Sun Tzu, one of the most formidable military strategists and writers, said, “To know your enemy, you must become your enemy.” This timeless advice, which requires you to think like your enemy, does not only apply to war but also to casinos, where advantage players are the enemies. This is where Eliot Jacobson comes in, as the Sun Tzu of the casino sphere.
Professor Eliot Jacobson is a former advantage player and card counter who used his expertise to help casinos protect themselves against their adversaries for over a decade. He has developed and openly shared strategies for blackjack, baccarat, and proprietary casino games, creating a lasting impact on casinos.
Today’s casino news deals with Professor Eliot Jacobson’s story and how his controversial work has transformed the industry.
Eliot Jacobson: Card Counter Turned Casino Consultor
The professor was born in Santa Barbara, California, in 1958. He obtained his Bachelor’s in Mathematics in 1979 from Humboldt State University, Arcata, California. He earned his Master’s and PhD in 1981 and 1983 from the University of Arizona, Tucson. He taught math at Ohio University from 1983 to 1998 and computer science at UC Santa Barbara from 1999 to 2009.
Eliot Jacobson’s specialty in math and computer gave him an advantage in casino games. In 1996, he was invited to give a speech at a mathematics convention in Las Vegas. Seeing it as an opportunity to present his knowledge in blackjack, he researched and studied more on card counting, training with an early version of a computer program. Although the program didn’t go as planned, it opened his eyes to his unique talents in card counting. Eliot Jacobson found a new side hustle and headed to Las Vegas to play blackjack.
He pushed himself to become good at the game and could count cards at lightning speed. He even learned advanced techniques like shuffle tracking, side counting, and the Hi-Lo system. Doing these things revealed the vulnerabilities of blackjack as a casino game. He soon became famous in Las Vegas and even his hometown casino, exploiting these gaps to win consistently.
Being a menace to the casinos, he got on the bad side of several pit bosses, and they had to ban him from their establishments. Among the Las Vegas casinos that banned him were the Horseshoe, Mandalay Bay, Circus Circus, and Flamingo, and others soon followed suit. Chumash Casino, located in his hometown, Santa Barbara, also banned him.
Having realized that advantage play was no longer appealing, he decided to turn to the other side of the table. Professor Eliot Jacobson saw an opportunity to use his unique skill set and card-counting knowledge to help casinos safeguard their games from exploiters. This led to his decision to share his expertise.
In 2005, he contacted his fellow mathematician, Mike Shackleford, an analyst with connections in the industry. Mike introduced him to a few clients, and Jacobson started to really earn. He unexpectedly became a partner and consultant to the casinos who had once been his opponents.
Advantage Play Tactics Exposed
Jacobson quickly realized that the strategies and techniques he had learned in blackjack could be adapted and applied to baccarat and other casino games. His understanding of card tracking, dealer shuffling patterns, and edge sorting in baccarat made him a sought-after consultant in the gaming industry.
He helped casinos identify potential vulnerabilities and implement countermeasures. He deconstructed proprietary casino games and helped casinos design slot machines. He performed market research and offered suggestions for improving casino security and fairness.
Books and Blogs
Eliot Jacobson’s willingness to share knowledge sets him apart from all other casino gurus. He published his strategies and research on free blogs. He published “Advanced Advantage Play” in 2015, “Contemporary Casino Table Game Design” in 2010, and “The Blackjack Zone” in 2005.
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Controversies: Where Other Players Saw Betrayal
Eliot Jacobson’s swift turn to favor casinos stirred up some issues. While he intended to level the playing field and protect the integrity of the games, many players saw his actions as a betrayal.
He became a friend or enemy, depending on which side of the table you were. His fellow advantage players called him all sorts of malicious names. Several game creators and distributors, whose businesses folded due to Jacobson’s work, are still cross with him. However, the courageous Eliot Jacobson was unshaken by their threats.
Endnote: Jacobson’s Impact
Eliot Jacobson retired in 2017, but his impact is as fresh as ever. His work has helped casinos adopt more effective security measures. Several casinos now incorporate shuffle machines, dealer training, and advanced surveillance techniques.
In 2020, Eliot Jacobson was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the World Game Protection Conference for his advocacy of fair game.
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