Michael Kaplan, a seasoned gambling journalist and keynote speaker at the upcoming World Game Protection Conference in Las Vegas, believes that artificial intelligence is opening new doors for players looking to beat casino games legally. Kaplan, known for his deep dives into the world of advantage players (APs), will be discussing his latest book, Advantage Players — Inside the Winning Worlds of World of Casino Geniuses, Master Strategists, and Mathematical Wizards, at the conference, which runs from March 11-13 at the Rio Las Vegas.
The New York Post senior features writer has spent years rubbing shoulders with high-stakes gamblers who have mastered the art of finding edges in casino games. From uncovering weaknesses in new games to leveraging AI for better decision-making, these players are constantly adapting. And, as Kaplan puts it, “There’s not a lot the casinos can do to stop it.”
How Advantage Players Beat Casinos Without Breaking the Law
Advantage play is not cheating—it’s about legally exploiting flaws in casino games to shift the odds in favor of the player. Kaplan has followed some of the most successful APs, watching them use mathematics, strategy, and even psychology to turn the tables.
He highlights how these players:
- Analyze game rules and payouts to find hidden advantages.
- Use computer models to test new casino games for vulnerabilities.
- Exploit bonus structures and soft games—especially overseas, where casinos may not be as vigilant.
One of the most famous examples is Kelly Sun, nicknamed the “Baccarat Machine.” Using a technique called edge sorting, she identified slight asymmetries on the backs of playing cards, allowing her to determine their values before they were even dealt. She teamed up with poker legend Phil Ivey, and together they won tens of millions in casinos across the world.
But success doesn’t always mean keeping the winnings. Sun and Ivey famously lost a legal battle when London’s Crockfords Casino refused to pay out their winnings, and Borgata in Atlantic City later sued them to recover millions.
AI Is Changing the Game—And Casinos Are Struggling to Keep Up
Kaplan sees artificial intelligence as a game-changer for advantage players. With AI-powered simulations and computer modeling, players can analyze games faster and more accurately than ever.
Casinos have long banned players from using devices at the table, but they can’t stop players from running simulations at home. Kaplan recalls one AP telling him, “Any game at any time can be beaten by someone under certain circumstances.”
AI tools allow players to:
- Simulate millions of hands or spins to identify exploitable patterns.
- Optimize betting strategies based on real-time data.
- Uncover weak points in new games before casinos even realize them.
As casinos introduce more skill-based games to attract younger players, the risk of hidden vulnerabilities increases. The more complex a game, the more potential there is for an AP to find an edge.
The Legends of Advantage Play: From Card Counting to Beating New Games
One of the most respected figures in the world of advantage play is James Grosjean, widely regarded as the greatest AP of all time. Kaplan spent time with Grosjean on a riverboat casino in Indiana, where he was testing a new game—and somehow knew more about it than the developer.
Grosjean, who has written books on beating blackjack, carnival games, and even craps, has made a career out of identifying mathematical loopholes. Kaplan recalls playing alongside him on a team using card counting techniques in a craps variant that used cards instead of dice, making thousands of dollars a day.
Despite his success, Grosjean remains largely under the radar, preferring to stay out of the spotlight—unlike the infamous MIT blackjack team, whose story was dramatized in the film 21.
Can Casinos Fight Back?
Casinos aren’t defenseless, but their tools for combating advantage play are limited. They rely on a few strategies:
- Tracking player behavior to spot unusual betting patterns.
- Banning known APs from their properties.
- Altering game rules to close loopholes once they’re discovered.
However, as Kaplan points out, advantage players will always find new ways to win. And with AI making it easier to analyze games, casinos may soon find themselves outmatched in their own house.
