CAOS Philosophy: Hack Vegas!!!!

[Brad Nunnally]

I have recently picked up "The Art Of Intrusion" by Kevin D. Mitnick and William L. Simon. I am two chapters into it and already I am swarmed with philosophical dilemmas. With the questions at hand, I have come up with what my response would be given certain events that occur in the book. But, my main interest is in what you all would do if you were in the same position as some of the hackers mentioned in the book. When I have the time I will post a short description of a situation that is presented in the book and let you guys hash it out. If you think I am ruining the book for you I am sorry, but please still read it as it is a really good book so far.

Situation:
You have at your disposal a video poker machine that is the same model and make that you will find in most casinos. Now using your great computer skills you hack into the machines binary code that runs the programming of the card game. Given enough time you reverse engineer the binary code to regular code and find that the random number generator that controls the card game really isn’t random at all. You then devise a little wearable computer that basically simulates the card game with an input device to sync it up with a real video poker machine somewhere on your person. This device when synced properly will correctly predict which cards are the best to hold on to as it knows the next cards that are available every time. Now you have the understanding and the machinery to â€Ã...“beatâ€Ã, the system at any video poker machine that is the same model and make as the one you took apart.

Moral Gray Area:
Knowing that you are completely capable of going to any casino and with the proper video poker machine you can walk away a winner, do you use your device? Better yet let’s say you are in Las Vegas and you know that for a fact that every big casino has this particular video poker machine do you go out and stick it the man? Remember your machine does nothing but inform you what cards are the right cards to hold on to is. Basically you are playing the game and picking the right cards every time, which some people do everyday, but by luck. Knowing the amount of work casinos go to get people to come in a gamble is it a problem to â€Ã...“better you chancesâ€Ã,? Why and why not? (Remember you are doing nothing to the machine that you are playing on.)



"Every time [a software engineer] says "Nobody will go to the trouble of doing that." There is some kind in Finland who will go to the trouble"
Alex Mayfield

[JR]

sounds like counting cards via computer. if counting cards is "illegal" (which i think is stupid in the first place) then i guess this would be "illegal" as well

[Brad Nunnally]

My dad works on the queen and he told me that technically counting cards is not illegal. You will still get throw out of the casino if caught, but there is no legal issues with it. The casinos see it as you having an unfair advantage over the normal player.

[JR]

well, i guess this would be an "unfair advantage" against the house algorithm then. haha

but if asking if i would do it......i really dont think i would. its not ethical....but i also would never play person vs computer card games at a casino either b/c they have an unfair advantage over me. i dont know the algorithm that computer is using and i dont trust a casino to make it fair.

the house ALWAYS wins. always will

[Bryan]

Counting cards isn't illegal nor does it give you an unfair advantage over other players.  It DOES however give you an unfair advantage over the house, and THAT is what they don't like.

[raptor]

I agree,

I don't trust computerized gambling machines, Vegas isn't in business for no reason.

Scott