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.

How Cheaters Manipulate Casino Chips

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.”

This scam requires absolute, flawless timing, massive distraction, and the steady, lightning-fast hands of a professional close-up magician.

• 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

Card Marking and Edge Sorting

In card games like Blackjack and Baccarat, the entire house edge relies entirely on the fact that the next card in the shoe is a complete mystery.

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

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.

The glamorous era of casino cheating has largely been eradicated by incredibly advanced facial recognition, RFID-chipped betting tokens, and relentless surveillance.