Inside the Edge: A Professional Blackjack Adventure

I freely admit it. I’m a mark for casino movies. The thrill of gambling just jacks up those endorphins, and I relish the idea that at any minute, I’m walking away with a small fortune. The harsh reality, though, is that the casino always has the edge. They’re not in the business of giving money away, they want your money.

With the exception of poker, all casino games favor the…casino. Only in Blackjack can you shift the advantage to your favor, but that requires card counting. It’s not illegal, but it is forbidden. If you’re tagged as a counter, then you are put on a list and asked permanently to leave the premises. If you return, you can be arrested for trespassing.

Chris Buddy’s documentary Inside the Edge: A Professional Blackjack Adventure follows the “Advantage Player” known as KC, who is a marked card counter. He is one of the best, and what makes him the best is that he works alone. Today, KC has amassed a small fortune playing Blackjack, but after donning dozens of disguises, KC has been effectively booted out of every single casino in Las Vegas. Filmmaker Buddy decides to follow KC as he hops in an RV and travels across the United States playing Blackjack all along the way.

“…after donning dozens of disguises, KC has been effectively booted out of every single casino in Las Vegas.”

The idea is simple. Drive to a city with a casino. Stay in that city. Win loads of cash playing Blackjack and leave when the heat is on. What’s cool about this doc is we follow KC almost everywhere thanks to Chris Buddy’s system of hidden cameras. We see him winning at the table. We then witness the oncoming security as they make every attempt to intimidate the card counter.