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.
Understanding exactly how these professional thieves operate not only satisfies a morbid curiosity but also protects honest players from becoming collateral damage at a compromised table.
Understanding the “Past Posting” Scam
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 won
- It is also called “late betting” and is most common on the crowded, chaotic roulette tables
- Cheaters use palm-palming techniques to hide the extra chips in their hands
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.
Dice Sliding at the Craps Table
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.
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.
| Scam Name | Required Skill Level | Detection Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Dice Sliding | Extremely High (Physical skill) | Low (Dealers watch the throw closely) |
| Invisible Ink | Low (Requires tainted deck) | High (Requires UV light to detect) |
If you suspect a player at your table is manipulating the game, simply walk away and let the eye in the sky do its job.