Card counter hits Horseshoe Casino Baltimore with lawsuit

A self-professed card counter, who would much rather you called him an "advantage player" instead, has filed a lawsuit against the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, operated by Caesars, in Maryland.

Card counter detained at Horseshoe Casino Baltimore strikes back

One Jordan Kerr, who has previously got himself into a similar pickle and in fact pursued a separate lawsuit against Harrah’s New Orleans Casino, alleges that the casino detained him against his will causing him harm and damages.

The present case dates back to October, and has Kerr resisting showing identification to casino employees, trying to exit the property instead. Kerr’s flight attempt failed, however, as he was restrained and detained by casino security.

In his former complaint, Kerr alleged that he had been assaulted, and falsely imprisoned. He also argued that he had been the victim of battery, negligence, violation of search and seizure, and more.

The previous case was settled out of court, and it is not clear if Kerr had received financial compensation, but he is seeking one now. The lawsuit wants a $3m compensation following the incident that took place in the morning hours of Friday, October 18, 2024.

The present complaint, however, also names Caesars Entertainment, Inc. as co-defendant in the case, and further alleges that the property and its staff were in cahoots, attempting to violate his anonymity and detain him unjustly.

This claim, though, falls short of regulatory standards which allow casinos to actually request identification to ensure that an individual is of the legal gambling age in the very least. When approached by the shift supervisor and asked for identification at 12:30 am, Kerr invoked his right to remain anonymous and informed the casino employee that he would instead leave the premises.

Kerr alleges unlawful detention and battery at Horseshoe Casino Baltimore

He was intercepted by casino staff and asked to come with them to the casino back room where he would wait for police to arrive. Police never came and after 15 minutes in detention, as per Kerr’s complaint, he was informed that he may go as police were not coming.

"Kerr did not do anything wrong or illegal to justify being detained against his will and deprived of his liberty by Horseshoe casino and its personnel," Kerr’s complaint explained, and said that the casino had committed false imprisonment and battery by choosing to detain him against his will.

Horseshoe Casino Baltimore legal representatives have called for the presiding judge, JulieRebecca Rubin, to dismiss the case as there was no "legal or factual basis" to pursue punitive damages, which Kerr is now looking to get out of the casino.

Counting cards is not illegal but casinos can still throw you out

Counting cards is not illegal, no matter what grossing Hollywood flicks want you to believe. However, it’s equally lawful for casinos who catch out card counters to escort them out of the properties and even place them on their no-admission lists.

Kerr himself has made a career of counting cards, and he has not been shy about self-promoting himself nor necessarily hiding his identity. However, the court will now have to decide if in Kerr’s case, his detention is indeed the basis of further legal recourse.

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