Casino Devices and Dealer Cheating

Let us get this straight from the beginning: Not all casinos cheat. In fact, if you look at the math, there is no need for casinos to cheat. All games they offer are "rigged" to begin with (that's the "house edge" you hear about so much). They will always win more money than the gamblers as a collective whole. However this already existing statistical advantage does not keep some rogue casinos from cheating or using unfair practices against players.

Here are examples of casino devices and dealer cheating. We will use blackjack as an example since it is a popular game among both casual and serious players.

Dealer Cheating

A dealer may cheat either to peek in the deck, to see their hole card or to put certain cards out of play. Why a dealer would rather cheat for the casino than help the player win so they can get more tips is a mystery, but some dealers do cheat.

To see the top or bottom card of a deck, the dealer can bend the deck slightly with their thumb. This raises the deck and exposes the bottom card (for a split-second only in the hands of a good dealer). A slight riffle can also expose the top card. The dealer will do the peeking just when he or she is dealing out the cards. It's unlikely the players will be watching him or her then. Observe the dealer, especially their eyes to see if they are glancing at the deck.

Also part of dealer cheating is fake or manipulated shuffling. The dealer can make false riffles and cuts which make it appear as though the decks are being shuffled, but they aren't. There are also ways to restore the decks into their pre-cut order, making it useless for players to cut the card. This type of dealer cheating has been exposed in videos and books.

A more brutal form of dealer cheating makes use of "stripper decks." This nasty casino device has some cards trimmed so they can be distinguished from other cards during a shuffle. For instance, the pip cards are trimmed on their sides, so the aces and court cards stick out. The dealer can subtly pick out as many of these high cards as they want to put out of play.

These casino devices and methods of dealer cheating are not meant to dissuade you from gambling. We believe that most casinos do honest business. But it is better to know the signs of an enemy before you actually see one. Be vigilant even as you enjoy your gambling.