Sunday Times - Perth February 2, 1992

A high-rolling gambler barred from Burswood Resort Casino after winning more than $100,000 in three months is conducting free blackjack lessons next door in the hotel.

Mr Michael Barnett, 44, has been inundated with calls from gamblers after a Sunday Times report last week reported his battle with the casino. Mr Barnett said people had asked for help with their blackjack game and he was happy to oblige. One woman who had lost more than $100,000 this year was desperate for tips.

An appeal against Mr Barnett's casino ban will be heard by the Office of Racing and Gaming's casino control division on February 21. State Government inspectors are investigating the case and have been viewing casino tapes of the incident when Mr Barnett was ejected from the casino on January 20.

He was accused of disrupting play after deciding to bankroll a large group of people to gamble on his cards after a friend was allegedly denied the right to back him.

He had won $100,400 in 16 visits to Burswood from September 16 to December 23 using a system of counting cards.

Mr Barnett, who was restricted to playing one box at a time in the international room after winning tens of thousands of dollars, said one rule should apply to all. All blackjack players should be similarly restricted in their gambling, not just him. "What really bugs me is that blackjack is a game of skill but when you exercise that skill, you're restricted," he said.

Burswood Resort Casino spokesman Bruce Brislin said Mr Barnett had been barred for life but an internal review of the case had reduced the ban to two years. Mr Brislin said Mr Barnett had been barred for disrupting play, not counting cards.