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Jacobson's rebuttal is perhaps more fascinating than the Atlantic article, though I think the context of the article is necessary. Details such as: Johnson would coax two or three dealer errors per day in play, valued at +$200,000 per day; or that the Canadian mathematicians took some strange shortcuts in modelling or running simulations.

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How do you coax a dealer error?

Johnson was very aggressive and belligerent at the table. He made the dealers and pit nervous and agitated. For example, he would sometimes half-way signal his intention and if the result was not to his liking, dispute that he had asked for a hit card. He would pound the table and shout. And the casinos were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt because he was such a high-roller.

Fascinating! Echoes of Phil Ivey arranging to play baccarat with a deck and dealer of his own choosing ... and the casino agreeing to it until learning that Ivey thus had a bigger edge than expected.

That's already arguably illegal, if they could prove it.

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