Jeff Ma is co-founder and VP of the fantasy investment site Protrade.com, but earned a greater claim to fame in the mid-'90s as a member of the MIT Blackjack Team. A group of six students and graduates of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the team made millions in Vegas, inspiring the book Bringing Down the House, as well as the film 21. As chronicled in the book by writer Ben Mezrich, the key to the success of Ma and friends was a remarkably effective card-counting system they had developed themselves. The book's protagonist, "Kevin Lewis," is based on Ma. A non-fiction bestseller, the book in turn inspired the film 21, starring actor Jim Sturgess as Ma (renamed yet again as "Ben Campbell"). The fact that Ma, who is of Chinese descent, is not portrayed as Asian-American has been the subject of some controversy online.
In addition to his work with Protrade.com, Ma is a paid speaker, discussing how his mathematical approach to Blackjack can be used as a tool for success in Business. His website, Jeff Ma's Wild World of Gambling, includes videos that explain his card-counting techniques.
Jeff Ma News
- Topix.net: Jeff Ma
- Google News: Jeff Ma
- Dallas Morning News: 21 Star Jim Sturgess Is in the Chips (March 28, 2008)
- USA Today: New Film '21' Counts on the Real Deal for Inspiration (March 25, 2008)
- SFGate: Hollywood Deals Jeff Ma a Good Hand with '21' (March 27, 2008)
- Since he left the MIT team, Ma said he's had no interest in running another operation. He said he gets recognized at casinos, where security guards will kindly ask him to leave if he sits at a blackjack table.
