Smart phones allegedly help smart casino cheats

The iPhone application at the centre of the controversy is the Webtopia Blackjack casino Card Counter which is currently being sold on itunes for $2.99 reduced from $4.99. The program allegedly is used to help card players ascertain the ratio of high cards to low cards that have been dealt in a blackjack casino game, providing useful information to the player when they are building a hand. The Blackjack Card Counter application also has a stealth mode so that it can be used covertly, with just one touch operation and without the screen backlight being illuminated.

The card counter application has been developed by Australian, Travis Yates who is also responsible for developing 5 other iPhone applications including the very popular Army Night Vision application, which until recently had been one of his most popular downloads providing simulated night goggles. Sales of the Webtopia Blackjack Card Counter application have risen from an average 10 a day sold in the U.S. at the end of last year to 500 a day in the last two weeks.

Travis Yates who until September last year was employed in internet marketing and web design, has said about his controversial Blackjack Card Counter "The app was designed for home use to play with friends and to learn about card counting. Initially it was very simplistic with just 2 buttons and a score.” and “Over the weeks and months I've added features as requested by users so that it is what it is today. It's not recommended to be used in a casino as there are potential legal ramifications.”

It remains to be seen if this blackjack casino card counting application poses any real threat to gambling casino‘s. After all card counting is done everyday by professional players who have an extremely good memory, and is a skill that is developed the more that the game is played. This blackjack casino card counting application doesn’t guarantee a win though, however it may assist in a small way if used correctly. Travis himself is quite unperturbed by the hoo-ha and has now moved on to developing his next big thing called ‘Afterlife’. We wonder if this means that the talented Travis has developed an iPhone application that will allow you to jump the queue at the Pearly Gates!