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.
Understanding the “Past Posting” Scam
If they win a hand of blackjack, their original $10 bet is magically transformed into a $100 bet right before the dealer pays them out.
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 accomplice
- Cheaters also use “pinching,” which is removing chips from a bet after losing the hand
- If a player is constantly hovering their hands near their chips after the deal, pit bosses become highly suspicious
The Complex Scam of 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.
Edge sorting relies on finding tiny, microscopic manufacturing defects in the geometric patterns printed on the absolute back edge of the casino‘s playing cards.
The Mechanics of a Craps Scam
The craps table is extremely difficult to cheat due to the massive size of the table, the required wall-bounce, and the presence of four highly trained dealers.
To combat this, casinos mandate that both dice must physically bounce off the chaotic, rubber pyramid “alligator” siding at the far end of the table.
| Cheater Action | Dealer Counter-Measure |
|---|---|
| Pinching (Stealing back a lost bet) | Clearing losing bets before paying winners |
| Marking Cards with fingernails | Replacing the entire shoe of cards frequently |
Attempting to cheat a modern casino is an incredibly foolish endeavor that almost universally ends in severe felony charges and prison time.