Cheating (casino)
Encyclopedia
Cheating in casinos refers to actions by the house or the player which are prohibited by regional gambling control authorities. This may involve using suspect apparatus, interfering with apparatus, chip fraud or misrepresenting games. The formally prescribed sanctions for cheating
depend on the circumstances and gravity of the cheating and the jurisdiction
in which the casino operates. In Nevada
, for a player to cheat in a casino is a felony
under Nevada law. In most other jurisdictions, specific statute
s do not exist, and alleged instances of cheating are resolved by the gambling authority who may have more or less authority to enforce its verdict.
Advantage play techniques are not cheating. Card counting
, for example, is a legitimate advantage play strategy that can be employed in blackjack
and other card games. It is not cheating to use any form of devices to aid advantage play, except in Nevada, where auxiliary devices have been outlawed due to the unique ability of the large Nevada gambling industry to influence legislation. In almost all jurisdictions, casinos are permitted to ban from their premises customers they believe are using advantage play, regardless of whether they are in fact doing so and even though it is not cheating.
Using a deck of cards with non-standard composition.
Using a Cold deck
.
Short paying, not paying or confiscating winning bets or refusing to pay jackpots.
Using loaded dice.
Using rulesets not sanctioned by a gambling control authority.
Using slot machines which pay lower than the statutory minimum.
Directing vexatious claims of cheating against a winning player in order to prevent them encashing their chips.
False advertising
by not paying advertised promotions
Mail fraud or sending a mail offer but not honoring the offer once the customer is at the casino, also called bait and switch
Rigged video poker
machines, such as the Vegas "American Coin Scandal"
Rigged drawings, such as at The Venetian, Las Vegas
Corrupt regulators, such as Ronald Dale Harris
Taking back casino comps
previously won by customers
Mechanic's grip
, dealing seconds, etc.
MindPlay
, or using a computer to gain an edge, which is illegal in most jurisdictions
Distracting the customers so that they make mistakes, through excessive noise, bright lights, escorts, alcohol and drugs, etc.
Having a cohort
or any form of optics that can spy on the player's patterns and methods.
Hidden in the walls could be possible cameras or mirrors.
Past posting :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
During Play : Various methods.
Introducing Previously Marked Decks Into Play : Usually involves "inside" help, i.e., the collusion of casino employees. There are many different ways to mark decks of cards, some of them very difficult to detect.
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.
Shuffling Machines : Various arraignment of the cards.
Slot Machines
: Methods exist for altering the outcome of slot machine games.
Collusion
: In poker games, the practice of two partners signaling to each other the values of their cards; this can be very difficult to detect. There is also such a phenomenon as dealer cheating at gambling world: a player bribes a dealer
and they share the winning after the game. Though this method is rather risky for dealers, some of them do not mind to take part in it.
Using auxiliary devices (in Nevada) : In Nevada casinos, using any device which helps to forecast the odds or aid in a legitimate strategy such as card counting
is regarded as cheating; such devices have been outlawed due to the unique ability of Nevada's large gambling industry to influence legislation. Auxiliary devices are not generally regarded as cheating and can be increasingly difficult to detect as electronic aids become smaller and easier to hide.
Top hat : In Roulette
, players place a bet after the ball has landed. The chips are disguised using a third party's chip - the top hat.
Eyes in the Sky: Most casinos are obliged to have an extensive array of cameras and recorders which monitor and record all the action in a casino, which can be used to resolve some disputes. Some casinos use facial recognition software to detect known cheats or card counters/advantage players as they enter the casino.
Software: Casinos use software to analyze game play to uncover any unusual betting patterns or winning patterns and thus discern cheaters (as well as non-cheating card counters and socalled "advantage players" or winners).
Cheating
Cheating refers to the breaking of rules to gain advantage in a competitive situation. The rules infringed may be explicit, or they may be from an unwritten code of conduct based on morality, ethics or custom, making the identification of cheating a subjective process. Cheating can refer...
depend on the circumstances and gravity of the cheating and the jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
in which the casino operates. In Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, for a player to cheat in a casino is a felony
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
under Nevada law. In most other jurisdictions, specific statute
Statute
A statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs a state, city, or county. Typically, statutes command or prohibit something, or declare policy. The word is often used to distinguish law made by legislative bodies from case law, decided by courts, and regulations...
s do not exist, and alleged instances of cheating are resolved by the gambling authority who may have more or less authority to enforce its verdict.
Advantage play techniques are not cheating. Card counting
Card counting
Card counting is a casino card game strategy used primarily in the blackjack family of casino games to determine whether the next hand is likely to give a probable advantage to the player or to the dealer. Card counters, also known as advantage players, attempt to decrease the inherent casino house...
, for example, is a legitimate advantage play strategy that can be employed in blackjack
Blackjack
Blackjack, also known as Twenty-one or Vingt-et-un , is the most widely played casino banking game in the world...
and other card games. It is not cheating to use any form of devices to aid advantage play, except in Nevada, where auxiliary devices have been outlawed due to the unique ability of the large Nevada gambling industry to influence legislation. In almost all jurisdictions, casinos are permitted to ban from their premises customers they believe are using advantage play, regardless of whether they are in fact doing so and even though it is not cheating.
Methods of cheating by casinos
Using a rigged roulette wheel.Using a deck of cards with non-standard composition.
Using a Cold deck
Cold deck
A stacked deck is a deck of playing cards arranged in a preset order, designed to give a specific outcome when the cards are dealt.A cold deck is a stacked deck which is typically switched with the deck actually being used in the game in question, to the benefit of the player and/or dealer making...
.
Short paying, not paying or confiscating winning bets or refusing to pay jackpots.
Using loaded dice.
Using rulesets not sanctioned by a gambling control authority.
Using slot machines which pay lower than the statutory minimum.
Directing vexatious claims of cheating against a winning player in order to prevent them encashing their chips.
False advertising
False advertising
False advertising or deceptive advertising is the use of false or misleading statements in advertising. As advertising has the potential to persuade people into commercial transactions that they might otherwise avoid, many governments around the world use regulations to control false, deceptive or...
by not paying advertised promotions
Mail fraud or sending a mail offer but not honoring the offer once the customer is at the casino, also called bait and switch
Bait and switch
Bait-and-switch is a form of fraud, most commonly used in retail sales but also applicable to other contexts. First, customers are "baited" by advertising for a product or service at a low price; second, the customers discover that the advertised good is not available and are "switched" to a...
Rigged video poker
Video poker
Video poker is a casino game based on five-card draw poker. It is played on a computerized console similar in size to a slot machine.-History:...
machines, such as the Vegas "American Coin Scandal"
Rigged drawings, such as at The Venetian, Las Vegas
Corrupt regulators, such as Ronald Dale Harris
Ronald Dale Harris
Ronald Dale Harris is a computer programmer who worked for the Nevada Gaming Control Board in the early 1990s and was responsible for finding flaws and gaffes in software that runs computerized casino games...
Taking back casino comps
Comps (casino)
In the context of casinos, comps are complimentary items given out by casinos to encourage players to gamble. The amount of comps that a player is given usually depends on what game they are playing, how much they are betting, and how long they have played. Most casinos have hosts who are...
previously won by customers
Mechanic's grip
Mechanic's Grip
The Mechanic's Grip is one of many ways to comfortably hold a deck of cards. The mechanic's grip is a standard grip utilized primarily by magicians and card cheaters as it allows a sturdy and versatile means by which to hold the cards...
, dealing seconds, etc.
MindPlay
MindPlay
MindPlay was a technology designed to monitor blackjack players' actions while playing in a casino, first released in 2003 and discontinued in 2007....
, or using a computer to gain an edge, which is illegal in most jurisdictions
Distracting the customers so that they make mistakes, through excessive noise, bright lights, escorts, alcohol and drugs, etc.
Having a cohort
Cohort
Cohort may refer to:* Cohort , a taxonomic term in biology* Cohort , a group of students working together through the same academic curriculum* Cohort , the basic tactical unit of a Roman legion...
or any form of optics that can spy on the player's patterns and methods.
Hidden in the walls could be possible cameras or mirrors.
Methods of cheating by players
The methods for cheating in a casino are often specific to individual games and includePast posting :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
Card marking
Card marking is the process of altering playing cards such that the suit, rank or both are only apparent to the person marking the cards , usually for the purpose of cheating at cards by card sharps. To be effective, the distinguishing mark or marks must be done on the obverse side, which are...
During Play : Various methods.
Introducing Previously Marked Decks Into Play : Usually involves "inside" help, i.e., the collusion of casino employees. There are many different ways to mark decks of cards, some of them very difficult to detect.
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.
Shuffling Machines : Various arraignment of the cards.
Slot Machines
Slot machine
A slot machine , informally fruit machine , the slots , poker machine or "pokies" or simply slot is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed...
: Methods exist for altering the outcome of slot machine games.
Collusion
Collusion
Collusion is an agreement between two or more persons, sometimes illegal and therefore secretive, to limit open competition by deceiving, misleading, or defrauding others of their legal rights, or to obtain an objective forbidden by law typically by defrauding or gaining an unfair advantage...
: In poker games, the practice of two partners signaling to each other the values of their cards; this can be very difficult to detect. There is also such a phenomenon as dealer cheating at gambling world: a player bribes a dealer
Dealer
Dealer may refer to:* Antique dealer, someone who sells Antiques* Art dealer, gallerist, somebody or company that buys and sells art...
and they share the winning after the game. Though this method is rather risky for dealers, some of them do not mind to take part in it.
Using auxiliary devices (in Nevada) : In Nevada casinos, using any device which helps to forecast the odds or aid in a legitimate strategy such as card counting
Card counting
Card counting is a casino card game strategy used primarily in the blackjack family of casino games to determine whether the next hand is likely to give a probable advantage to the player or to the dealer. Card counters, also known as advantage players, attempt to decrease the inherent casino house...
is regarded as cheating; such devices have been outlawed due to the unique ability of Nevada's large gambling industry to influence legislation. Auxiliary devices are not generally regarded as cheating and can be increasingly difficult to detect as electronic aids become smaller and easier to hide.
Top hat : In Roulette
Roulette
Roulette is a casino game named after a French diminutive for little wheel. In the game, players may choose to place bets on either a single number or a range of numbers, the colors red or black, or whether the number is odd or even....
, players place a bet after the ball has landed. The chips are disguised using a third party's chip - the top hat.
Prevention of cheating
Proper Procedure: This means certain standardized ways of shuffling cards, dealing cards, storing, retrieving and opening new decks of cards.Eyes in the Sky: Most casinos are obliged to have an extensive array of cameras and recorders which monitor and record all the action in a casino, which can be used to resolve some disputes. Some casinos use facial recognition software to detect known cheats or card counters/advantage players as they enter the casino.
Software: Casinos use software to analyze game play to uncover any unusual betting patterns or winning patterns and thus discern cheaters (as well as non-cheating card counters and socalled "advantage players" or winners).