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
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.
- 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
Cheaters attempt to destroy this mystery by physically marking the high-value cards (like Aces and Faces) so they can be identified from the back.
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.
How Cheaters Manipulate the Dice
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.
This mathematically alters the probability of hitting a 7, giving the cheater a massive, incredibly illegal advantage over the house.
| 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.
