Counted out

I swear, isn't having a casino the greatest gig in the world? It's supposed to be gambling, which means some people win and some lose, but the hosue almost always wins, and if the house does start losing too much to someone, he's just kicked out:

A gambler who counts cards is asking the Indiana Court of Appeals to force an Ohio River casino to allow him to play blackjack.

I've never understood why counting was considered cheating. Learning to count cards with the multiple decks used these days is hard work and only slightly improves a player's odds, but it's still legal to keep them from playing. Why don't casinos just put out baskets for people to put their money in as soon as they enter?