Card counter, firefighters team up for charity

3 commentsby Ofelia Madrid - Jul. 25, 2009 07:00 AM

The Arizona Republic
Scottsdale Firefighter Charities is hosting an evening with world-renowned card counter Howard Grossman.

The card counting benefit is free from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday at K O'Donnell's, 14850 N. Northsight Blvd., Scottsdale.

BLACKJACK
The firefighters have teamed with K O'Donnell's to offer free lessons on counting cards. "It's all perfectly legal," said Jim Dooley, director of charities for the United Maricopa County Fire Fighters Association.

Grossman, who is banned in all the Las Vegas casinos, will give lessons and talk about what casinos look for in card counting, Dooley said. Grossman has been featured in blackjack books and is in the Griffin Agency book that lists names and pictures of banned casino individuals, Dooley said.

The group will have multiple blackjack tables set up so patrons can practice, he said.

OFF-DUTY SCOTTSDALE FIREFIGHTERS

Scottsdale Firefighter Charities is comprised of off-duty Scottsdale firefighters who raise money for local charities, Dooley said. This is the first time the organization has done something like the card counting, Dooley said.

The group's last effort collected 15,000 pairs of shoes for displaced families.