California gaming authorities have informed people living in Nevada of a blackjack card calculation program that can be used on Apple iPhones or Apple iPod Touch portable music players.
“The program calculates real numbers and makes them much more accurate,” according to a Game Control Board memorandum from last week’s warning to casino operators about electronic devices.
It is not illegal to count cards at Nevada casinos. However, using a device to help count cards is considered a felony under Nevada law that regulates cheating, said Randy Sair, a member of the control board.
Gamblers using an iPhone card calculation program can be detained by casino operators and arrested by state gaming agents.
“We wanted to put the industry on notice to let them know that this device is out there,” Sayre said.
He added that there have been no reports of the device being used in Nevada. Sayre and the agency think of the iPhone program as an electronic way to cheat.
Northern California Indian casino operators found customers using the program and alerted the California Gambling Authority.
The program is installed through the iTunes website. It makes counting cards easier, said Sayre.
The program uses four different strategies to count the number of cards. It also works in “stealth mode,” where the phone’s screen is turned off. As long as the user knows where the key is, the program can run undetected and easily. 메이저 토토사이트
Sayre said it was up to individual casino operators to decide on policies regarding the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices at the gaming table. Last year, state gaming regulators removed a ban on mobile phones in racing and sports books.
After iPhones came to the market in 2007, Harrah’s Entertainment stopped using them in the World Series of Poker. Although iPods and other MP3 players are allowed, phones are banned from the tournament.
“We are looking at this internally and this is an issue that should be in the public domain,” Sayre said.