Also, less decks used means that the mathematical advantage of the game for the house is also somewhat lower. A single deck has more positive situations in overall percentage while an eight-deck shoe has a much less percentage.

Less decks of cards in use represents a greater percentage of positive situations that can be anticipated by the counter. Number of Decks – The professional counter is attracted to fewer decks of cards. I choose these five elements based on how a professional level card counter views an acceptable Blackjack game, giving each element the same weight for determining the risk assessment value based on a 1 to 5 scale (five being the highest threat level).įollowing is a summary of these five elements: These elements are, (1) number of decks dealt, (2) game rules, (3) percentage of total deck/shoe penetration, (4) per spot maximum limit, and (5) the target game’s “basic” mathematical advantage. This becomes a great starting point for developing a host of risk assessments based on both legal and illegal threats to all table games.Īfter much thought on the subject, I developed an assessment based on five different elements of a casino’s blackjack game. Although, I do not look at card counting as a big threat to the casino’s assets (bankroll), a majority of casino executives do. Probably the most common threat viewed by casino management is the risk associated with the counting of cards in the game of blackjack. I wish to write this article by designating a common table game threat to illustrate my point. Why not have a similar plan for the casino industry regarding threats to the table games? In fact, companies will not be able to secure liability insurance covering their cyber systems if they have not constructed a comprehensive risk assessment and detailed plan for threat mitigation. Companies must develop a comprehensive risk assessment based on the type of information that is collected and held, the type of firewall used to protection the information, and the extent of training provided for the individuals of the company who have access to the cyber system. The degree of the risk corresponds with a list of issues that directly reflect the extent of threat from various external sources. Risk assessment evaluations are required by the federal government to establish the level of risks subject to a financially centered businesses (casinos) regarding Anti-money Laundering (AML) issues. Throughout different business industries, the technique of developing “risk assessment” projections has gained much popularity for evaluating the level of external threats to specific areas of the business operation.

Fiesta casino gaming industry scorecard