Sunday Times - Perth January 26, 1992

One of WA's biggest gamblers has been barred for life from the Burswood Resort Casino after winning more than $100 000 in three months.

Michael Barnett, 44, developed a system for counting cards when playing blackjack after inventing the controversial Scorpion Blackjack Computer. The electronic device was banned by Australian casinos in 1990.

Mr Barnett, of Dianella, who runs the Surveillance Technology firm, began using his system last September, gambling an average $500 on each hand and mentally counting the cards. He won $100 000 in 16 visits to Burswood from September 16 to December 23. Mr Barnett won an extra $10 450 in two visits to the Adelaide Casino and Wrest Point Casino, Hobart.

From November 19 he was restricted to betting on one box at a time in the Burswood International Room. He was then barred from the room on December 5 for insulting a woman pit boss. The high roller continued to gamble in the casino's main floor, winning tens of thousands of dollars. He was barred for life last Monday after being accused of disrupting play. Mr Barnett decided to bankroll a large group of people to gamble on his cards after a friend was allegedly denied the right to back him.

He has appealed against the decision to the Office of Racing and Gaming's casino control division. "I have mixed feelings about being barred. I realize the casino has a business to run and they know card counters can beat them, but they invite people to play the game," he said. "Blackjack is a game of skill and as soon as you exercise that skill you get barred. The casino will never say you're barred because of winning".

"Most blackjack players like to think they know if the next card will be a high or low card, which is a form of counting cards. I'm flattered that I make the casino nervous but they're taking away my livelihood." Casino management were unavailable for comment last night.