:en:Mike Aponte
{{Short description|Manager of an MIT blackjack team}}
{{externallinks|date=March 2017}}
Mike Aponte, also known as MIT Mike, is a professional blackjack player and a former member of the MIT Blackjack Team. Aponte was part of a team of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) students that legally won millions playing blackjack at casinos around the world by counting cards. He is the basis for one of the main characters, Jason Fisher, in the book, Bringing Down the House, by Ben Mezrich,Swogger, Rick [http://www.blackjackinfo.com/MIT-Mike-Aponte.php "Interview with MIT Mike"] BlackjackInfo.com which inspired the motion picture, 21.
{{Infobox person
| name = Mike Aponte
| citizenship = American
| alma_mater = Massachusetts Institute of Technology
}}
Early years
Growing up Aponte rarely played cards.{{cn|date=March 2017}} He was the son of a U.S. Army tactical instructor, and his family moved on a regular basis, both within the United States and overseas. He attended 11 different schools before graduating valedictorian from Ewing High School in New Jersey.Schwartz, Marc. [http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2MzImZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcxMTkwMDAmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXky "Playing your hand at Blackjack"], The Record (Bergen County), April 22, 2007. Accessed September 30, 2007. "The Ewing high school graduate works with underprivileged kids in the Washington, D.C., area."Trently, Jeff. [http://www.nj.com/news/times/index.ssf?/base/news-3/118879247716310.xml&coll=5 "Recognize the face on this ace? Rebel gambler gets his own card"], The Times (Trenton, New Jersey), September 3, 2007. Accessed September 30, 2007. That fall, he moved to Boston to attend MIT, where he studied economics and played on the school's football team. In his senior year a friend told him about a team at MIT that used special mathematical techniques to win at blackjack.
In an interview with All In magazine, Mike recalled: “When I attended my first blackjack team meeting I was completely hooked. I was fascinated by the mathematics of card counting and of course the lure of big money and the high roller lifestyle. I was highly motivated to learn card counting and I practiced hard to develop my skills.”{{cn|date=March 2017}}
Blackjack
Aponte first played as a member of the MIT Blackjack Team in 1992, after passing the team's big player test (the BP "checkout"). In the big player team strategy, it is the BP that comes in and capitalizes on the advantage with big bets after spotters have identified a "hot shoe" with a favorable count. Aponte was one of the team's most successful big players, and was also the team's manager, responsible for recruiting and training new players, as well as coordinating team trips.{{cn|date=March 2017}}
Until 2000, Aponte and his colleagues achieved substantial success at casinos in the United States and other countries as well, eventually earning millions of dollars. The team practiced rigorously, maintained an intense travel schedule and planned their blackjack operations meticulously.
After his professional card counting career, Aponte went on to win the World Series of Blackjack championship in 2004, and co-founded a company that provides instructional products on how to win at blackjack.Rivlin, Gary. [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/fashion/30blackjack.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=32eccb81362f0797&ex=1199595600&emc=eta1 " A Strategy Up Their Sleeves"] The New York Times, December 30, 2007 Mike has coached several notable players including Nathaniel Tilton, author of The Blackjack Life and his playing partner "D.A.".{{cite news|url=http://thepogg.com/thepogg-interviews-nathaniel-tilton-author-of-the-blackjack-life/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425051154/http://thepogg.com/thepogg-interviews-nathaniel-tilton-author-of-the-blackjack-life/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 25, 2013|title=ThePOGG Interviews - Nathaniel Tilton author of 'The Blackjack Life'|accessdate=6 March 2013}} In 2007 Aponte became the first blackjack player ever to be depicted on a trading card in Topps' Allen & Ginter set.Earhart, Cynthia [http://www.midwestgamingandtravel.com/Articles/2007/07-11%20Making%20It%20To%20The%20TOPPS.htm "Making it to the Topps"], Midwest Gaming and Travel, November, 2007 He now coaches blackjack, and speaks at universities and corporations.Baker, Samantha. [http://www.collegian.com/index.php/article/2011/02/020811_cardcounter "Card counter Comes to CSU"] The Rocky Mountain Collegian, February 9, 2011
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.MikeAponte.com Official website]
- [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/21/AR2007102101522.html?hpid=topnews "From Casinos to Counterterrorism" The Washington Post]
- [http://www.mikeaponte.com/MIT-500k.pdf#zoom=150,0,0 "The MIT Team's $500,000 Weekend" Midwest Gaming and Travel]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080302021107/http://www.midwestgamingandtravel.com/Articles/2006/06_07_Mastering%20The%20Comp%20Game.htm "Mastering The Comp Game" Midwest Gaming and Travel]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080316233800/http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7361614 "Card Counters Talk to Casino Execs" Las Vegas Now]
- [http://www.blackjackinfo.com/MIT-Mike-Aponte.php Interview with "MIT Mike" Aponte]
- [http://www.blackjack-for-everyone.com/secrets-of-the-mit-blackjack-team-by-mike-aponte/ secrets of the mit blackjack team by mike aponte]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aponte, Mike}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Ewing High School (New Jersey) alumni
Category:People from Ewing Township, New Jersey
Category:American blackjack players
Category:MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences alumni