Cheating in casinos refers to actions which are prohibited by a casino’s rules. Cheating is usually illegal but the exact sanctions will depend on the jurisdiction in which the casino operates. In Nevada, cheating in a casino is a felony under Nevada law. In most other jurisdictions, specific statutes do not exist, but cheating in a casino would likely be considered fraud and dealt with as such by the authorities.
Advantage play techniques are not cheating unless the player is illegally employing electronic or similar aids. Card counting, for example, is a legitimate advantage play strategy that can be employed in blackjack and other card games. Nonetheless, casinos in Nevada and other jurisdictions are permitted to ban advantage players.
The different methods of cheating on casinos are:
- Pastposting
After a bet is won, one replaces smaller-denomination chips with large-denomination chips.
- Hand Mucking
Palming desirable cards, then switching them for less desirable cards that the gambler holds.
- Marking Cards
Altering playing cards such that the suit, rank or both are only apparent to the person marking the cards.
Detecting marked cards
1) Perform the gamblers’ riffle test (also known as “going to the movies”). This test basically allows a person to detect most marked decks by simply riffling the cards. Looking at the back of the cards while they are being riffled, the marks will dance around the back of the cards like an old-fashioned cartoon. The riffle test is less effective for detecting cards marked with luminous and juice.
2) Reflect light off the back of the card. Cut-out work (scratches or white ink) will display, as well as many inks or solutions that tend to dull the finish on playing cards because they are alcohol-based. Only the highest quality solutions will not burn the finish of cards. Placing a drop of alcohol on a card and then looking at the finish by reflecting light off the back reveals the dulling effect that these cheap solutions can cause.
- False Deals
Ability to deal the second card from the top (used in conjunction with marked cards), or the ability to deal the bottom card of the deck (used in conjunction with placing desirable cards at the bottom of the deck.)
- False Shuffles and Cuts
Ability to seemingly mix and cut the cards while retaining certain cards or the whole deck in a desired order.
- Collusions
In poker games like texas holdem, the practice of two partners signaling to each other the values of their cards; this can be very difficult to detect.
- Using electronic aids
Illegally using a computer or similar device to aid in the employment of an otherwise legitimate strategy such as card counting. Can be increasingly difficult to detect as aids become smaller and easier to hide.
Casinos are immediately and strongly implement strict security rules. Security starts on the floor of the casino, where casino employees keep their eyes on the games and the casino patrons to make sure everything goes as it should. Dealers are heavily focused on their own game, and can easily spot blatant cheats like palming, marking or switching cards or dice. Table managers and pit bosses watch over the table games with a broader view, making sure patrons aren’t stealing from each other and keeping an eye out for betting patterns that could signal cheating. Each person in the casino also has a “higher-up” person tracking them, watching them as they work and noting how much money their tables are winning or losing.
Here are some tips on casino rules (written and unwritten) that will help keep you on casino security’s good side:
- Never touch any game equipment (i.e., cards or dice) with two hands. Try to avoid touching things at all, if possible. But if you need to, such as a blackjack game where your cards are dealt face down, or at the craps table, only use one hand. Keep the cards or dice above the table and in view of the dealer at all times.
- If you’re not playing a game, it’s OK to watch, but don’t disturb the other players.
- Don’t touch your chips once you’ve placed your bet, and don’t collect your winnings until all bets have been paid up.
- Don’t reach all the way across a table to place a bet, especially if it means you might knock over another player’s chips. Ask the dealer to place the bet for you.
- Never place any items other than chips on the gaming table.
My final word for gamblers, listen well and look out for those cheaters. Either its online casino gaming or not, cheaters are always there so watch out because you’ll be facing such actions and sanctions from authorities.
Sources:
Casino, Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/
HowStuffWorks – http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/casino.htm
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