Detecting Blackjack Card Counters
For any blackjack player who counts cards it is important not to get detected. If they do, they will usually lose their winnings and get kicked out of the casino. Even if it is legal, casinos have the right to deny play to any advantage player. The best way to determine if a player is counting the cards is by their betting patterns.
In order for a card counter to gain an advantage he would need to bet smaller amounts when the count has fewer face cards than smaller cards. When the count has more face cards, or tens, left in it the player will increase his bet. The pit boss and the dealer will watch for this pattern to try and catch the counters. The blackjack pit boss can notify the security staff, which will watch the player via security cameras and determine whether that player is counting.
If the house thinks that a player is counting they may ask the player to hold a flat bet from then on in the session. For the seasoned counter, the betting must be done in a way that will not get the attention of the staff.
Counters avoid this detection by playing in teams. They have one player making flat bets and counting the cards. Then when the count is good, they signal their team member to come to the table and play. The new player also makes flat bets, but the bets are the maximum limit the table will allow. This system is tough for the house to detect and prove if the connection of the team members is not determined.
