But to lump blackjack card counters with these scoundrels is ludicrous. I play poker semi-professionally and will be playing in many events at the World Series of Poker at Binions Casino in Las Vegas. Get with it guys, just because casino operators call counting 'cheating' doesn't make it so. Your article would lead the casual reader to conclude that card counters are casino cheats. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Card counters are simply able to play the game exceptionally well.
In fact, a cogent argument can be made that casinos who attempt to identify and bar card counters are the real cheaters. The casino is happy to tolerate your action so long as they know they have an advantage. But the instant the player develops sufficient skill to create a slight advantage in his favor, he is barred. Further, casinos routinely practice 'preferential shuffling,' a practice which effectively stacks the deck with cards that are unfavorable to the player. There are few players playing blackjack who actually know what they are doing.