Casinos' Evolving Tactics Against Advantage Players

Casinos have always been a thrilling place, but over the years, they’ve had to step up their game to prevent certain players from gaining an edge. Whether it’s card counting, exploitingThere are occasions when we here at ReadyBetGo want to bring you interesting facts about the gambling industry  When something catches our eye, we will publish it for your enjoyment. 
  loopholes, or using strategies that tilt the odds in their favor, these so-called “advantage players” can sometimes give casinos a run for their money. In response, casinos have started evolving their strategies to make sure everyone’s playing by the same rules, and they're getting more creative about it. From adding extra layers of surveillance to shuffling cards more often, the whole goal is to make sure the odds stay in their favor and that any advantage a player might gain is quickly neutralized. So, how exactly are casinos changing their tactics?

Using More Decks 

One of the most classic strategies for gaining an advantage in casino games, particularly blackjack, is card counting. For those who don’t know, card counting is a technique where players keep track of the high and low cards to predict what’s coming next—it gives them a better idea of when to raise their bets, essentially stacking the odds in their favor. But casinos have figured out how to fight back against this. The first move? Adding more decks to the game. A standard blackjack game usually uses one to two decks, but now, it's common to see six or even eight decks in play at once, which makes it nearly impossible for anyone to accurately count cards, because the deck becomes far more unpredictable. It’s a little less convenient for players, but it’s a lot more effective for the casinos who want to keep the edge in their corner. 

Shuffling More Frequently 

Another tactic casinos use to keep advantage players on their toes is shuffling more often. In the past, games like blackjack would go through a relatively predictable cycle, where players could watch the deck play out and possibly get an idea of which cards were coming next. To prevent that from happening, casinos have started to shuffle the cards way more frequently. Instead of waiting for a deck to get “stale,” dealers now shuffle after a smaller number of hands, effectively disrupting any attempts to track cards or predict outcomes. This quick shuffle means that no matter how much a player tries to study the deck, they won’t have much time to get an advantage.

Surveillance and Monitoring 

Surveillance cameras, facial recognition software, and monitoring systems are now the norm in casinos, and they’re used for more than just keeping the place secure. With advanced surveillance, casinos can spot advantage players before they even have a chance to pull off their strategies. Suspicious behavior, such as players acting unusually when they get a good hand or showing signs of counting cards, can be tracked and flagged almost instantly. These systems are constantly on the lookout for patterns or anomalies that might suggest someone is trying to take advantage of the game. If a player’s betting patterns suddenly change or they start winning too often, that’s a red flag, and security can step in before things go too far. 

All of this makes the game a bit tougher for those trying to gain an edge, but ultimately, it’s about keeping the playing field level for everyone involved. So, next time you’re at a casino, just remember—there's a lot more going on behind the scenes than you might think.