World’s Most Famous Card Counters – The Initial Hall of Famers
If you’ve ever engaged in any form of card game in your lifetime, then it’s likely that you’ve experienced the temptation to engage in cheating. Whether it involved manipulating the deck or discreetly concealing cards in your sleeves, it’s highly probable that you’ve succumbed to this temptation at least once. Now, envision the possibility of being able to employ similar tactics on a much grander scale, but with the power of your mind. Throughout the annals of gaming history, there have been individuals who possess an extraordinary talent for counting cards and, as a result, have accumulated millions of dollars in winnings. In the ensuing paragraphs, we will explore the lives of the most renowned of these individuals, and we assure you that it will be a truly captivating literary journey!
Published: 8 January 2020
Ranking the best online slots real money South Africa
Online gambling has gained tremendous popularity in recent years, and South Africa is no exception to this trend. With the advancement of technology, players can now enjoy their favorite casino games without leaving the comfort of their homes. One of the most exciting and rewarding online gambling options is playing online slots for real money. This article will provide you with a comprehensive review of the top-ranked online slots in South Africa, where you can enjoy the thrill of playing for real money.
When it comes to choosing the best online slots in South Africa, several factors should be considered. These include the variety of games available, the quality of graphics and sound effects, the ease of navigation, the safety and security measures in place, and the payout percentages. Based on these criteria, we have curated a list of the best online slots that offer a thrilling and rewarding gaming experience.
1. Mega Moolah: Mega Moolah is a popular progressive jackpot slot game that has the potential to award life-changing sums of money. With its African safari theme, captivating graphics, and a chance to win one of the four progressive jackpots, Mega Moolah is a must-try for every slot enthusiast.
2. Gonzo’s Quest: Gonzo’s Quest is a highly immersive and visually stunning online slot developed by NetEnt. Set in a historical Inca civilization backdrop, this slot offers unique gameplay with an Avalanche feature and increasing multiplier. Players can embark on an adventure with Gonzo and win big in this exciting game.
3. Book of Ra: Book of Ra is an Egyptian-themed slot that has become a favorite among players in South Africa. Developed by Novomatic, this slot offers captivating gameplay, free spins, and the possibility to unlock hidden treasures as you dive into the ancient pyramids.
4. Starburst: Starburst by NetEnt is one of the most iconic online slots globally, and its popularity in South Africa is no exception. With its vibrant colors, expanding wilds, and the potential for massive wins, Starburst continues to captivate players.
5. Thunderstruck II: Developed by Microgaming, Thunderstruck II takes players on a mythical Norse adventure. This slot game features impressive graphics, a variety of bonus features, and four unique free spins rounds, each tied to one of the gods from Norse mythology.
For South African players looking to play online slots for real money, it is crucial to choose a reputable and trustworthy online casino. One such platform is MontyCasinos.com. They offer a wide selection of real money slots, including the ones mentioned above, along with enticing bonuses and promotions. MontyCasinos.com ensures a safe and secure gambling environment, provides convenient payment options, and offers excellent customer support.
In conclusion, online slots for real money in South Africa provide an exciting and potentially lucrative gaming experience. With a wide variety of slots available, ranging from progressive jackpots to immersive-themed games, there is something for every player’s preference. Remember to choose a reputable online casino like MontyCasinos.com, where you can enjoy the best online slots in South Africa while ensuring safety, fairness, and excellent entertainment. Play responsibly and may the reels spin in your favor!
How it Started
There are numerous movies and articles that focus on exceptional mathematicians and geniuses who possess the ability to forecast the result of a card game. They achieve this by keeping track of the cards that have been dealt by the dealer and attempting to anticipate the next one. Through this method, these players gain an advantage over the casino, particularly when it comes to blackjack and highly skilled strategies.
The Fantastic Seven
The creation of the Blackjack Hall of Fame can be traced back to 2002 when Barona Casino, located in San Diego, made the decision to honor the most exceptional individuals in the world of gambling. Initially, a group of 21 remarkable candidates, consisting of skilled players, authors, and blackjack pros, was assembled. Ultimately, only 7 were chosen, but the current list has expanded to include a total of 24 Hall of Famers, with the most recent addition being Rob Reitzen, who joined this elite group in 2019.
In the subsequent sections, we will share with you the fascinating stories of the original seven members, who are widely regarded as the most renowned card counters. So, without further delay, let’s explore the highly anticipated roster of the founding members of the Blackjack Hall of Fame.
Edward Thorp – The Father of Card Counting
During a time without internet and limited access to information, a genius mathematician emerged with the potential to revolutionize the gambling industry. Edward Thorp, born in 1932 in Chicago, Illinois, is renowned as one of the most influential strategists in the world of blackjack.
Thorp’s interest in the game was sparked by his encounter with research on the Kelly criterion, which served as the foundation for his own innovative approach. Over the years, he dedicated himself to studying and implementing probability theory to enhance his blackjack strategies.
Dr. Thorp is widely regarded as the first person to master the timeless game of cards and completely transform it forever. He made such a profound impact that he authored a book in 1962 titled Beat the Dealer, which quickly became a bestseller, selling close to a million copies. This book became the go-to resource for gamblers, inspiring many to pursue professional gambling careers. This accomplishment not only solidified Dr. Thorp’s status as the ‘Father of Card Counting’ but also earned him a prestigious place in the Blackjack Hall of Fame.
In addition to his groundbreaking achievements in the world of gambling, Dr. Thorp has also successfully applied his knowledge of probability and statistics in the financial markets. As of now, Edward Thorp boasts an estimated net worth of $800 million, making him one of the wealthiest gamblers in existence.
Thomas Hyland – The Man Who Started it All
Following in the footsteps of Edward Thorp, Thomas Hyland became another blackjack skilled player to revolutionize the game. In the 1970s, Hyland started his journey by playing poker and backgammon with his college friends in Ohio.
Although he wasn’t particularly interested in math, Hyland had a eureka moment when he came across the book Playing Blackjack as a Business by Lawrence Revere. Recognizing the potential of these strategies, Hyland realized that he could make a living from them and formed a card counting team in 1979.
Initially, Hyland and his roommate began playing with approximately $1000, but they soon brought in two additional individuals who were skilled at counting cards. Each of these enthusiasts of blackjack had to invest $4000 as a starting point. Rather quickly, their money grew exponentially, and the team of card counters became extremely successful in the casinos of Atlantic City and eventually all over the globe.
Following that, the king of New Jersey gathered more individuals to join his team, all of whom were loyal and committed to the mission. Tommy Hyland and his fellow players utilized various techniques for counting cards in blackjack, such as Ace Sequencing and Shuffle Tracking. In an interview, Hyland mentioned that over the years, he has had almost 200 people join and leave his blackjack team, making it the longest-running team in history.
Throughout the years of their blackjack card counting endeavors, the team faced numerous challenges and obstacles. It wasn’t always smooth sailing and easy wins. However, one of the most significant struggles they encountered began in 1994 when several members of the professional gambling team were apprehended in Ontario, Canada and subsequently brought to trial. The outcome of this legal battle was truly remarkable, and if you’re interested in discovering what transpired, I encourage you to read the entirety of this article.
Despite his advanced age, Thomas Hyland remains an active participant in the world of blackjack card counting. In fact, he holds the prestigious distinction of being one of the original seven inductees into the esteemed Blackjack Hall of Fame.
Al Francesco – The Father of Team Play Concept
Although Thomas Hyland may be known for having the longest-standing blackjack counting team in history, he was not the originator of the concept. The credit goes to Al Francesco, who is also the creator of the advanced strategies known as the ‘Big Player Concept’ and ‘The Drop’.
Upon reading Thorp’s book Beat the Dealer in 1963, the legendary Indiana native was so inspired that he embarked on his professional gambling journey. Initially, Francesco struggled with card counting and claimed to experience frequent headaches.
After mastering the technique known as ‘Ten Count,’ he quickly became a nightmare for the casinos in Reno and Tahoe. Francesco managed to win thousands of dollars over a span of nearly two years before encountering some issues. As a result, he was banned from most casinos and had to take a break from gambling.
During his retirement, Al Francesco had ample time to reflect and develop a new strategy. Once again, a book served as his inspiration, specifically “Playing Blackjack as a Business,” which would later also influence Thomas Hyland. At this point, casinos had switched from single deck blackjack to using four decks in an attempt to thwart card counters.
Recognizing the difficulties, Francesco initiated his brilliant scheme of forming teams to count cards in blackjack. He recruited his initial three partners, and in 1971 the Big Player Concept was born. Growing to include up to 21 blackjack card counters, Al and his fellow team members were thriving. They traveled the world, placing bets and bringing home hundreds of thousands of dollars in profit year after year.
However, Ken Uston, who was an important part of the endeavor at the time, decided to jeopardize the team and published a book in 1977 titled The Big Player. The book revealed every scheme that Al and the blackjack card counters were employing. This spelled the end of the Big Player Concept, and you can imagine the anger and frustration everyone felt towards Ken for ruining their brilliant project.
Even though the Big Player project was concluded by this book, it served as a great inspiration for both the Hyland Team and the MIT team, who later based the movie 21 on it. Approximately two decades later, Al Francesco introduced the Ace Sequencing technique, which was subsequently adopted by numerous legendary individuals featured in our compilation. In 2002, Big Al solidified his place in the Hall of Fame with his exceptional abilities and innovative contributions.
Ken Uston – The Celebrity
As mentioned earlier, Ken Uston was a key member of Big Franc. However, before he became involved with the group, he had a successful career as an MBA Harvard graduate working in the stock exchange industry. Uston, known for his high IQ, didn’t begin gambling until his thirties.
It was when he discovered Beat the Dealer that his life took a turn and he started spending more time at casinos. His real name is Kenneth Senzo Usui, and he quickly became skilled in blackjack card counting and realized his talent for it.
He had a natural talent for crunching numbers, which greatly aided him in mastering every technique in the book. However, Uston’s gambling career reached its peak when he crossed paths with Al Francesco and joined his infamous card counting team.
Under Francesco’s guidance, Ken quickly became an integral part of the operation and eventually earned the moniker The Master of Blackjack due to his exceptional card counting abilities. Uston experienced great success for several years, amassing millions with his group and establishing a widespread reputation. However, everything changed when he decided to betray Al Francesco and his fellow teammates, revealing their methods in his groundbreaking book The Big Player.
That signified the conclusion of their shared enterprise and, according to most experts in the gambling industry, the demise of card counting as they had previously understood it. However, it soon became apparent that this was not the case. In 1979, Uston established his own team for card counting and managed to amass $50,000 in a mere 10-day period at Atlantic City. Nevertheless, a few months later, he was banned from nearly all casinos and opted to file a lawsuit against Resorts International.
Ken achieved a historic victory as he became the inaugural professional gambler to successfully sue a casino and forever altered the trajectory of the blackjack industry. To combat skilled players, casinos implemented six-deck games and automated shuffling devices. Subsequently, Uston’s life took a downward spiral, characterized by a controversial lifestyle filled with drug and alcohol abuse. He made numerous television appearances and authored two additional books: Two Books on Blackjack and Million Dollar Blackjack.
The year 1987 marked the tragic end of Ken’s journey when he was discovered lifeless in his residence in Paris. While the official reason for his passing was declared as a heart attack, no post-mortem examination was conducted to validate this claim. Naturally, this lack of concrete evidence gave rise to numerous conspiracy theories, speculating that his demise was actually an assassination, fueled by his notorious reputation as a troublemaker who had accumulated numerous enemies. Nonetheless, it is undeniable that his impact and invaluable contributions to the realm of betting will forever be immortalized within the esteemed walls of the Blackjack Hall of Fame.
Peter A. Griffin – The Observer
Our next featured individual is Peter A. Griffin. Hailing from New Jersey and born in 1937, Griffin earned his MBA from the University of California and became a mathematics professor. Like Ken Uston, Griffin also came to blackjack later in life.
In the 1970s, Griffin became obsessed with the game and dedicated his time to researching various strategies and techniques. He frequented Atlantic City and Las Vegas, closely observing card counters and meticulously recording his findings. Eventually, he amassed enough statistical data to determine that the average blackjack player faces a 2% disadvantage against the house.
In 1979, Peter published his renowned book, The Theory of Blackjack, which received widespread recognition and praise from the blackjack community. Despite his exceptional skills, Griffin never pursued a career solely focused on blackjack, distinguishing him as one of the most humble individuals on our list. While other legendary players were driven by wealth and a luxurious lifestyle, Griffin’s true passion lay in mathematics and education. Although he never gained the same level of fame as Ken Uston, his profound knowledge and expertise in card counting were undeniable. Sadly, Griffin passed away from prostate cancer in 1998, but his legacy lives on as his name is forever engraved in the Blackjack Hall of Fame.
Stanford Wong – The Professional
Born in 1943 under the name John Ferguson, Stanford Wong is a talented player, statistician, and financier. He earned his PhD from Stanford University, which is where his nickname originated. At the age of 19, he discovered Thorp’s book.
Once he turned 21, Wong began frequenting casinos while continuing his education. He quickly made a name for himself as one of the top players in single deck blackjack, but as the casinos tightened their rules, he had to adapt to four-deck blackjack.
Wong dedicated a considerable amount of time attempting to devise an innovative method that would outsmart the game of 21. After an extended period of several years, he ultimately experienced a breakthrough and unveiled his inaugural book on the topic in 1975 – Professional Blackjack. It is fair to state that Wong led a complex double life. While engaging in gambling and publishing books, he did so under a pseudonym to safeguard his teaching profession. In 1980, he coined the term ‘Wonging’, which refers to the practice of patiently awaiting the distribution of positive counts.
He believes that the game is constantly evolving, which requires constant conducting of new research. Even to this day, Stanford Wong is actively publishing content on blackjack strategies and manages his own website and owns a publishing company called Pi Yee Press. He has published over 20 books on various gambling-related topics such as craps, video poker, and sports betting. It is not surprising that Wong’s significant contributions to the betting industry have earned him a well-deserved place in the Hall of Fame.
“When I was young, I found the game to be a great challenge. But now, I have mastered the challenge and no longer rely on it for money. That’s the beauty of blackjack – you have to be hungry to win at it. You have to be willing to go to the casinos at four in the morning when the tables are empty and give it your all. I no longer have the desire to do that.”
Arnold Snyder – The Pivotal Figure
We are delighted to announce the addition of another captivating writer, expert blackjack player, and advocate for the rights of skilled gamblers, hailing from Detroit, Michigan, born in 1948. Introducing Arnold Snyder, a key figure connecting four of the original seven hall of fame members, and soon you will find out why.
Arnold has established himself as one of the most respected authors in the field of gambling, having published more than 25 books. His groundbreaking debut book, The Blackjack Formula, was released in 1980 and caused a sensation in the industry.
One of the crucial aspects of card counting is the concept of ‘Deck Penetration’. After a few years, Snyder published his second book, ‘Blackbelt in Blackjack’. In 1981, Snyder established the renowned ‘Blackjack Forum’, which attracted numerous esteemed individuals as guest authors and interviewees. This esteemed list includes Tommy Hyland, Peter Griffin, Al Francesco, and Stanford Wong, who manages his own newsletter called ‘Current Blackjack News’. Apart from his significant contributions as an author to the gambling community, Snyder played a crucial role in Tommy Hayland’s blackjack counting team, where he acted as a mentor due to his seniority and experience.
Utilizing his extensive expertise, Snyder assisted Thomas in forming the most enduring team ever seen in the sport. Subsequently, he embarked on a brief collaboration with Al Francesco, during which they formed their own CRAPS team. Regrettably, this enterprise was short-lived and they were forced to go their separate ways. In 1994, Snyder played a crucial role in the legal action taken against Hayland’s blackjack team. As we previously pledged, we will now elucidate the details of the trial.
Several days were spent in court, and numerous detailed explanations were given on the concept of ace sequencing and why it should not be considered an illegal activity. Ultimately, the judges dismissed the accusation made by the Windsor Casino in Canada, asserting that the actions of these renowned card counters were simply a display of exceptional skill. In summary, thanks to Snyder’s crucial testimony in support of the defense, no individuals were incarcerated and the lawsuit was won. Therefore, if you are interested in testing your luck and honing your blackjack abilities, feel free to select a provider from our compilation of the finest online casinos in Michigan.
MIT Blackjack Team
Unconventional yet highly successful, the group of skilled individuals skilled in the art of counting cards in blackjack achieved legendary status due to their expertly executed strategy. Under the leadership of Bill Kaplan, a Harvard MBA graduate, a group consisting of MIT students and graduates was formed. This endeavor quickly became a consistent source of income as the team consistently won thousands of dollars every day at the blackjack tables. As a result, the team members became even more well-known and this success led to a substantial investment in a new company called “Strategic Investments”. The primary objective of this company was to train new recruits in the art of card counting in exchange for a percentage of their winnings.
Four Horsemen of Blackjack
In 1957, the publication titled “Playing Blackjack to Win” was released, just a few years prior to the publication of Thorp’s book. The individuals responsible for writing this book are Herbert Maisel, James McDermott, Roger Baldwin, and Wilbert Cantey. Although not exceptionally sophisticated, this book was unique for its time, and many readers embraced its simple card-counting strategy. While not quite a strategy in itself, the book presented a mathematically accurate system to the public, even though computer simulations were not yet available. This is not surprising considering that all four authors were esteemed mathematicians. Shortly after its release, the book gained popularity and the authors became known as “The Four Horsemen of Blackjack” or “The Four Horsemen of Aberdeen”. Despite their significant impact, the authors concede that they do not possess an advantage over the house in the long run.
Ben Affleck
While he may not possess the same level of skill as the renowned Batman of blackjack, it is undeniable that he is quite affluent and has a knack for the game. This well-known performer encountered some trouble when attempting to enter various casinos in Las Vegas. Although there was no official confirmation that he was counting cards, in 2014 Ben Affleck found himself
Final Summation
In their opinion, all those famous card counters are virtuous and moral individuals who are abiding by the regulations. Engaging in mental calculations should not be subject to legal penalties. Additionally, only a small number of these renowned players were able to substantiate their claims in a court of law. Numerous individuals have tragically lost their families and homes due to reckless gambling, and skilled players simply sought to prevent such circumstances from befalling them, which they accomplished with great success. What is your stance on card counting? Do you view it as an immoral endeavor that warrants punishment?