Busting Gambling Myths – Do Casinos Really Ban Winners?

3 minutes

Last Updated: November 21, 2023

Written by: Alex Zlatanovic

Play BestGames

4.2

Play

Most FunCasino

4.45

Play

Get TopBonuses

4.5

Play

There’s no shortage of myths in the gambling world, some better known than others. That said, when it comes to this topic, one of the most prevalent gambling myths is certainly the belief that casinos ban players who win too much or too often.

While casino games and popular slot games have the benefit of governing bodies regulating them, there’s no need to worry about such things. That said, we all know the popular saying that the house always wins. This is something that has been prevalent in the industry for decades.

But, does this mean that the house is also a sore loser that can’t stand when someone wins too much? In this article, we’ll explore a popular gambling myth and try to set the story straight on whether casinos really ban winners. Let’s get into it!

Do Casinos Ban Players Who Win Too Much?

Before going deeper into the topic, it’s essential to understand that casinos can ban players on any grounds. Casinos are private businesses, meaning that they can set their own policies and potentially ban any player if they choose to do so.

However, this doesn’t mean that casinos will actually do so. Casinos already have an edge in every game they offer. In other words, even though some players might win, and win big, the casino makes more than enough money to recoup this and earn a nice profit.

Moreover, casinos live off of their reputation. If word spreads that the casino has banned someone just for winning a substantial amount of money, their business would take a huge hit.

This is why casinos often take the opposite approach of banning winning players. Oftentimes, you’ll see casinos celebrating the big winners and putting them in the spotlight.

This is because these winners are a great marketing opportunity for the casino. The casino uses them to advertise to other potential customers and show them how they can also win huge amounts of money by playing at the same casino. After all, who wouldn’t want to win a multi-million dollar slot jackpot?

Why Do Casinos Ban Some Players?

Although you might hear tall tales of gamblers or even some famous people being banned from casinos for winning too much, there’s generally a fact that you don’t know that was the reason for this.

If you’re playing and winning according to the house’s rules, the casino has no reason to kick you out. That said, there are many ways players can slip up, leading them to be banned. Here are some of the most common causes why players get banned:

Card Counting

Card counting is one offense casinos don’t think twice about when it comes to banning players. This advantage move helps the players get the edge over the casino. Naturally, as they don’t want players to have the edge when playing, they ban everyone who gets caught counting cards.

Using Betting Bots

If you’re playing in an online casino instead of a land-based one, using betting bots when gambling is a bannable offense at most casino sites. This type of cheating became particularly prevalent with the popularization of AI, as it can adapt and make smarter decisions.

Having a Strange Betting Pattern

Players who have a suspicious betting pattern will also catch the casino’s eye and potentially get themselves a one-way ticket out of the casino. While an unusual betting pattern can be a coincidence, repeatedly strange patterns can often indicate an underlying advantage play strategy.

Breaching Other Policies

The casino aims to provide a pleasant and accepting atmosphere for everyone. With that in mind, players who are too loud, appear too drunk or act aggressively and disturb other visitors will promptly be removed from the premises.

How Does a Casino Actually Ban a Player?

When you get banned from a land-based casino, you can no longer legally enter the building. While getting the ban itself won’t get you in trouble with the law, attempting to breach the ban certainly can.

To prevent you from entering and playing casino games, casinos store your picture and personal info. Moreover, with the capabilities of modern facial recognition technology that casinos use in their surveillance systems, playing without getting caught and thrown out is almost impossible.

If you’re playing online, it’s even easier for the casino to enforce a ban. The site blocks your IP and account and doesn't let you create another account using the same personal information.