Building a BJ Computer

I remember reading about BJ Computers (George, Casey) a while back. I was thinking that with the advancements in PocketPC technology I could design a program to run on a PocketPC. The inputs would be connected to trick the PocketPC that it is an external keyboard. The output buzzer could simply be connected the the headphonejack.

I have a couple questions:
1) Does anyone make BJ computers anymore and what are the costs? I remember the costs use to be in the $1000s which would make a pocketPC system much cheaper.

2) Where can I find all the theory on effects of removal? A Blackjack comp wouldn't be limited to simple +- counts. It could use actual theoretical value for removal of a card, or even better it could "know" exactly how many of each card are remaining.

The programming would be very simple to write in VB. The Input/Output would be rather simple I think. Input: I would most likely buy an expansion keyboard and disasemble it rather than try a figure out the propreitary connector. Output: a buzzer converts an electrical signal into vibration just like a speaker converts an electrical signal into vibration. So a .wav file of would be translated into which could be the signal to split for example.

Any thoughts, comments, or suggestions would be appreciated.

along with a five year jail sentence if caught.

Plus, if you ever get "suspected computer user" in your Griffin entry, the heat level will go up astronomically if you get backroomed.

Traveler

Must be that time of year (questions of this nature pop up on a regular basis).

The technology certainly exists to build a sophisticated BJ computer. A tiny camera could even be concealed in a hat visor or eyeglass frame to scan the cards, eliminating the need to manually imput the cards.

There are two problems. First, while the computer provided a huge edge in the deeply dealt single deck games that were common in Ken Uston's era, it would be much less effective on the modern shoe game.

However, that is not the main problem. The biggie is that using a BJ computer in a casino is illegal almost everywhere, and it is a felony in the state of Nevada.

As Uston himself noted, you might as well just hold up the cashier cage. The penalty is the same, and you don't need as big a bankroll.

Copies of the original "Casey" computer are available on the Internet for around $4K. I do not know if the company is legit, as I do not know of anyone foolish enough to spend that kind of money on a computer with less power than a 286.

The list price here is $750 US (Australian company). Interestingly, they seem to be playing both sides of the fence as they also sell many surveillance products.

Click on this link: http://www.gaming.state.nv.us/index.htm

Click on Enforcement.

Click on Gaming Statutes.

When it asks for a password, just X it out.

Scroll down to Chapter 465 Crimes & Liabilities Concerning Gaming. Scroll down to 465.075 and read about devices for cheating. The last part where it says that computers are certainly included may be of special interest.

Now, go to 465.088 where the penalties for 465.070 through 465.085 inclusive are listed.

Still want to do this?

You can extract the information you need from "The Theory of Blackjack" by Peter Griffin to create a 'perfect' counting system.

This will help you decide if you want to use a 13 side count system, or base your play decisions on the exact composition of the remaining deck.

Once your computer is built and programmed, I would suggest the book "Blackjack and the Law" by I. Nelson Rose and Robert A. Loeb as a good starting point for what will happen if you try to use it.

You might also want to check out the following web site:
http://www.nevadacorrections.org

They will sell you BJ computers and roulette computers and then sell countermeasures to the casinos so they can nail your ass. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out to stay away from that company.

Does the world really need another blackjack computer? Certainly, there is little challenge in creating one, as both the hardware and software aspects are relatively simple by today's standards; the hardware could be easily constructed from parts available at Radio Shack, and a suitable machine language program couldn't require more than a couple K-bytes.

As far as "beating the game", the computational aspects aren't the problem -- finding the good game is the difficult part, and great computational ability is not going to overcome bad pen.

Finally, there is the cheating issue. For me, the game would be unenjoyable if I had to cheat to win (aside from the obvious legal issues). And if the argument has to do with making money, jeez, there are lots easier ways of doing that.

As I said, does the world really need another blackjack computer?

Can anyone provide any documentation of any prosecuted Nevada computer case involving jail time?

Until recently, possession of a single marijuana seed would be considered a felony in Nevada. Needless to say, no one has ever gotten a felony conviction for that offense.

www.survtech.com
Interesting stuff about bj computers. Don't actually contact the company though, they work for casinos now.

The reason no one has gotten prosecuted for this is because the casino would usually let them off easy... having your hand whacked with a ball peen hammer or a head in a vise sure beats 5 years in the Nevada Pen.

>>A tiny camera could even be concealed in a hat visor or eyeglass frame to scan the cards, eliminating the need to manually imput the cards.

I've always been scheming in my mind an idea like that... a tiny camera in my hat that could send the video to a room upstairs, where others with a laptop can feed me the correct plays using a beeper-like device. But using this for blackjack counting is primitive... there are more devious ways of making money with this technology. Like a mini-baccarat (or blackjack) table with a shuffling machine (not the continuous type)... now after seeing all the cards going through the previous shoe(s), and knowing a machine's shuffle algorithm, you could literally know the exact order of cards that will come out after the first few are dealt, at least for large segments of the shoe.

Where you will have major problems is trying to create a practical input device. What will trigger it? Your toes? Your fingers? Your teeth? Your eyes? I assume you were implying using your fingers. This will look too suspicious as your fingers will never quit fluttering.

In order to input the the specific values as you suggest, would be a problem.( Here we have 8 different values of 2-9 as well as a seperate value for ace and ten.) So now we have 10 different values to program and create an input that can be used for practical purposes. Well alright, I guess thats one switch for each toe, you best be double jointed in the tootsies. Probably the best way to input data however would still be using you feet instead of 'fingers hiding in pocket'. You would have to have a time-delay code of triggering slashes and dots to input data for each card.
That is still a very nerving and difficult way.

What ever you choose,good luck with your experiment.
For the time being I'll stick to the comfort of using
the Power of Mind over a computer.

TG

Actually I was thinking binary switches.
4 switches could simluate all possible cards in blackjack deck
4 switches with values 1,2,4,8... (give 15 possible values)
i.e
A would be the 1 switch
3 would be the 1+2 switches
7 would be the 1+2+4 switches
T would be the 2+8 switches.

the numbers 11+ would be control switches
for example when I wanted:
betting amount I could press 13 (1+4+8)
"know play" I could press 14 (2+4+8)
repeat instruction I could press 12 (4+8)
to notify the comp of the shuffle I could press 11(1+2+8)

You are right the triggers would have to be in shoes.
"George" used a pair of switches in each shoe i.e 1+2 in left, 4+8 in right.

I was thinking the system could give a buzz when it reads a card.
I.e the comp would wait .5 sec after the last input before calculating the card, and then it would buzz to let player know it was ready for next card.
For example your hand is T, and 3. so you press the 2 switch, 4 switch, and 8 switch, then wait. The COMP records a T then buzzes you. You press 1+2, then wait. The COMP recordss a 2 then buzzes you.

Just some ideas.

Anyone know where I could find the gaming statutes for Indiana? Also does anyone think if you were caught and erased the gaming program that the casinos case could hold up in court. The PocketPC is a programmable multi-use device. If the card counting program were flushed then maybe that could be used in a defense. Maybe?

Is the one concealed between my ears. Almost never needs a reboot (some who know me would argue that point), runs on coffee and an occasional foot long w/chile at the Westward Ho (so that's why they call it the Heave Ho). Programming is Basic with enhancements, best part is it's always available (almost) and the casinos can't figure out where its hidden because my hat always looks empty.

AA88

You would have to make sure you overwrote the gaming software and not just delete it.

Deleteing a file/program won't clear it, just change the name so it's not recognised by the operating system as currently available.

Check Norton Utilities to see what I mean and investigate methods or auto-obliteration.

Also as you're shuffling around like a tap dancer in quite practise, Security may be on you faster than you realise, so think carefully about how quick it takes to hit the red button and do it's stuff.

Actually, there are a whole list of felonies you could commit with a computer so don't restrict yourself to jailtime just for BJ.

Just use your heads my advise.

They won't confiscate that.

Read Outside USA post, 'A Warning to Aussie Counters' or similar.

This is of great interest if you're thinking of buying a BJ computer.

IC 4-33-10-2

Sec. 2. A person who knowingly or intentionally does any of the following commits a Class D felony:

(1) Offers, promises, or gives anything of value or benefit:

(A) to a person who is connected with the owner of a riverboat, including an officer or an employee of a riverboat owner or holder of an occupational license; and

(B) under an agreement to influence or with the intent to influence:

(i) the actions of the person to whom the offer, promise, or gift was made in order to affect or attempt to affect the outcome of a gambling game; or

(ii) an official action of a commission member.

(2) Solicits, accepts, or receives a promise of anything of value or benefit:

(A) while the person is connected with a riverboat, including an officer or employee of a licensed owner or a holder of an occupational license; and

(B) under an agreement to influence or with the intent to influence:

(i) the actions of the person to affect or attempt to affect the outcome of a gambling game; or

(ii) an official action of a commission member.

(3) Uses or possesses with the intent to use a device to assist in:

(A) projecting the outcome of the game;

(B) keeping track of the cards played;

(C) analyzing the probability of the occurrence of an event relating to the gambling game; or

(D) analyzing the strategy for playing or betting to be used in the game, except as permitted by the commission.

(4) Cheats at a gambling game.

(5) Manufactures, sells, or distributes any cards, chips, dice,

game, or device that is intended to be used to violate this article.

(6) Alters or misrepresents the outcome of a gambling game on which wagers have been made after the outcome is made sure but before the outcome is revealed to the players.

(7) Places a bet on the outcome of a gambling game after acquiring knowledge that:

(A) is not available to all players; and

(B) concerns the outcome of the gambling game that is the subject of the bet.

(8) Aids a person in acquiring the knowledge described in subdivision (7) for the purpose of placing a bet contingent on the outcome of a gambling game.

(9) Claims, collects, takes, or attempts to claim, collect, or take money or anything of value in or from a gambling game:

(A) with the intent to defraud; or

(B) without having made a wager contingent on winning a gambling game.

(10) Claims, collects, or takes an amount of money or thing of value of greater value than the amount won in a gambling game.

(11) Uses or possesses counterfeit chips or tokens in or for use in a gambling game.

(12) Possesses a key or device designed for:

(A) opening, entering, or affecting the operation of a gambling game, drop box, or an electronic or a mechanical device connected with the gambling game; or

(B) removing coins, tokens, chips, or other contents of a gambling game.

This subdivision does not apply to a licensee or an employee of a licensee acting in the course of the employee's employment.

(13) Possesses materials used to manufacture a slug or device intended to be used in a manner that violates this article.
As added by P.L.277-1993(ss), SEC.124. Amended by P.L.20-1995, SEC.16; P.L.2-1998, SEC.11.
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While binary switches have been used, they are still difficult to operate without making mistakes. The less triggers used the better.
A more practical way would be(if possible)is using only two triggers. One for the left foot and one for the right. One tap=ace,two taps=2,three taps=3,two long taps=4, five taps=5,three long taps = 6,etc.etc. Your left foot switch can be used for retrieving data.

Having an output buzz after 500 milliseconds to confirm your data has been registered is not a bad idea. The only problem is your delay is set too long to keep up with fast dealers,therefore you will be forced to input data after the the cards have flopped. You might want to experiment with 200-300 milliseconds of delay.

TG

I got toe cramps just thinking about that. That's a whole lot of tappin happening there. Are you sure you thought that one out?