Is Counting Cards Illegal?
Counting cards is a legal activity; no federal or state laws state that card counters are committing an offense. Police officers cannot arrest you for counting cards at a casino, nor can they convict you of any crimes. Before you hit the Las Vegas Strip and try your hand at counting cards, however, realize there are several ways card counting can land you in jail.
Casino Trespassing
While the police cannot detain you for the act of counting cards, they can arrest you on the grounds of trespassing. Casinos are technically private property, and casino patrons must respect house rules. Many casinos have high-tech cameras and security measures to detect and prevent card counting since this act takes money the casino could otherwise win. If a security guard has reason to believe a patron is counting cards, the guard can ask a patron to leave the table, stop playing that particular game, or leave the casino.
Most casinos ask card counters to leave the property once discovered. Casino security guards may hassle you into leaving the table, request you to back off a game for a time, or bar you from the casino entirely. If a casino bars you, you may not return. If you return anyway, you can face trespass charges.
Using Electronics or Machines to Count Cards
While the law doesn’t say anything about restricting intellectual means to count cards, it does have a provision against using electronic and mechanical means. This type of card counting constitutes cheating since you’re gaining an unfair edge over the other players. Using your brain to count cards as a natural advantage is your prerogative, but once you use other means, the police can arrest you.
Non-mechanical Cheating:
This brings us to cheating by non-mechanical/electrical means during a card game. In Nevada, gambling control authorities prohibit cheating in casinos. Cheating during a card game is an arrestable offense. Using your intellect to count cards can help you win but does not change the game and is, therefore, not technically considered cheating. If you cheat, altering the game’s outcome by switching cards with other players or adding cards to the deck, a casino can arrest you.
Physically Assaulting Casino Employees
If a casino team member admonishes or detains you for counting cards, you’ll probably be angry, frustrated, or embarrassed. Odds are, you’ve been drinking, and now the casino has barred you from playing your favorite game of the night. Many people accused of counting cards make the mistake of pushing or touching security guards or other casino employees. The casino can then have you arrested on the grounds of physical assault or harassment.
Disorderly Conduct
Casinos do not need a reason to ask you to leave. They can ask any patron to leave at any time, for any reason, or no reason. Casinos can arrest you for disorderly conduct if you refuse to leave and begin acting belligerent, aggressive, or rude. If you’re asked to leave, the best thing to do is to apologize, leave the casino, and lay low for a while. If the casino took your picture while detaining you, they will have your face on file and share it with sister casinos.
If you need criminal defense lawyers in Las Vegas because of casino charges, contact De Castroverde Law Group for expert help. We can defend you if you’re arrested for false ID, assault, battery, theft, disorderly conduct, trespassing, etc. Call us today for a free consultation at (702) 222-9999.