Casino Refuses to Pay Card Counter, Gets Sued for $3 Million

A Colorado casino — Ameristar — is facing a lawsuit from a card counter who claims they refused to pay him his winnings, Gambling News reported.

The player was on a long layover at Denver Airport in October 2021 when he decided to visit the casino. He decided to spend his time at Ameristar Casino, where he played blackjack using his card counting skills.

However, when he tried to cash out, the casino staff denied his request and called the police. The police briefly detained him for allegedly violating Colorado state law on card counting.

The player is now suing the casino for $3,000,000, which includes his unpaid winnings and damages for economic and emotional distress.

He has a good chance of winning the case, as card counting is legal in Colorado.

Daniel Carr, a representative from the Colorado Department of Revenue, explained that card counting is not cheating, but a skill that uses the human brain. It is different from marking cards or using other illegal methods, which are banned.