There are a lot of myths about gamblers who as if were playing professionally before publication of the basic strategy for one-pack game by Americans Cantey, McDermott, Maisel and Baldwin in1958. But all that was before them still remains a legend. The four statisticians performed their calculations just with the help of hand calculator. However it was their publication in the American Journal of the American Statistical Association causing much excitement among both gamblers and statisticians, and blackjack was considered a game a common player might probably win. Encouraged by popularity of the article in the magazine, copied and learnt by heart by many players, the originators published a book “Winning Blackjack”. Nowadays this book is a scarce edition and it enriches the home library of many professional gamblers.

In 1962 Edward Thorp this time using computer technologies calculate and published in his book Beat The Dealer not only the basic strategy of playing but also card counting. Thorp states that blackjack differs from roulette, craps and other games of luck, the result of every hand in blackjack depends on the previous dealing – it really matters which cards drew back form the game and which remained in the pack. Most of the stuff calculated by Thorp is still precise, but all the serious modern gamblers should read this book only for historical interest.

Thorp’s system called “10 count system” was meant for one pack game which enjoyed great success in all casinos of Nevada. It was extremely difficult for learning, so most of the gamblers gave it up. However, Nevada’s casinos restricted some rules, for example, doubling down only on 11 points. The media told the whole world about it, and Thorp with his book became known all over the world and the casinos that showed themselves to disadvantage had to return former rules. Realizing that under such circumstances crowds card counters would be trying to beat the house, operators of gambling houses introduced two procedures – shuffling after withdrawal of the trim card and multi-packed games.

Thorp’s systems was very difficult to use in practice. But for the computer conference in Las Vegas in 1963, the game would remain on the same level. On a whim, the conference organizers decided to include a Panel Session on “Using Computers in Games of Chance and Skill.” It was just a whim of the organizers to include a section “Using computers in games of chance and skill”. Thorp was designated as Chairman of the Panel and experts on the various casino games, including blackjack, roulette and baccarat. The room filled up and overflowed with computer gamblers. Hundreds of conference attendees were pushing and shoving to get into the room.

The crowd, of course, had been drawn by Thorp. They were expecting revelations on the game and anticipated using his imparted wisdom immediately following the session to make a killing at the blackjack tables.

After one or two more presentations that mainly corrected and modified Thorp’s system, Harvey Dubner was introduced. He described the approach. Dubner kept a count of remaining high cards (10,J,Q,K,A) and low cards (2,3,4,5,6) as the cards were played and divided its difference by total cards left to play. He called the result the High-Low Ratio. His presentation was enthusiastically received by the standing room only crowd and he was given a round of applause at its conclusion. Here at last, many were saying, is a system that is practical, that can actually be used in the real world of casino play. Thorp incorporated “high-low” system into the second edition of Beat the Dealer published in 1966 and since then over 100 professional books on blackjack, team games, hidden computers, shuffle tracking and sleepless nights for casino securities all over the world.

Edge Ticket – This describes a ticket where all of the numbers marked are on the edge of the ticket.

Exacta — A keno ticket that is good for two games, sometimes offering a special bonus payout on certain numbers or outcomes.

Free Play — A keno ticket that gives you the chance to play again rather than a cash payoff if you win a certain kind of selected play.

Group — A collection of spots that are circled on a ticket.

Hit — A number marked on a ticket matching that of a drawn number.

Inside Ticket — This is the name for a ticket that has been marked by the player and turned into the Keno window. The ticket is “inside” while the player is waiting for the verified computer print out of his or her selected numbers.

Jackpot — The amount of “bonus” money, that is paid off as the top prize in a progressive game of keno.

Keno Board — Also known as the “Big Board,” it is the display that shows the numbers drawn for each game of keno. It can be found in various locations in the casino such as the keno lounge, the casino, lobby, bars and anywhere else that players might be found.

Keno Lounge — This is a centralized area where participants can sit, relax and watch the casino’s computer or apparatus divine the winning numbers. games. In the lounge you will find all the necessary things that you need to play the games such as brochures, blank keno tickets and crayons.

Keno Writer – This is the nickname the “clerk” who accepts the wagers, pays off the winners, prints the tickets, and interacts with the customers and the keno runners.

King — One single number that is circled on a keno ticket.

Left-Right Ticket — A ticket where the player bets on whether numbers drawn will be on the left side or right side of the ticket.

Multi Game Keno Ticket – This is a ticket, which can be used for a number of keno games, sometimes as many as a thousand.

Paybook — This is a brochure that explains the rules of the games as well as the casino’s payout structure. It is usually found in the keno lounge or at the keno windows and counters.

Payoff — The amount of money a player gets paid when he wins.

Pay Table — A printed or posted schedule detailing the payoffs for each individual winning scenario.

Progressive — A game where the top prize is not automatically won at the conclusion of each game, but instead continues to increase in value until that ultimate prize is won.

Quick Pick — A ticket where the player chooses the option of having the casino’s computer generate the selection of numbers, as opposed to the player himself making those selections manually.

Random Number Generator – A program designed to select numbers at random for a keno game.

RNG Game — A keno game that uses a random number generator to draw the numbers.

Runner — An employee that picks up wagers and pays winnings to people who are sitting in areas of the casino other than the keno lounge.

Spot – A number that is marked by the player on a ticket.

Top-Bottom Ticket — Type of ticket where the player bets on the top 40 numbers or bottom 40, and gets paid depending on how many of them hit.

Video Keno — Keno, which is played on an electronic machine, and is governed by a random number generator.

Wager — The amount the player decides to put at risk in a keno game.

Way — Another method of betting on a keno ticket, usually the product of grouping two or more numbers or spots on a combination ticket.

Way Ticket — A ticket, which allows for many different wagers – groups or combinations of numbers – creating a number of different “ways” a player can win.