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.
The casino's "Eye in the Sky" catches most of them eventually, but recognizing the signs of a scam unfolding right next to you is a fascinating skill.
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."
Often, a confederate (an accomplice) will intentionally spill a drink or loudly argue with a waitress at the exact moment the cheater makes the move.
The scam almost always involves a loud, intentional distraction created by an accompliceCheaters also use "pinching," which is removing chips from a bet after losing the handIf a player is constantly hovering their hands near their chips after the deal, pit bosses become highly suspicious
Card Marking and Edge Sorting
Cheaters attempt to destroy this mystery by physically marking the high-value cards (like Aces and Faces) so they can be identified from the back.
By convincing the dealer to rotate specific high-value cards 180 degrees, the player can easily identify them before they are dealt, completely destroying the house edge.
The Mechanics of a Craps Scam
However, highly skilled mechanics attempt a scam known as "dice sliding," which completely removes the random tumble of the dice.
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
erniepilcher7 edited this page 2026-08-05 13:34:40 -04:00