help, not a guarantee. With all the shit casinos pull, it would be stupid to not use any advantage available.
ReplyDeleteLast time I was in Vegas, downtown offered better blackjack odds than he Strip (dealers must hit soft 17s). So don't play on the Strip.
I don't play serious money, but I have ALWAYS at least broken even for the trip. As in, got my airfare and hotel money back. Tip your dealers, folks!
I guess it's back to those private, big bucks poker games for Ben.
ReplyDeleteIt said in an article I read a few min ago that he uses a physical means of keeping track (black cheques). I could see their point if he's not just keeping track in his head.
ReplyDeleteCasinos are jerks. Smh
ReplyDeleteIt's "assumed" Afleck was counting cards, but I think he has his own system. I can see why the casino booted him.
ReplyDeleteHe can win counting cards at blackjack but loses his ass playing poker. Honestly I cant see it youre probably drinking a bit and trying to count over 300 cards. Its not impossible but somewhat unlikely.
ReplyDeleteHere's what I don't understand. If counting cards isn't illegal, how do casinos have the right to kick someone out, let alone ban him for life from the facility?
ReplyDeleteAll great players have a system of counting, the casinos just hate losing money. It's not illegal but the casinos can declare a person can't come back.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually pretty impressed, IMO counting hard!
So it's ok for casino to rip you oh left right and sideways, but if u happen to have a good method to win, you outta there. What bullshit. What utter bullshit. And I agree with other comments above, esp if it's not illegal why is he banned? More bullshit!
ReplyDeleteAgreed that it's bullshit that they can ban someone for legally tipping the odds in their own favor. Even if you are counting, there is still plenty of randomness.
ReplyDeleteIf they were smart, they would advertise "Ben Affleck (or insert random regular person) won $$$ at our casino!" That would draw plenty of suckers. But noooo, they are too stupid to allow ANYONE to win!
ReplyDeleteMoral of the story: the casino ALWAYS wins, and if they don't, they ban you for life.
ReplyDelete@hothotheat: Totally agree with you. Gambling addiction is serious shit. Some experts argue that gambling is perhaps the most difficult addiction to treat, because it has one distinct qualitative difference. That is- the individual engaging in the behavior does not KNOW when a reward is coming, or even IF it will. When a drug addict gets high or a sex addict gets a hooker, they know that behavior will get them the release/reward they are aiming for. With gambling, that is not the case. Gamblers repeat the behaviors even without the positive reinforcement of the reward that is supposed to follow from the behavior. Gambling has ruined the lives of many people I know, and it has helped me to frame the problem that way. However, I do wonder how much Ben has lost gambling too, keep in mind, this is his record at Hard Rock only. I imagine these kinds of things will come out soon.
They didn't ban him from the casino, just blackjack. He can play anything else there.
ReplyDeleteLol, that makes it even funnier @Reno! You can play here, but you are barred from your preferred vice, and are confined to games where the odds are lower for you...
DeleteThere's no shame being too good at math for the gangsters who own casinos.
ReplyDeleteWas he banned for card counting or was he banned for being a douche bag?
ReplyDeleteI think this is BS. I hope some other casino welcomes him and publicizes it.
ReplyDeleteWho knows if he even was, I got accused years ago, while drunk off my butt, playing small stakes at the Bellagio because I was betting erratically and getting very lucky. Casinos do not like to lose. And with auto shufflers, most are cheating now.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I got incredibly lucky at roulette one night at Atlantis casino in the Bahamas. I was surrounded by personnel trying to figure out how I was winning. Assholes ruin millions of lives but can't stand someone making a few bucks off of them
Deletetee hee garner the publicity
ReplyDeleteTTM said: "I still think there shoulda been a back room beating. Just to keep everything Vegas-like as much like CSI as possible"
ReplyDeleteI approve of this message.