Since the very first casino opened its doors, an endless war has raged between the operators trying to protect their money and the criminals trying to steal it.
Cheating is no longer about complex card counting (which is technically legal); it is about physically manipulating the cards, the dice, or the chips after the outcome is known.
How Cheaters Manipulate Casino Chips
The most common and arguably the most difficult-to-detect method of table game cheating is a sleight-of-hand maneuver known universally as "past posting."
This scam requires absolute, flawless timing, massive distraction, and the steady, lightning-fast hands of a professional close-up magician.
Past posting involves adding chips to a bet after the player already knows they have wonIt is also called "late betting" and is most common on the crowded, chaotic roulette tablesCheaters use palm-palming techniques to hide the extra chips in their hands
Card Marking and Edge Sorting
In card games like Blackjack and Baccarat, the entire house edge relies entirely on the fact that the next card in the shoe is a complete mystery.
A more sophisticated, highly controversial method popularized by poker legend Phil Ivey is known as "edge sorting."
The Mechanics of a Craps Scam
Instead of throwing the dice into the air, the cheater expertly slides one of the dice completely flat across the felt, preventing it from ever tumbling.
This mathematically alters the probability of hitting a 7, giving the cheater a massive, incredibly illegal advantage over the house.
Scam NameRequired Skill LevelDetection DifficultyDice SlidingExtremely High (Physical skill)Low (Dealers watch the throw closely)Invisible InkLow (Requires tainted deck)High (Requires UV light to detect)
Attempting to cheat a modern casino is an incredibly foolish endeavor that almost universally ends in severe felony charges and prison time.
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How to Spot Cheaters at the Casino
Davis Dobie edited this page 2026-08-05 02:19:19 -04:00