Mit Card Counting Movie
STAFF REPORTER, The Tech
Online Blackjack Live Dealer Card Counting Movie KevinImages Gallery 'Online Blackjack Live Deal. Inspired by the true story of MIT students who mastered the art of card counting and took Vegas casinos for millions in winnings. Looking for a way to pay for tuition, Ben Campbell. Directed by Robert Luketic. With Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, Aaron Yoo. '21' is the fact-based story about six MIT students who were trained to become experts in card counting.
Ben Mezrich, the author of Bringing Down the House:The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions, discussed his newest book and held a book signing at Coffeehouse last night. He described his interaction with this covert team of gamblers.
Over a few years in the 1990s, MIT students earned several million dollars by playing blackjack in Las Vegas casinos on weekends while taking on the lives of normal college students during the week.
'I got to know them socially when we were in college. They always had cash, and were always going to Vegas. Eventually, they took me along and I got an inside look,' said Mezrich.
The basic strategy for the students was to employ card counting techniques, where they kept track of the proportion of high cards to the total number of cards left in the stack. 'Based on that, they could predict hands and place bets accordingly,' said Mezrich.
Teamwork pays off big
Card counters are normally caught because they work alone and appear suspicious when they suddenly raise their bets once they predict a win.
The MIT team was different in that it employed a method of communication between seemingly unrelated players.
Mezrich described four basic roles for a team of the blackjack players. The back-spotter counts cards without playing and signals teammates when high cards are imminent. The spotter consistently places small bets at the table while secretly counting cards as well and relaying the information to teammates. The 'Gorilla,' who always makes large bets, moves from table to table, guided by signals from spotters indicating advantageous positions. Finally, the position requiring the most skill is that of the Big Player, who counts cards, plays at the same time, and is advanced enough to always place high bets. Because of the division of labor, dealers could not easily spot these card counting teams.
Getting caught
Eventually, members of the blackjack team were betrayed. Out of greed, some team members sold names and faces to the Griffin Agency, which is hired by some casinos to track players who win disproportionately. The Griffin Agency compiles a face book of card counters and prohibits them from betting.
'It gets the MIT freshmen picture book every year,' Mezrichsaid.
I know of this guy who walked in, was recognized almost immediately,and kicked out before he could play at all,' said a veteran blackjackplayer. 'Other times, especially when it's busy, you can playfor a couple hours before they pay any attention to you. You get out fastas soon as they see you.'
Card counting is entirely legal, but casinos can still get rid of counters because they are taking the casino's money.
Former members talk
A member of the counting team who did not wish to be identified commented, 'It was an interesting part of my life. I was very poor at the time and without a job. I started out just playing and learning the rules, then later joined the MIT blackjack team. I pretended to be a bimbo while spotting so that they would not suspect me and then moved on up in my roles.'
However, the game was not just about getting loads of cash and staying in glitzy hotels.
'I stopped four years ago mainly because of the stress of knowing I could get caught. It is scary; they will take illegal measures such as pulling you to the back room ... you don't know what they can do to you there,' she said.
Another person, represented by the character Andrew Tay in the book, said, 'The team recruited students who had a propensity for playing cards and taught them basic strategy. I was first skeptical when they told me about it, but later I saw what a good opportunity it was.'
When asked how people felt about their techniques being revealed, Tay said, 'most people mentioned in the book were comfortable with it. They were willing to talk to Mezrich.'
'This experience of seeing a book about me and people I know on The New York Times' list - it's been surreal,' Tay said.
Kevin Spacey to produce movie
Mezrich has already sold the movie rights to MGM studios. Kevin Spacey is planning to both produce and act in the movie, which could come out as soon as 2004. It will be unique in that many of the MIT students will be portrayed by minority actors, as was the actual case.
'Actually, Kevin Spacey came to me about making a movie. He read the wired.com adaptation of the book and became interested,' Mezrich said. 'The funny thing is filming may take in casinos such as the The Mirage and Caesar's Palace, where the real thing happened.
Several MIT students approached Mezrich after the book signing and expressed interest in acting or being extras in the movie.
This story was published on Friday, October 25, 2002. in the MIT newspaper.
This article originally appeared in The Tech, issue 50 volume 122. Itmay be freely distributed electronically as long as it includes this noticebut cannot be reprinted without the express written permission of TheTech. Write to [email protected] for additional details.
Card Counting
Throughout the film history, there will always be movies with relation to casinos, gambling, and immediate riches for the protagonists… do not be fooled by the stories – after all, it is a movie, it is Hollywood, and it is only 2 ½ hours long more or less, so obviously things seem so much simpler and tempting to achieve.
For instance, let’s start with probably one of the most popular gambling and blackjack movies of our time:
21 (2008)
Even though this movie is based on a true story, it does include Hollywood’s hand in it, which we can with all confidence say they make it look easier than it is, as well as even have blackjack basic errors here and there. So if you are to watch it, do it solely as entertainment, and as a motivational tool while understanding it takes a lot more work and discipline to get where the protagonists got,
The movie basically tells the story of an MIT group of students lead by a professor who was no longer accepted in the Vegas casinos. The professor would then teach these mathematical genius students about card counting and working in teams, and would travel every weekend to Vegas to beat the casinos at Blackjack.
They were caught by greed, and later by the casino’s management, enduring some punishments (even though card counting is not illegal, casinos do not condone it).
Quite an entertaining movie, but not an informational one if that is what you are looking for.
The Hangover (2009)
The movie is a must see for anyone looking for a great comedy or one that captures Las Vegas. The Hangover had a development budget of $35 million which is relatively small for movies today. It grossed over $633 million taking into account box office and movie rentals!
The hangover has a great scene where they card count taking ques from rainman which is another blackjack movie featured on our list. Zach Galifianakis plays the card counter and has a great quote on blackjack card counting: “Gambling? Who said anything about gambling? It’s not gambling when you know you’re gonna win. Counting cards is a foolproof system.”
60 Minutes to Winning Blackjack (2005)
Mit Students Vegas Card Counting Movie
Now if you are looking for an information and instructional movie/video instead of an entertaining Hollywood film, then this is the movie for you. Here you will be lead through the basics of blackjack, playing with confidence and skills, as well as covering some tutorials on card counting, and including some practice exercises too. If you hate reading, this would probably be a good way to start and get some good understanding on blackjack.
Essential Blackjack: A Guide for Players and Dealers (2006)
A good instructional movie on the rules and strategies of the blackjack game, which should leave you ready for the tables either as a player or as a dealer.
Rain Man (1988)
Another Hollywood movie for your entertainment purposes, while sticking with the blackjack theme and game.
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Mit Card Counting Movie
Starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman – The movie tells the story of the two brothers, in which Dustin is autistic, with a great memory ability – especially with numbers. Tom takes Dustin to the casinos to play some blackjack and finds great success at counting cards – until they get busted.
Blackjack, Slots, and Craps Winning Strategies (2005)
In the blackjack segment, the movie shows players when to hit, stand and fold, which without the need of card counting will help you with your bankroll management and cash-flow for both offline and online blackjack. It obviously also covers Slots and Craps, such as which machines to play at, how to increase their winning odds, as well as aggressive betting for craps, and when to take a chance at it.
There are a few other blackjack movies both for informational and entertainment purposes, but these are some great titles to start with at the moment.