Tasmanian Casino Barring - A Revelation

No player has ever been barred or can ever be barred for card counting in a casino in Tasmania. Nobody can be barred for playing skilfully or winning. No card counter can be made to leave the casino. The Gaming Control Act states the various reasons that can lead to a player being barred. Card counting is not a reason. Winning is not a reason. It must be some other reason.

When a person is barred, only (a) the Tasmanian Gaming Commission, (b) certain authorised persons associated with the casino's security, and (c) the barred person know that the person is barred. Very few of these would know the reason why the person is barred. If the barring becomes public knowledge it can only be because the barred person has chosen to advertise it. In doing so, though, the person induces speculation that the reason must be extremely serious, such as cheating. Examination of the law discloses that the Commissioner of Police may have ordered the casino to bar the player. Also it can be concluded that the person's appeal to the Gaming Commission against his barring has been rejected. A person might claim he has been barred unfairly, but when all is considered, is it likely he will tell the public the truth and admit he has been barred for cheating?

Card Counters discussed in Tasmanian Parliament
Acknowledgement:
article courtesy of The Mercury

The Gaming Control Act 1993

Exclusion (barring) of players

Gaming in Tasmania is governed by the Gaming Control Act 1993 (No. 94 of 1993) and controlled by the Tasmanian Gaming Commission. To unify gaming in Tasmania, the Act is an amalgamation of the original, separate Acts for Wrest Point Casino and for the Northern Casino. In essentials the new Act combines the old Acts with minimal changes. Within the Act the word 'exclusion' is used instead of the more familiar 'barring' or 'banning'.

The Commission in making rules for the conduct of legal gaming, covers the following areas.
Section 91. (1) (a) to (h)
(a) entry to gaming areas;
(b) dress requirements;
(c) sobriety;
(d) security;
(e) services provided;
(f) resolution of disputes;
(g) exclusion of persons;
(h) other gaming matters.

These are the categories of persons who may be removed from or refused entry to a Tasmanian casino.
Section 99. (1) (a) to (d)
(a) breaches rules made in Section 91; or
(b) damages a gaming machine; or
(c) behaves offensively to others; or
(d) is suspected on reasonable grounds of committing an offence against this Act.

An exclusion order given a person prohibits that person from entering or remaining in the casino.
Section 105. (1) given orally or in writing.
Section 105. (2) on application, the person can have an order in writing.

A person can appeal to the Commission against his exclusion.
Section 106. (1) a person excluded under Section 105 has 28 days to appeal to the Commission.
Section 106. (3), (4) the Commission after an investigation will either reject or allow the appeal.

The casino may have no say in the exclusion of the person.
Section 107. (1) The casino may be ordered by the Commissioner of Police to exclude the person.

Exclusion is for life or until revoked.
Section 108. (1) An exclusion order given by the casino can be revoked at any time.
Section 108. (2) An exclusion order given by the Commissioner of Police can only be revoked with the Commissioner of Police's approval.

Excluded person's name is on a list.
Section 109. (1) The casino regularly update a list of excluded persons.
Section 109. (4) The list is for the casino's internal use. A listed name must not be made public, or given to another casino.

Malpractices such as inducements and cheating.
Section 165. (1) A person must not dishonestly - by a scheme or practice, in relation to the conduct of gaming, induce a croupier to give to the person any chips or gaming tokens.

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