Who is Scott Kirby, and Why Is He Banned from 150 Casinos?

Scott Kirby is one of the most recognizable names in American business, owing his success to United Airlines, with which he is most commonly associated. Much like the inspired story of the FedEx owner Frederick W. Smith, who took his company’s last money and gambled to cover its debts, Kirby knows a thing or two about gambling as well.

However, unlike Smith, who arguably acted in desperation, Kirby has been a skilled blackjack card counter, which has earned him notoriety among at least 150 casinos worldwide, from which he is still banned from playing the game.

Scott Kirby, the United Airlines CEO banned from 150 casinos

The story of Scott Kirby as a successful businessman will probably not impress the everyday reader. He has worked as a business executive in the airline industry for decades now, and notably took the reins over at United Airlines in 2020, bringing his nous for blackjack along the way.

Kirby took the position at United Airlines to dispel what he saw was a common industry misconception - that cheap pricing and scheduling were the only things flyers cared for. Instead, he ordered new planes, hiked the pricing, and installed better amenities than rivals, including a deal with Starlink for high-speed internet onboard.

The gamble paid off, with United Airlines becoming one of two dominant airlines in the United States, alongside Delta, with results showing as early as 2021. But underneath the business nous, there was another secreted skill - Kirby’s blackjack past, which saw him banned from reportedly 150 casinos worldwide.

Before his days as a white-collar industry executive, Kirby was actually a deft blackjack card counter, and while his life story will probably not get its own Hollywood flick, it is still worth noting how the man beat the casinos at their own game.

How did Scott Kirby learn to play blackjack?

Scott Kirby actually learned how to count cards from a book - Bryce Carlson’s 1992 Blackjack for Blood during his years as a US Air Force captain.

Since then, he used the knowledge he picked from the game, along with his own understanding of the game, to play at various casinos, including at Las Vegas flagship gaming floors, to the point where he ended up banned from more than 150 of them.

The truth is, nobody knows exactly how casinos ended up banning Kirby. Was he flagged by a single property, which alerted others, or was he making too much money at each sitting?

Perhaps Kirby didn’t mean to hide his card-counting ability, which quickly saw him prohibited from playing blackjack. While he is hardly a Niko Tosa, the enigmatic Croatian gambler who was able to beat roulette despite the mathematical impossibility of the whole endeavor.

Does Scott Kirby travel to casinos to play blackjack?

Actually, no. The man is pretty content with how his life turned out, and blackjack is only a thing of his past - an interesting anecdote to tell about. He recently told the Wall Street Journal that he wasn’t an active player anymore.

In fact, when he recently tried to play at a casino during Super Bowl LVIII in 2024 at Las Vegas, he was told that he could play any game he wished except for blackjack.

Even though it has been 15 years since he last played, he was still on the casino’s banned list because of his card-counting skills.

Scott Kirby, a blackjack legend that never was

Even though Scott Kirby could have probably lived off his card-counting skills and traveled to casinos around the world, he appeared not to be interested in this lifestyle at all.

Gambling has not occupied a central place in his life. He never dug too deeply into why he picked card counting - was it just a way to secure his education, for example, before he ventured to become one of the most influential figures in the American airline business? We probably won’t find out.

The fact is that Scott Kirby is an expert card-counter, and even though he doesn’t make a big deal out of that, casinos still remember the business executive, 15 years after he beat them.

Scott Kirby’s life and blackjack history FAQs

What is Scott Kirby’s net worth?

Scott Kirby has a net worth of more than $44 million, possibly over $60 million. He is currently paid $32 million as the CEO of United Airlines, largely credited with the success of the airline during the pandemic years and beyond.

How much money did Scott Kirby make counting cards at blackjack?

There is no public informationa bout how much Scott Kirby made from playing blackjack, but he has clearly made enough to earn himself a ban from 150 casino properties.

What is Scott Kirby’s salary?

Scott Kirby is paid $32 million annually as CEO of United Airlines.

Does Scott Kirby play blackjack today?

Scott Kirby has not played jackpot in 15 years in his own account. However, when he tried to recently, he was told by casino staff that he can play anything but blackjack.

Is Scott Kirby still banned from playing blackjack?

Yes, in fact, he is - he was asked not to play blackjack when he was visiting a casino in Las Vegas during the Super Bowl in 2024.

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