Suspected card counters usually are asked to leave the casino. Contrary to popular belief, counting cards is not illegal however, it is frowned upon by casinos. The seat farthest to the left of the dealer is known as “first base,” while the seat farthest to the right is “third base,” the prime seat for card counters. The dealer stands behind the half-oval-shaped table and faces up to seven players. Some of the larger, newer casinos offer elongated pits with a seemingly endless number of blackjack tables. In most casinos blackjack tables are interspersed with craps, roulette, and other specialty game tables arranged in an oval or rectangle around the pit – the enclosed area behind the tables where the imposing pit bosses or supervisors stand. Today, blackjack is a staple of casino gambling and has replaced craps as America’s favorite casino table game.
