Griffin Book

The term Griffin Book refers to a once-infamous publication created by the Griffin Detective Agency, an organization hired by casinos across the United States and internationally to identify and track professional gamblers, especially card counters and casino advantage players.

The Griffin Book functioned as a central blacklist, containing names, photographs, and personal details of players believed to pose a financial threat to casino profits.

For decades, the Griffin Book was a feared name among blackjack players who employed legal but frowned-upon techniques such as card counting. If a player was listed in the Griffin Book, they could be swiftly identified, surveilled, and removed or banned from multiple casinos.

Origins of the Griffin Book

The Griffin Detective Agency was founded in the 1960s by Beverly S. Griffin, initially providing investigative services. However, by the 1970s and 1980s, when card counting became widely known thanks to players like Ken Uston and the MIT Blackjack Team, the agency shifted focus to casino security.

They began compiling dossiers of advantage players, including:

Surveillance photos.
Alias names.
Physical descriptions.
Known betting patterns.
Past incidents at casinos.

This information was distributed in what became known as the Griffin Book, a printed reference used by casino security teams. Eventually, the book was digitized into a searchable database known as Griffin Investigations.

How the Griffin Book Was Used

Casinos subscribed to the Griffin Book service and used the data to preemptively identify known card counters or suspicious individuals. When someone entered a casino, facial recognition systems, surveillance footage, or even pit boss memory could trigger an investigation.

If a suspected advantage player matched a profile in the Griffin Book:

Casino security might confront the player.
The player could be asked to leave.
In some jurisdictions, the player might be detained or questioned.
Other nearby casinos could be alerted in real time.

Being in the Griffin Book often meant being blacklisted from most major casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and beyond.

Controversy Around the Griffin Book and Legal Issues

While the Griffin Book aimed to protect casino interests, its methods raised significant privacy and legal concerns. In 2005, the Griffin Detective Agency faced a major lawsuit brought by two professional poker players, Michael Russo and James Grosjean. They were wrongly identified in the Griffin database and detained unlawfully.

The court ruled in the players’ favor, and the Griffin Agency eventually filed for bankruptcy. This marked the beginning of the end for the traditional Griffin Book, though the concept of shared surveillance databases persists in modern casino security systems.

The Griffin Book in Blackjack Lore

For many blackjack professionals and enthusiasts, the Griffin Book has become a symbol of the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between casinos and skilled players. It represented a centralized effort by the house to suppress legal but unprofitable behavior. Ironically, the fear surrounding the Griffin Book likely drove many players to improve their cover strategies and team play techniques.

Today, the Griffin Book is no longer in circulation, but its legacy continues through modern surveillance systems, biometric tracking, and private databases maintained by casino security companies.

The Griffin Book: In Conclusion

The Griffin Book was once the most powerful weapon casinos wielded against advantage players—especially blackjack card counters. Though no longer active, its history reflects the evolving battle between player skill and house protection. Understanding the Griffin Book offers insight into how seriously casinos take the threat of professional gamblers and the lengths they go to in order to maintain their edge.

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Griffin Book FAQs

Is the Griffin Book still used in casinos today?

No, the original Griffin Book is no longer in use. However, casinos still use internal and third-party databases to track suspected advantage players.

Was it illegal to be listed in the Griffin Book?

No, but being listed often resulted in being banned or removed from casinos, even if no laws were broken.

How did players get into the Griffin Book?

Through surveillance footage, tip-offs from other casinos, or identification during suspected card counting sessions.

What happened to the Griffin Detective Agency?

After a high-profile lawsuit in 2005, the agency went bankrupt and ceased operations.

Can players still be blacklisted today like they were in the Griffin Book days?

Yes, many casinos maintain their own player watchlists and share data with others to identify high-risk or skilled players.