Though card-counting is not illegal in the United States, some foreign countries look upon the matter differently. Also, casinos in foreign lands may purchase secret information about card counters from American casino detective agencies.

Consider Andy, Semyon, and Katie, members of the famous MIT blackjack team, revered by players and feared by the casinos. The three were applying their skills in Monte Carlo, well known for gaming resorts, auto races, and Grace Kelly.

Now it just so happened that Semyon was listed in the "Griffin Book," a compilation of "known" card counters and/or card cheats (it would be more accurate to describe the book as a compilation of "suspected" offenders).

After winning quite a bit of money, the trio was escorted into a back room, where they were held for more than an hour and their pictures were taken. Then a Monte Carlo police inspector walked in.

The team spent the next five hours in the custody of the cops. The police searched their rental car and questioned all three individually. Semyon received a particularly long and probing interrogation since he was in the Griffin hook. He was told that card-counting was illegal in Monte Carlo.

However, the team was never charged with committing any crime (and was allowed to keep their winnings). After a couple more hours of detention, they were finally allowed to leave, with instructions to get in their car and not return to Monte Carlo. In keeping with the regal treatment afforded by the authorities, they received a police escort all the way to the border.
disguise your play.

The life expectancy of a card counter can be considerably extended with the use of a good act. What's more, we've found that the implementation of the act can be the most enjoyable part of the game. The Knock-Out system's ease of use allows players more time and energy to concentrate on laying the "camouflage" that's sometimes necessary to play skilled blackjack in a casino environment.