It is every card counters worst nightmare. Being banned from the casino is a horrible outcome that you should try to avoid. If it happens, there may be little recourse depending on the severity of the ban. Here are some tips that may help you get back in the casino if you have been banned for counting cards.

Avoid Being Banned to Begin With

Before we discuss how to get back in the casino once you have been banned let’s suggest a more proactive approach. You should take every precaution to avoid getting caught in the first place. It is much easier to not get banned than it is to try and get back in.

Professional card counters take a wide variety of measures to prevent detection. This can include varying play, making poor plays on purpose, and staying away from the player loyalty cards that casinos use to track your wagering activity. One of the best things you can do is not playing regularly at any one casino.

For some people who want to count cards at blackjack, this can be difficult. Perhaps you live in an area that only has a few live casinos to choose from. If this is the case, playing once or twice a month might be the only option for you.

You’ve Been Banned – Now What?

If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of being banned as a card counter, you should take several measures. The worst thing that you can do is to immediately confront the casino and contest your removal. This will only make things worse. So, the first thing you should do after getting banned is to take some time to collect yourself and make a plan.

You should begin by considering what type of ban you’ve been given. The most common type of exclusion involves the supervisors of the casino telling you that you are no longer welcome at their facility. You’ll probably be removed from the blackjack table and taken to a private area. There, you will be told in very plain terms why you are not allowed to play blackjack at this casino. Do not be smug. Take this warning very seriously.

There is another type of ban that you may be faced with. The casino can, at their discretion, involve law enforcement in getting you to leave the premises. When this happens you will be formally warned off the casino property by law enforcement officers. This action will be recorded. If you return to the casino you will be subject to arrest for criminal trespassing.

This is a good time to remind Counting Edge readers of how a casino works. A live casino is essentially a private club into which you are welcomed as a guest. This means that the casino can have you removed at any time for any reason. They don’t even need a reason to do it. It is their house and their rules.

If you have been subjected to the first kind of ban, the casino may eventually welcome you back after a period of time. One casino in Louisiana has been known to give a 365-day ban to some card counters. This means that you are allowed to return to the casino after one year, but only if you are willing to abide by the rules.

Find a New Casino for Playing Blackjack

The immediate impact of being banned as a blackjack card counter is the same in any case. You are going to have to find a new casino where you can play blackjack. This is where things get a little bit tricky. The difficulty of finding a new place to play blackjack is going to depend a lot on where you happen to live.

Let’s take major gaming locations like Las Vegas and New Jersey as an example. In these two states there is a so-called “black book” that is shared among casinos. The names of banned individuals are placed in this book. If you are unlucky enough to be placed in the black book, the game is probably over. Every casino in the state will have your picture and information. Step inside any one of them and you could be arrested.

The good news is that only the most egregious offenses qualify for placement in the black book. Merely being caught for the first time counting cards won’t get you in there in most cases. That means you can look for another casino where you can play blackjack.

Stop Using Player’s Club Cards

Once you have chosen a new place to play blackjack, do not sign up for the casino’s player’s club. Most live casinos have a loyalty rewards program that gives you comps and other perks based on your play. But the real reason the casino wants you to sign up for a players card is so they can track your play. You’ll be asked to provide that player’s card each time you sit down at the blackjack table.

The comps that one can earn from a rewards card are just not worth the risk for a card counter. You are not in the casino to earn comps. You are there to make money from counting cards at blackjack. Let them keep their player’s card and do everything you can to stay off the radar. In some cases you may even be able to play without providing an ID if you appear to be old enough to gamble.

Don’t Get Greedy

Once you have found a new place to play blackjack without detection as a card counter, you must resist greed. If you are making a nice, healthy profit at the casino then be happy with that and don’t push your luck.

The old professional poker player “Amarillo Slim” Preston was fond of a saying: “You can shear a sheep many times, but skin him only once.” If you take the position that you are going to take the casino for as much as you can until you get caught, getting caught is certain. Be happier with smaller wins and move on to another casino.

There is a reason that many professional card counters live and work in Las Vegas. They have hundreds of casinos where they can play cards. They can play at a different casino every day for a month and then start the whole routine over again. Some casinos may be better than others, but the card counter resists the temptation to stay too long in one place.

Consider Playing Blackjack Online

You may be forced to consider playing blackjack online if you find that you have been banned for card counting. This can be an adjustment, especially for the card counter. It is very difficult to count cards online unless the online casino offers live dealer blackjack games.

Try to look at the bright side of the matter. Playing online blackjack gives you the time and opportunity to hone your blackjack skills for a smaller amount of money. You can play online blackjack for just $1 per hand at many casinos, and you can also wager with Bitcoin at some sites.

There are advantages to playing online blackjack that may outweigh the benefits of card counting. You won’t have to even leave your home to play blackjack online. You can sit right in your living room at play with a computer, phone, or tablet. You also don’t have to worry about the pit bosses or other casino supervisors staring over your shoulder.

Be Patient

The final piece of advice that Counting Edge wants to give its readers about being banned from a live casino for card counting is to be patient. If this has happened to you, the reality is that you are just going to have to slow down your activities for a certain period of time. Accept that, for the time being, you are on the casino’s radar.

How long should you wait before trying to enter the casino again? There is no hard and fast answer. You may be able to get back in after a month, or it may take a year or more before you are welcome there again.

Look at the bright side. While you are waiting you can always read the many articles here at Counting Edge on blackjack. You can learn and practice your skills. All that matters is that you eventually get back to the game that you love.

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