Nevada casinos alerted to card-counting iPhone app

The business model for casinos always includes the simple idea that in general, gamblers will lose more than they win.  Every game is constructed to fulfill that expectation, while still allowing enough winnings to keep hopeful gamblers interested.  Any factor that alters those odds, therefore, threatens the casino business.

It isn’t illegal to count cards when playing blackjack, even though knowing what’s left in the deck gives you a considerable advantage.  There isn’t any way to prove what’s going on in the gambler’s head (at least, not yet) — though if he or she is suspected of card counting, they’d probably be asked to leave.

On the other hand, using a device to aid you in counting cards is a felony in Nevada (gives you an idea of how much the gambling industry means to that state’s economy, eh?).  If discovered, casino operators are given the latitude to decide whether to hand you over to authorities or deal with you in their own (gulp) way.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board has sent out a warning to casinos about a new IPhone app by TMSoft called Card Counter. They were tipped off by California gaming authorities, who were in turn notified of the app by operators of an Indian Casino in the northern part of the state.  Supposedly, this app can be used to count cards during a game, and can even be operated in “stealth mode” with the screen off.  If you know where the right keys are, I guess you can hold it in your pocket and avoid detection.

The app is available through iTunes.  Its description there and on the TMSoft site says a lot about how it can teach you the strategies for card-counting, but nothing about being able to use the app as a card-counting aid while gambling.  Regardless, I wouldn’t want Guido to find it in my pocket.



Remix Videos: Another One Bites the Dust

By Casey Lynn
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I mentioned videos disappearing from YouTube due to Warner Music’s copyright claims? Well, I was really saddened to notice that one of the victims was the “Flagpole Sitta” lip dub video, created by the guys in the Vimeo office (though you would probably recognize them from CollegeHumor).

The reason that this particular video is so special is that it actually started the whole lip dub genre; in fact, the founder of Vimeo was the one who coined the term. It’s become a real phenomenon now, spawning University LipDub, Office LipDub, and even a Flight of the Conchords contest with entries from some people you might recognize. And of course, lots of YouTube videos, at least, the ones that haven’t been hit by a takedown notice yet.

Not to say that Warner Music doesn’t have a right to protect its copyright, and even if these kinds of videos would be considered fair use, no one’s going to find out unless someone takes it to court–which I seriously doubt amateur filmmakers have the resources to do. Though I can’t help but wonder how many people heard Harvey Danger’s “Flagpole Sitta” for the first time when seeing that video (I mean, it was even in the Washington Post!) and then bought the mp3 on iTunes or even the album. After all, I wonder how much money was spent on the official music video for the song. I’m pretty sure that many, many more people saw the lip dub video, and that didn’t cost any record labels a cent.

Of course, the video is still up at Vimeo!

And one video that’s still alive and kicking on YouTube is a lip dub to Mika’s “Lollipop” by the students at the HEC business school in Paris:

Escape From City 17 – Part One

The Escape From City 17 short film series is an adaptation based on the Half Life computer game saga by Valve Corporation. Filmed guerilla style with no money, no time, no crew, no script, the first two episodes were made from beginning to end on a budget of $500. Episode two is unfortunately not yet available, but we’ll stay on the watch and post it as soon as it gets online.

This Post About Facebook is (Not) Redacted

By Casey Lynn
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

redactionOops, Facebook. I know you wanted to keep the details of your settlement in the ConnectU lawsuit under wraps, especially since it reveals your actual appraisal of how much your privately held stock is worth, and you even went so far as to get the judge to throw out all the reporters… but the cat’s out of the bag.

According to the “confidential” court transcript, available online on sites such as Justia but redacted to hide the super secret parts, Facebook told Microsoft during investment negotiations that it was worth $35.90 a share, but that may have been a little off… more like $8.88. Microsoft then relied on the larger number when doling out a settlement related to ConnectU (a social networking site that allegedly stole Mark Zuckerberg’s idea) and afterward claimed that it was misled, but a judge enforced the settlement anyway.

So Facebook may have wanted to keep those numbers under its belt, but the method of redaction apparently involved pasting a white rectangle over the text in the PDF. Not to be deterred, an Associated Press reporter cracked that top-notch security with… copy and paste.

I bet there’s a legal intern in that courthouse wishing he (or she) had used a big black marker (or at least read this NSA document).