Maryland Live! Ejects Then Bans Gambler For Card Counting

The Free State’s premier gambling venue, Maryland Live! has handed a 23-year-old customer a permanent ban after he was accused of  counting cards at the casino’s blackjack tables. Dramatic scenes of Justin Mills being interrogated by casino security staff have now been posted on Youtube, and the high-rolling blackjack player says he is currently considering taking legal action against Maryland Live!
Up until then Justin Mills had been viewed by the casino as a valuable customer, and on February 20th the venue had even paid for a luxury car to pick him up from his Silver Spring home and take him to the casino at Arundel Mills mall. An hour into playing blackjack, however, and the professional videographer was accused of card counting and later ushered out of the casino’s back door, before having to flag down and pay for a $75 taxi ride back home, himself. Ironically, Mills said he was down by $2,800 at the time he was accused of card counting and escorted off the property.
Following the incident, Maryland Live! subsequently sent Mills a letter stating; “As a result of your actions, you are not permitted on the premises of Maryland Live! Casino, permanently.”
Apparently, Justin Mills is not disputing the fact he had been card counting, but he insists that using this technique to gain an advantage at the blackjack tables was not an infringement of the rules, an assertion apparently backed by Stephen Martino, director of the Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, who explained that card counting “using intellectual capacity to keep track of cards is not prohibited by state law or regulation.” Card counting would only become illegal if it was done using a mechanical or electronic device.
Furthermore, Justin Mills is also objecting to the manner in which he was allegedly manhandled by casino security before involuntary being ejected from Maryland Live! Mills says he was assaulted when a Maryland Live! member of staff grabbed him by the arm, but according to a spokesperson for the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s offices insufficient evidence was found that would allow him to proceed with criminal charges.