You are absolutely right about what you said but it's a dilemma. Why I'm saying this is to indicate some points. Let me list them one by one:
- First of all, in my opinion casinos would rather keep the counters out of casino instead of tracking them, unless, of course, they hit casinos so badly like MIT team did.
You can not keep them out till you find out who they are. Most individual counters are losers and some casinos understand this and welcome them, while others do not. They guy may have a hole in his game (plays slots etc also) or fail to spread enough etc. Teams are the only real danger to casinos.
Many Southern Cal casinos are fairly incompetant in identifying good conters but some are very good.
- Second, let's assume I work for a casino and try to find counters in my area in order to stop them coming to my casino. Considering the numbers of the counters around, what i'm doing would probably make no sense, would it? There are also bunch of other visitor counters coming from out of town.
You did ask about locals, people will come into the area but it is not Vegas.
Considering the number of counters? That number is extremely small, perhaps about 1 of 1,000 players and perhaps only 1 of 4 of those is a lifetime winning counter.
- Third, again let's assume I work for a casino. What can I possibly do if I catch a counter and what kind of outcome can i generate out of it? Come on, this is not Vegas.
You set up a database on the guy. You should be evaluating him as soon as he sits at one of your tables, instead of the usual evaluating only if something catches attention. Most casinos are not that smart and would probably back him off shortly after he purchases chips. Being that, in fact, this is not Vegas but Indian territory, if you wish you could easily stop him from cashing his chips and let him sue the tribe in Indian Court. The reason that this does not happen is not law, but public opinion. Most native American casinos are semi-local type casinos and bad press is the worst thing that can happen to them. I would bet that the tables at Soboba casino have plenty of empty seats, as an example of press.
- Fourth, let's assume the person who contacts me is a casino agent. In this case, it's a risk I'm willing to take. I'm not scared or something. He/she may recognize me as a counter and dont let me get in the casino but which casino is it?
Generally you are right, it is only one, but if you are barred from Rincon, you are barred from all Harrah's properties. By the way, that is not a bad thing, in Vegas it helps keep you away from the worst games.
-And here is the thing. What if none of these true, I'm not a casino agent, neither is the person who contacts me?
The trouble here is that the person who just contacts an unknown about joining a team will very most likely not be the kind of player who will make a team profitable.
So, i understand the paranoia among the card counters but everything has a cost to pay. The question is if the cost you pay is worth to take the risk. The science of Economics says that if the income(profit) generated is more than the cost paid, then it's worth to take the risk because it's feasible. In this case, I assume there is nothing to lose but to create something that will lead to profit.
After all, at least I'm just trying to do something regardless of what the outcome is going to be. As I said, everything is a risk and the important thing is what if it comes true!
SERO