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
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.
- Modern roulette tables feature advanced sensors to detect any chip movement after the ball drops
- Dealers are trained to intensely stare at the chips immediately after announcing the winning number
- Past posting is a severe felony offense, not a simple misunderstanding of the rules
How Players Manipulate the Deck
Historically, this involved utilizing invisible ink readable only with special contact lenses, or using a fingernail to create a tiny, microscopic dent in the cardboard.
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.
