How To Spot Cheaters At The Casino

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."


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 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
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.


A more sophisticated, highly controversial method popularized by poker legend Phil Ivey is known as "edge sorting."

How Cheaters Manipulate the Dice

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.

Cheating MethodTarget GameHow it WorksPast PostingRoulette / BlackjackAdding chips to a winning bet lateEdge SortingBaccaratExploiting asymmetrical card patterns

Attempting to cheat a modern casino is an incredibly foolish endeavor that almost universally ends in severe felony charges and prison time.