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.
Understanding the "Past Posting" Scam
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.
While the dealer's eyes are momentarily distracted by the sudden commotion, the extra high-denomination chips are seamlessly slid onto the winning betting circle.
- 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
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
The craps table is extremely difficult to cheat due to the massive size of the table, the required wall-bounce, and the presence of four highly trained dealers.
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 Action | Dealer Counter-Measure |
|---|
| Pinching (Stealing back a lost bet) | Clearing losing bets before paying winners |
| Marking Cards with fingernails | Replacing 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.