466: Blackjack

Podcast: This American Life (LS 89 · TOP 0.01% what is this?)
Episode: 466: Blackjack
Pub date: 2026-04-26

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The casino game everyone thinks they can beat.

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• Prologue: Host Ira Glass and producer Robyn Semien get a blackjack lesson from Andy Bloch, who played for the MIT blackjack team. He teaches them the basics of card-counting, the technique that gives players an advantage against the house — enough of an advantage that most casinos will ask you to leave if they catch you doing it. (9 minutes)
• Act One: Jack Hitt tells the story of the Christian card-counting team featured in the documentary Holy Rollers, and why they see no contradiction in being devout Christians who spend their days in casinos. (18 minutes)
• Act 2: Ira and Robyn go to the casino to try out their newfound card-counting skills. (5 minutes)
• Act Two: Producer Sarah Koenig tells the story of a woman who sued the casino where she lost her inheritance, saying that it was to blame, not her. (25 minutes)

Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org

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