A Connecticut man, known in casinos nationwide for card counting, has sued Horseshoe Baltimore and its parent company, Caesars Entertainment, claiming they detained him unlawfully.
The incident at Horseshoe Baltimore happened in October, but Jordan Kerr only recently took legal action against the casino. He explained that he refused to show his ID when management asked and tried to leave the casino but was detained. Kerr claims he was injured during this "illegal detention."
In court documents, Kerr accused the local Sheriff's Office of planning to "invade his privacy and detain him." He is seeking $3 million in damages for two counts of false imprisonment and battery.
What the Lawsuit Contends
In his lawsuit, now in Maryland’s federal District Court, Kerr states that a Horseshoe casino shift supervisor asked him for ID while he was playing blackjack around 12:30 a.m. Kerr, who said he was down (losing money) at the time, refused. He exercised his right to remain anonymous and chose to leave instead.
As he headed for the exit, he said casino security surrounded him and told him he was being detained. A Horseshoe security supervisor and a special police officer warned Kerr that they would arrest and handcuff him if he didn’t accompany them to the back room. Faced with these threats, Kerr chose to go with them.
According to the complaint, once in the back room, they instructed him to wait for the Baltimore City Police, but the officers never arrived.
“This lawsuit is about accountability,” Kerr told The Baltimore Banner. “I just want to make sure they don’t treat other people like that.”
Kerr Does Not Deny Card Counting
Kerr’s card counting has led him to file similar lawsuits against other casinos after they kicked him out.
Back in 2018, Kerr sued Harrah’s New Orleans Casino, accusing them of assault, false imprisonment, battery, negligence and other offenses. It was settled out of court.
Kerr admits he has been counting cards in casinos for over ten years. He likes to call himself an "advantage player."
Card Counting Is Not Illegal
It's important to note that counting cards is not illegal, but casinos can still remove players they suspect are doing it. Casinos are private property, so the owners can run them as they want within legal limits.
Outside of counting cards, here are some related offenses that could get you into trouble in a casino:
- Using Devices: It's illegal to use gadgets to count cards, which is considered cheating.
- Cheating: Tampering with cards or swapping them is a criminal offense.
- Trespassing: Refusing to leave the casino after being asked can lead to arrest for trespassing.
- Disorderly Conduct: Causing a scene when asked to leave can result in arrest.
- Physical Assault: Any aggressive physical behavior towards casino staff can get you detained.
Since you are on private property when you’re in a casino, staff can ask you to leave for any reason they see fit.
