Casino News

Ma: There's nothing wrong with card counting

2008-03-27 13:02:44

Counting cards is not a crime, nor is making money from casinos, an expert blackjack player has said.

Jeff Ma, whose legendary exploits in Las Vegas and Atlantic City helped him to net in the region of $5 million, told the San Francisco Chronicle that he did not do anything illegal - and implied the only reason casinos do not like his methods is because they lose their advantage.

"There's no reason the casinos should be taking as much money from the people as they do," he said.

"It's OK for people to make money off them."

Ma decided to give up playing blackjack because he felt it was becoming too dangerous for him and his team - a retirement which has perhaps kept him out of the blackjack hall of fame, which contains Max Griffin among others.

The upcoming film 21 is based upon Ma's story.