Just found out my state doesn't back off counters. How should this affect my blackjack strategies?

Hi everyone. A brief intro about myself. I've been playing blackjack casually for a year and then gradually became more serious about it for another year thereafter. First I learned basic strategy and then moved on to card counting. At this time, I've been card counting for about a year non-professionally and made some decent side income.

Today for the first day, I found out that my home state of Missouri CRIMILIZES barring card counters. That means, casinos are not allowed to back off counters in my state and what they'll usually do instead is to shuffle the deck very frequently.

This came as a huge shock to me because I spent a lot of time reading materials on how to not get caught card counting. Things like cover, conversation, etc etc. And now it seems like it could all have been a waste of time. I might as well hold my fingers up in the air for the running count because I can't be backed off anyway.

I did not know this was a thing outside of New Jersey, are there any other states like mine?

So I have two main questions: Knowing this now, how should my overall blackjack behavior and strategy change? Should I still do cover plays even if they're costing me?

Also, what about the casinos that are a part of a larger group? Say, if I get "shuffled" at Harrah's Kansas City, would I be automatically backed off if I go to Ceasar's Palace in Vegas?

Life would be so much easier if I can just count cards in the open. Is that what I should do?

Can they flat bet you like AC?

Can they flat bet you like AC?

Maintaining 'cover' will still be useful to you so that they do not start shuffling after every hand.

Its not going to go totally unnoticed but good luck to you.

Yes, a casino chain COULD ban you nation wide but its unlikely to happen without some really good cause.

Keep track of your bets and let us know how things go.

Quote: WilliamofOrange

Hi everyone. A brief intro about myself. I've been playing blackjack casually for a year and then gradually became more serious about it for another year thereafter. First I learned basic strategy and then moved on to card counting. At this time, I've been card counting for about a year non-professionally and made some decent side income.

Today for the first day, I found out that my home state of Missouri CRIMILIZES barring card counters. That means, casinos are not allowed to back off counters in my state and what they'll usually do instead is to shuffle the deck very frequently.

This came as a huge shock to me because I spent a lot of time reading materials on how to not get caught card counting. Things like cover, conversation, etc etc. And now it seems like it could all have been a waste of time. I might as well hold my fingers up in the air for the running count because I can't be backed off anyway.

I did not know this was a thing outside of New Jersey, are there any other states like mine?

So I have two main questions: Knowing this now, how should my overall blackjack behavior and strategy change? Should I still do cover plays even if they're costing me?

Also, what about the casinos that are a part of a larger group? Say, if I get "shuffled" at Harrah's Kansas City, would I be automatically backed off if I go to Ceasar's Palace in Vegas?

Life would be so much easier if I can just count cards in the open. Is that what I should do?

Go ahead and tell me the difference between getting backed off and getting shuffled up on every hand? They're both backoffs in a sense. Preferential shuffling will eventually be taken to court in my opinion because its a pretty big gray area within the written law and can be seen as the casino manipulating the odds of a game thereby making it illegal.

Be one of the smaller bettors at the table. No pitboss worth his paycheck will shuffle up to bother a $25-50 player when the rest of the table is betting more.

Quote: GWAE

Can they flat bet you like AC?

I believe the law forbids that. Otherwise casinos would be doing that rather than shuffling.

Pretty progressive law for a state that still considers possession of small amounts of Marijuana a felony.

Quote: GWAE

Can they flat bet you like AC?

If this text of the law is correct, they can:
(a) Prevent someone from joining a game mid-deck;
(b) Flat-bet anyone who joins mid-deck;
(c) Prevent someone who does not bet on a hand from betting again until the deck is shuffled;
(d) Flat bet someone who does not bet on a hand until the deck is shuffled;
(e) Start using a double shoe.

What is a double shoe? Not sure I've ever heard that term before

Quote: gamerfreak

Pretty progressive law for a state that still considers possession of small amounts of Marijuana a felony.

Nah I would consider my state conservative. As recently as November we voted Trump with 19% edge over Clinton.

Is there a list of the states that protects counters? So far we have NJ and MO that I know of.

Quote: ThatDonGuy

If m]this text of the law is correct, they can:
(a) Prevent someone from joining a game mid-deck;
(b) Flat-bet anyone who joins mid-deck;
(c) Prevent someone who does not bet on a hand from betting again until the deck is shuffled;
(d) Flat bet someone who does not bet on a hand until the deck is shuffled;
(e) Start using a double shoe.

In the article you linked, scroll down, it says

The Missouri Law Implies No Preferential Shuffling, or Flat Betting or Half-Shoeing a Player

so that rules out (b) (c) and (d)

and I have no idea what (e) is lol

Getting backed off and shuffled on every round is basically the same thing. Sure they can't kick you out, but they can make the game unplayable. The main benefit, I'd imagine, is there'd be a lower probability of getting back roomed.