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Casinos Onto iPhone Card-Counting App

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 16, 2009 6:10 PM CST

(Newser) – Las Vegas card-counters beware, if you're using an iPhone, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. A California gaming authority has tipped off Nevada officials about an iPhone program that helps users count cards in blackjack. "The program calculates the true count and does it significantly more accurately," a Gaming Control Board memo said.

Counting cards is legal in Vegas casinos, but using a device to aid counting is a felony under Nevada law. Casinos can decide individually how to handle cell phone policies, a gaming official said, but it may get tricky—the iPhone app, which also works on iPods, can work in "stealth mode" with the screen shut off.

Leonard R. Jacobson, 65, of Atlanta watches the inauguration of President Barack Obama at the Mirage casino race and sports book in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.
Leonard R. Jacobson, 65, of Atlanta watches the inauguration of President Barack Obama at the Mirage casino race and sports book in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)
A man uses his iPhone in Moscow, Friday, July 18, 2008. Apple is still negotiating with mobile service providers in Russia and China.
A man uses his iPhone in Moscow, Friday, July 18, 2008. Apple is still negotiating with mobile service providers in Russia and China.   (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev)
A reporter holds the new Apple iPhone 3G at the Apple Store, Fifth Avenue, in midtown Manhattan July 11, 2008 in New York City.
A reporter holds the new Apple iPhone 3G at the Apple Store, Fifth Avenue, in midtown Manhattan July 11, 2008 in New York City.   (Getty Images)
This March 28, 2007 file photo shows The Tropicana Resort & Casino  in Las Vegas.
This March 28, 2007 file photo shows The Tropicana Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Tourists take pictures in front of the Las Vegas welcome sign in Las Vegas, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009.
Tourists take pictures in front of the Las Vegas welcome sign in Las Vegas, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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