CONTACT:
Jackie Lapin
(818) 707-1473
jackielapin@cs.com
Jim Llewellyn
(323) 810 7685
ajllewell@excite.com
THE BLACKJACK INSTITUTE®:
MIT STUDENTS’ WINNING WAYS REVEALED
One-On-One Mentoring and Instruction Manual/DVD Give Blackjack Players the Edge
NAPLES, FL (October 25, 2006) -- In the 1990s, a group of students from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology took Vegas by storm and changed blackjack forever. This formidable group of
students, known as the MIT blackjack team, used a unique training system to win millions at casinos
around the world. Now, two former members of the team, Michael Aponte and David Irvine, have
founded the Blackjack Institute® and created an instructional program that uses the same methods
and techniques they used to “bring down the house,” and for the first time this proven system is
available to the general public.
“The system we developed is easy to learn and easy to use,” said Aponte, who was a manager of the
team. “It is the same system we used to turn college students into blackjack pros, but you don’t need
an engineering degree from MIT to master it.”
The MIT/Blackjack Institute technique is a basic form of card counting, which is neither cheating or
against the law in the United States. Irvine said this is just one of several different means of counting
cards, but it is the most simplistic and user-friendly.
“The Blackjack Institute approach is based on the Hi-Lo count system,” Irvine said. “This count
system is very effective when you consider its power and ease of use. There are other, more
complicated card-counting strategies, but they are very difficult to learn and master. The Blackjack
Institute system focuses on fundamental strategy and a simple, user-friendly counting system. “
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What makes the Blackjack Institute’s training approach so effective is that Aponte and Irvine have
translated their experience with the MIT blackjack club into a comprehensive training program that
has simple and clear-cut steps. At the core of their teachings are tests or “checkouts” that gauge a
player’s ability. Checkouts are a series of skills tests that ensure a player masters each component of
card counting before moving on. “The Blackjack Institute checkouts are based on the same skills tests
that our MIT blackjack team used,” Aponte said.
The Blackjack Institute offers an array of products and services to teach players how to win at
blackjack. The most effective and intensive is the one-on-one private mentoring. The Blackjack
Institute also offers a training manual and instructional DVD, as well as a home training course for
aspiring players who wish to learn at home. All of their products and services can be found at
www.BlackjackInstitute.com
- One-On-One Private Mentoring ($4,999.95)
Sit down face-to-face with the world’s best for the ultimate in blackjack instruction. Michael Aponte or
David Irvine will fly to any location in the United States and provide a full day of personalized training.
(Airfare and hotel are included in the fee.) The private mentoring is custom designed based on the
trainee’s ability and areas of interest. Aponte or Irvine will even share secrets to help burgeoning
players attain success in the casinos. Additional trainees can be added to a session at a cost of
$1,000 per person.
-Blackjack Institute Training Manual ($59.95)
A step-by-step guide to playing profitable blackjack, this 84-page booklet is an invaluable resource for
weekend casino warriors or aspiring pros, providing detailed training tips and coverage of topics like
money management, as well as the technical and non-technical aspects of winning blackjack
technique.
- Blackjack Institute Instructional DVD ($19.95)
Excellent for the beginner or those who like to learn visually, the Blackjack Institute DVD starts with
the basics of blackjack and also covers essential strategy, the running count, deck estimation, the true
count, and betting strategy. This DVD is an excellent visual guide to card counting and includes
several bonus interactive practice chapters.
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Blackjack Institute – General Press Release
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- Blackjack Institute Combo Pack ($69.95)
This combination pack contains both the training manual and instructional DVD, which complement
each other perfectly for a powerful learning resource.
- Blackjack Institute Home Training Course ($134.95)
This home training course has everything you need to practice at home right out of the box, just like
the MIT blackjack club did. In addition to the training manual and instructional DVD, the home training
course also includes a casino blackjack felt, six decks of playing cards, a cut card, a discard tray, a
basic strategy chart, a chip tray and 100 gaming chips.
The Blackjack Institute teaches blackjack theory, but more importantly shows players how to master
the skills necessary to play this popular card game so profitable opportunities are maximized. As
documented in the bestselling book, Bringing Down The House, the Blackjack Institute’s training
system is proven by the millions of dollars the MIT blackjack club won. Now, through the Blackjack
Institute, Michael Aponte and David Irvine are making their winning system available to the public.
All Blackjack Institute products and services can be ordered at www.BlackjackInstitute.com
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Editors: For more information or 300 dpi downloadable images and logos, please go to
www.BlackjackInstitute.com/media
Interviews and training sessions available