Blackjack Card Counting Myths Debunked

The mere mention of the phrase ‘card counting’ is enough to turn heads in the gambling world. It is one of the most discussed and mythologised gambling techniques in the world, and with so much noise surrounding it, sometimes it can be hard to determine exactly what is true and what is not. 

In this Genting Casino piece on our continued guide to card counting in blackjack, we are going to take a look at some of the most common myths surrounding blackjack and address whether there is any truth in them.

The Biggest Myths in Blackjack

We have identified the following as the biggest myths around card counting in blackjack. 

Card counting is illegal: The biggest misconception around card counting is that it is illegal. However, if top performing UK casinos suspect that someone may be card counting, they have the right to remove them. Of course, it is also difficult to prove that someone is card counting, with the technique being performed in a player’s head.

You need to memorise every single card: This is another myth that has developed from the movies. You do not need to be some sort of super genius to card-count. However, you do need to learn a system. When card counting, values are assigned to a group of cards, and card counters keep track of their values to help them make decisions. 

It guarantees a win: In the movies, card counters are often painted as people who have the casino’s number and who can not lose. This is not the case. While card counting can give you a significant advantage and help reduce your losses, it will never guarantee a win. 

It is important to remember that there is no guaranteed way of securing a win at real-time casino tables when playing a card game. Players should always gamble responsibly and know when to walk away from a game. 

Why do these myths exist? 

For the most part, these myths have been perpetuated by popular culture. Card counting has often been portrayed as a way to defeat casinos and is used by maverick characters. 

The popular image of some sort of maverick or lovable rogue bringing down a casino is one way that has plenty of romance, and this has created a lot of myths around the technique. Likewise, in all of these instances, card-counting has often led to some sort of punishment, which, in turn, has led a lot of people to believe that the act is illegal. 

Gambling, as a form of entertainment, is often portrayed in a very different light to others, and, as such, a lot of false imagery is created around it as a recreational activity. The reality of gambling is often very different to what you see on screen, and card counting is very much an example of this. 

Why is Card Counting So Controversial?

There are so many different techniques a player can use when playing blackjack to help minimise the house edge, so why has card counting become such a controversial one? 

Well, one of the biggest reasons is that casinos like it that way. Card counting does reduce the house edge and lead to losses for a casino, in the long run, this is not going to be a good turn of events. The more card counters there are, the higher the chance a casino loses money over time.

For many players, there is also the idea that card counting is too methodical and that, simply put, it takes some of the fun out of the game. Many people know that they stand a chance of losing when they play blackjack, but they play it because they enjoy doing so.

Players should always play for fun. Gambling is not designed to be a way of guaranteeing money, and if you feel you need support, you can always check out our detailed responsible gambling resources. As always, you should only ever play at safe gambling casinos such as Genting Casino. 

FAQs

Does card counting guarantee a win? 

No. Card counting, nor any other casino technique, will ever guarantee a win. As such, players should always gamble responsibly when playing blackjack or any other casino game. 

Can I get banned from a casino for card counting? 

Online casinos reserve the right to ban anyone they believe to be using these techniques. Players should be aware that casinos, like other private establishments, can always refuse to allow players to take part. 

Is card counting illegal?

No. Card counting is not illegal, however, it is frowned upon and could see you removed from online casinos.