INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Supreme Court will decide if casinos have the right to ban blackjack players who count cards.

Gambling experts said Indiana casinos could be forced to impose new rules that might push players to other states if the court rules that a gambler must be allowed to play blackjack even though he admitted counting cards.

Grand Victoria Casino and Resort in Rising Sun, Ind., has asked the Indiana Supreme Court to overturn a lower court's ruling in the case of Thomas Donovan.

Casino employees spotted the Indianapolis man counting cards -- a practice in which a player keeps mental tracks of the cards already played during the game to adjust his wagers and improve his odds of winning additional money -- in June 2006 and banned him from play.

Donovan sued and a Marion Superior Court judge ruled in the casino's favor, but the Indiana of Appeals overturned the decision in October because the state has no law prohibiting card counting.

The casinos argue they are private businesses and should have the right to turn away anyone they choose to keep order.

No date yet has been set for the hearing.