[ACG2x]

So I know basic counting systems such as Hi-Lo, etc. and was playing poker at a local casino in Minnesota (Treasure Island) over the weekend.

In between hands, we got on the subject of blackjack.

Anyways, we were talking about counting and many of the poker dealers were former blackjack dealers. I asked our dealer what overall strategy the casino takes to guard against card counters.

He said that that particular casino (TI) simply puts up with them. He said that all dealers were told if they were going on to a table with a known counter and to just "keep an eye on them". Furthermore, players were only asked to leave for the day if their bet variance for a positive vs. negative count got too far out of hand.

I asked what happens if they don't get too out of hand and he said, "really...nothing". The house just watches them and that's it from a management standpoint. However, the floor people will try to send in talkative and/or loud dealers and tell them to try to disrupt the counter.

Basically, engage them in conversation about anything and do it often, use numbers in casual whenever you could (to disrupt their count) and deal as quickly as possible.

I asked what happens if the counter doesn't get out of hand with bet variance and can still perform his count with all of this going on and the dealer said "we just deal with it".

He noted one of the main reasons was that decent-good counters will screw up at some point. Lose the count, miscount or maybe just suffer a losing streak and shy away from basic strategy. Only the best of the best can keep a steady, correct count and never waiver from playing the successful mixture of basic strategy with alterations based on the current true count.

Do many casinos follow this strategy nowadays? Was I being leveled?

I'm just wondering what most non-Vegas casinos do to counter card counting.