Regulators in Nevada have turned down an appeal by a suspected blackjack expert who claimed an edge in the game.
In August 2024, a blackjack player named Rahne Pistor found himself at the centre of a controversy at the M Resort in Henderson, Nevada. The incident stemmed from a promotional offer that took place from August 1 to August 24, where the casino offered a $15,000 suited-blackjack payday promotion.
Pistor, who had purchased a $1,000 buy-in for the game, used his promotional vouchers to redeem three of them after hitting three separate suited blackjacks. However, following the redemption, the floor supervisor informed Pistor that he could no longer play blackjack and he left the table.
The M Resort's compliance director testified that Pistor was found to be "counting cards, not just flat betting." This action, according to Nevada gaming regulations and typical casino practices, gave the M Resort, as a licensed entity, the legal authority to monitor and verify the legitimacy of promotional voucher use, deny or limit redemption if suspicious advantage play or fraud is detected, and report any gaming irregularities to the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Pistor argued that the M Resort had stolen "something of value" by not allowing him to redeem his bonus vouchers. However, under Nevada's gaming laws, promotional vouchers cannot be redeemed freely if used in a way that violates gaming rules or constitutes advantage play exploiting casino promotions.
At a hearing in March, Pistor's case was heard. The Board agent testified that he didn't observe any fraudulent play by Pistor during his review of the surveillance video. Pistor argued that his play in blackjack was legal and proper, and that the M Resort had entered into a contract with him. He cited Nevada contract law, prior Board precedent, and standards of ethics and fairness in gaming, stating that the bonus vouchers should be allowed to be redeemed for their value.
However, the M Resort's table games supervisor testified that Pistor's play was "inconsistent and didn't fit the norm." The M Resort's vice president of finance testified that there was no value in the promotional vouchers and Pistor didn't make any wagers associated with the remaining seven vouchers. Pistor accused the M Resort of engaging in "bait and switch" and failing to analyze his play at the table.
Despite being barred from blackjack, Pistor was still allowed to participate in the promotional drawing. He was awarded $500 in the drawing, but forfeited it because he wasn't present at the time. The M Resort's director of marketing stated that Pistor hadn't yet earned all his promotional vouchers based on statistics.
This case serves as a reminder that Nevada law treats the redemption of casino promotional vouchers for games such as blackjack as regulated gambling activity. Casinos like the M Resort must adhere to these laws and can restrict redemptions to prevent abuse by advantage players like Rahne Pistor. Unlicensed platforms or improper redemptions are illegal and void under Nevada law.
In Las Vegas, casinos like the M Resort offer casino-games such as blackjack and casino-and-gambling promotions, like the $15,000 suited-blackjack payday promotion in August 2024. However, a blackjack player named Rahne Pistor's use of promotional vouchers during this event led to a controversy, as he was found to be counting cards and was barred from playing blackjack.
