The 27th Annual Blackjack Ball (2024)

By Michael Dalton.

On August 10, 2024, the annual Blackjack Ball (BB) was held once more in Las Vegas.  This 12 months we honored Ed Thorp and the late Al Francesco, who handed away earlier this 12 months on the age of 90.  The BB is the annual gathering of the World’s best blackjack gamers and legends of the sport.  It is an invitation-only occasion.  This 12 months’s occasion was as soon as once more held on the spectacular Geary-designed Lou Ruvo Center – just a few quick minutes from Downtown Las Vegas and the Strip.  The BB is sponsored partially by Luc Belaire.

The BB has at all times been an occasion to satisfy and community with new and outdated associates of the commerce – blackjack and benefit play playing that’s!  It is an honor to be invited.  The major organizers of the occasion, Max Rubin and Richard Munchkin must be recommended for holding alive the reminiscences of all those that have and who’re nonetheless beating the casinos with authorized benefit play methods.  If it weren’t for the BB, historical past might nicely have forgotten these fascinating people and their tales.

This 12 months’s BB gown code was “tropical” smart-casual.    This departure from the earlier 12 months’s formal occasion was a lot appreciated and it made for a extra relaxed ambiance.  Also, this 12 months had a number of adjustments and twists together with a revamp of the Calcutta group betting, a “World’s Fastest Card Counter (WFCC)” competitors and even BINGO referred to as out by the legendary Edward O. Thorp.  Also, Jason England, a grasp of the darkish arts, was available once more to reveal some traditional sleight-of-hand on line casino dishonest strikes!

As I acquired to the BB early, I acquired my title down instantly for the WFCC.  This competitors was a single-elimination “March Madness” model competitors the place every participant competed in opposition to one different participant at a time.  A single deck was used and also you couldn’t use an Ace-5 rely!  After asserting the rely you have been utilizing, the clock began till the primary particular person mentioned “stop”.  Then, you’d announce what the lacking card was.  In my case, since I exploit the Hi-Lo rely, I needed to say small, massive or impartial.  Short story: I mentioned “stop” early in an try to beat my opponent’s time however tousled with figuring out the lacking card. Oh nicely, possibly subsequent 12 months!  In the tip, the winner of the WFCC was the legendary John Chang (former MIT Team supervisor) who acquired the gold medal.  Stan, a BJA Pro, gained Silver and Justin gained Bronze.  Because Chang gained this contest he mechanically grew to become a contender for the Grosjean Cup contest later within the night.

The Calcutta this 12 months introduced in $18,240 in bets and, for the primary time ever, everybody acquired a “free” $5 wager of the group of their selection.  Well, I positioned a couple of bets and, in fact, I additionally wager on the “Gambling Writers” group.  Read on for the outcomes.

As I seemed round and selected a desk to sit down at, I simply acknowledged Blair Hull, who’s within the Blackjack Hall of Fame and the founding father of Hull Tactical Funds (HTUS), an ETF with the target of manufacturing long-term appreciation by means of investments within the U.S. fairness market.  As I personal a couple of shares of HTUS, I assumed I would ask him a couple of questions.  Also at my desk have been Bill Erb and Bob Bright.  I used to be certainly at a desk with legends of the sport.  Many believed {that a} nicely deserving Bill Erb was going to win this 12 months for the Blackjack Hall of Fame.

Onto the intense a part of the night was a brief presentation from Keith Whyte, Director of the National Council on Problem Gaming.  On March 15, 2022, the Blackjack Hall of Fame grew to become a 501c3 non-profit corporation which permits the BB to have a charitable goal.  Thus, donations to the Blackjack Hall of Fame are tax deductible.  In the outdated days, the price of admission to the Blackjack Ball was a high quality bottle of champagne.  Today, to cowl bills and to supply funds for charity, the minimal value of entry was $350 with reserved tables upward of $5000 – $10000. 

As the night progressed and we began our meal, we have been all handed a standard BINGO card to take part in a enjoyable contest.  As the numbers have been introduced, by Ed Thorp nonetheless, the numbers “9”, “24”, “39”, “54” and “68” have been referred to as out.  On the final quantity, everybody within the ballroom stood up and yelled “BINGO”!  Damn… the joke was on us as all of us had the identical numbers 🙂

This 12 months, the competition for the World’s Greatest Blackjack Player (aka Grosjean Cup contest) was run a bit completely different.  It was run in a sudden loss of life format the place you needed to reply each query accurately.  If you wrote down the unsuitable reply or didn’t reply you have been out.  I don’t consider anybody acquired previous query 5.  In the tip, John Chang gained the Grosjean Cup.  Steve, a BJA Pro, got here in second for the Munchkin Cup, Barry Meadow third and Michael Kaplan fourth. It was the primary time EVER the “Gambling Writers” completed within the cash. Twice!  And sure, I gained my Calcutta wager for this group which I used to be on.

Of course, the fruits of the night was the choice of the 2024 Blackjack Hall of Fame winner.  Ballots have been handed out and the attainable candidates included Bill Erb, Bryce Carlson, Colin Jones, Mark Billings, Norm Wattenberger, Rick Blaine and Robert Loeb.  I feel it was an in depth contest however ultimately, Rick “Night Train” Blaine grew to become the most recent member of the Blackjack Hall of Fame. Rick Blaine is a talented, disciplined and successful blackjack participant who has taken skilled play to new ranges, whereas staying underneath the radar.  For extra data on the 2024 nominees go to the official Blackjack Hall of Fame website.

John Chang gained the 2024 Grosjean Cup

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