I suggest you make it into a full blown character study; focus on why your character is card counting - what does it fill him with? Gratification? Adrenalin? Power? Its a cool idea but you need to give it a lot more depth than just about card counting. Make him some failed magician or card mechanic who longs to make it into the big games or be successful, but is stuck in a one bedroom apartment with a wad of bills.
As well as that, maybe draw in some fictional conflict between the three of your character (who obviously represent you and your friends). Maybe the two of them arent as good as you/your character, and they give up because your character is too obsessed with card counting.
A good film for you to check out - 'Croupier'. Its a film about a writer who gets a job as a dealer in his local casino and loves the enigmatic power he gets from seeing the punters loose their money. Its a great film and Clive Owen is fantastic in the role. Also check out Shade if you havent seen it - cant beat Stallone.
I am currently working on my second novel, and hope to have it published by the end of my first year at Uni. Ill give you a tip now, make sure you plot the hell out of it before you start writing, i made the mistake of trying to write my first novel whilst making it up as i went along and it didnt work so well.
Good luck!
EDIT: And don't try to come up with a name for it to start with, just wait and as you write it names will come to you that seem perfect.