Mike Aponte
mit blackjack team captain
world series of blackjack Champion
The true story behind the major motion picture 21
Mike Aponte led the legendary MIT Blackjack Team, leveraging mathematics and an ingenious strategy to legally beat casinos at their own game and change Las Vegas forever.
Today, Mike brings that story to life through interactive talks for corporate, client appreciation, and private events — featuring live card counting breakdowns and audience participation.
Beyond the true story, Mike distills his experience as a professional blackjack player and data scientist into insights on teamwork, thriving under uncertainty, and engineering an edge — lessons beyond the casino floor.
testimonials
Mike was the star of the most successful event I've put on in my entire career. We immediately became known by our customers as the company that put on the “21” event.
Brian Mahoney
Principal, MatrixPoint
After years of YPO events, it's challenging to find something our members haven't experienced before. Mike's presentation during the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix solved that — the true MIT story combined with interactive card counting gave our members something genuinely fresh. The format worked perfectly: engaging presentation followed by a hands-on demonstration that let members experience the strategy themselves.
David Hauser
Learning Chair, YPO Las Vegas
I've booked dozens of entertainers over the years and Mike is one of the few I have brought back repeatedly—my clients always rave about him. People are fascinated by his story and love learning the secrets of card counting.
Amy Shey Jacobs
Founder, Chandelier Events