Black Book (gaming)
Encyclopedia
"Black Book" is the nickname
frequently used to refer to a list of persons who are unwelcome in casino
s. The name comes from the fact that the persons listed in the "book" are essentially "blacklisted". The term can refer either to such a list officially maintained by a particular Gaming Control Board
, or to the Griffin Book, whose information is shared between casinos.
In the former case, persons listed are generally suspected of having, or known to have, ties to organized crime
. Casinos are obliged by regulations to exclude all such persons from entry, and can be subject to sanctions from the Gaming Control Board for failure to do so.
In the Griffin Book, published by Griffin Investigations
, listed individuals are generally suspected of being, or known to be, either advantage players or outright cheaters
at the casino games themselves. Thus, casinos find it in their own economic best interest to exclude such individuals. Those listed may be anyone perceived as a threat to the casino's profits, including those that use legal and illegal means, such as card counters
, people who mark cards, those who try to cheat slot machine
s or anyone else considered a threat to a casino, including players that the casinos believe are winning too much or too often. The book keeps pictures either obtained from a photo of the individual when detained or simply questioned and released or from surveillance
photos. At least one successful defamation lawsuit has been brought as a result of the Griffin Book.
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
frequently used to refer to a list of persons who are unwelcome in casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s. The name comes from the fact that the persons listed in the "book" are essentially "blacklisted". The term can refer either to such a list officially maintained by a particular Gaming Control Board
Gaming Control Board
A gaming control board , also called by various names including gambling control board, casino control board, gambling board, and gaming commission) is a government agency charged with regulating casino and other types of gaming in a defined geographical area, usually a state, and of enforcing...
, or to the Griffin Book, whose information is shared between casinos.
In the former case, persons listed are generally suspected of having, or known to have, ties to organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
. Casinos are obliged by regulations to exclude all such persons from entry, and can be subject to sanctions from the Gaming Control Board for failure to do so.
In the Griffin Book, published by Griffin Investigations
Griffin Investigations
Griffin Investigations was once the most prominent group of private investigators specializing in the gaming industry. The company was founded in 1967 by Beverly S. Griffin and Robert R...
, listed individuals are generally suspected of being, or known to be, either advantage players or outright cheaters
Cheating (casino)
Cheating in casinos refers to actions by the house or the player which are prohibited by regional gambling control authorities. This may involve using suspect apparatus, interfering with apparatus, chip fraud or misrepresenting games. The formally prescribed sanctions for cheating depend on the...
at the casino games themselves. Thus, casinos find it in their own economic best interest to exclude such individuals. Those listed may be anyone perceived as a threat to the casino's profits, including those that use legal and illegal means, such as card counters
Card counting
Card counting is a casino card game strategy used primarily in the blackjack family of casino games to determine whether the next hand is likely to give a probable advantage to the player or to the dealer. Card counters, also known as advantage players, attempt to decrease the inherent casino house...
, people who mark cards, those who try to cheat slot machine
Slot machine
A slot machine , informally fruit machine , the slots , poker machine or "pokies" or simply slot is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed...
s or anyone else considered a threat to a casino, including players that the casinos believe are winning too much or too often. The book keeps pictures either obtained from a photo of the individual when detained or simply questioned and released or from surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
photos. At least one successful defamation lawsuit has been brought as a result of the Griffin Book.