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.
Past Posting: The Art of the Late Bet
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.
Modern roulette tables feature advanced sensors to detect any chip movement after the ball dropsDealers are trained to intensely stare at the chips immediately after announcing the winning numberPast posting is a severe felony offense, not a simple misunderstanding of the rules
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.
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.
Dice Sliding at the Craps Table
However, highly skilled mechanics attempt a scam known as "dice sliding," which completely removes the random tumble of the dice.
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 ActionDealer Counter-MeasurePinching (Stealing back a lost bet)Clearing losing bets before paying winnersMarking Cards with fingernailsReplacing 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.
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How to Spot Cheaters at the Casino
Allie Forest edited this page 2026-08-07 19:08:47 +08:00