Casinos make nearly $70 billion in revenue every year. This is a staggering amount. Due to the fact that they make so much, it isn’t a surprise casino would be targeted by scammers, and casinos are quite aware of this. It’s an ongoing war, and in order to win it, the casinos have taken certain major precautions to guarantee they will not be cheated out of their earnings.
There are several methods that scammers use to try and steal from casinos. But, there are also several ways a casino can protect itself. Listed below are tricks scammers use, as well as methods casinos use to fight them. Scroll down to find out what casinos are doing to prevent cheating.
Different ways people try to cheat
Cheating the casino has been a significant cause of anxiety for many casinos. There are far too many dishonest players who continually try to discover ways in which to scam casinos out of their hard earned money. Many people are keenly aware of the high levels of security most casinos have. But, despite that, there are some who still believe they can cheat the system, and some occasionally do.
Here are some of the ways cheaters and scammers try to cheat the system:
1. They relay knowledge to other gamblers
Most scammers often work in a group. For example, there can be one player who will try and get a good vantage point to spot the cards a dealer is holding. Once he or she is in a good position, he or she will then use wireless communication to stay in contact with the other players who he or she is working with.
These transmitters have evolved over the years and have become much more sophisticated. However, casino fraud detection has also become sophisticated.
So, you may wonder how this can be prevented or what steps are taken to stop this. Most casinos have increased their technology, but it is still imperative to carefully monitor all players on the floor. Furthermore, using advanced technology and a team of debugging staff members will prohibit communication between the scammers.
One new technology casinos are using comes is NORA. NORA allows the casino’s security team to manage public-record searches to locate any relationships between the scammers.
2. Plotting with the Dealer
This example is one of the most common scams people try to get away with. To give you an example, a dealer may make what is known as a “false shuffle.” This scam happens when the dealer keeps some of the cards in the same order as they were before they were dealt.
So, how do most casinos deal with this? To prevent this type of scam from happening, many casinos watch the dealers as well as the players. They not only have cameras on the tables, but they also watch each dealer’s losses and each player’s winnings.
This is an excellent tactic because it will reveal if a table is doing better than the others. The dealers are keenly aware they are being observed, and they know the consequences of what will happen if they are found to be part of the scam. Because of this, most dealers are very reluctant to take part in scams. The penalty is just not worth it.
There are some casinos that require their dealers to undergo polygraph tests to ensure that they aren’t cheaters or scammers. During the rigorous and strict background checks, casinos need to make sure that whoever is hired isn’t dishonest. Otherwise, the casino will lose money.
3. Watching the dealer’s hands
Even fair dealers aren’t flawless in their execution. Some dealers may, by accident, tip their hole card. This then gives players a peek at their hand, revealing what they have. Casinos must ensure their dealers don’t do this.
To prevent this sometimes unavoidable scenario, casinos need to train their dealers carefully. There needs to be strict penalties in place for dealers who fail to correctly hold their cards. Any dealers who fail to correctly maintain their cards, even by accident, will be punished.
4. Substituting cards with better cards
One of the simplest and basic ways players can try to increase their chances of winning is by replacing the card they may have in their hand with a better one. Most players usually try this by either sneakily replacing one card with another. They do this by working with a player close to them.
While this seems like a straightforward strategy, some would-be casino scammers have very sophisticated techniques that have actually worked. Because these scammers are aware that casinos are overseeing the tables, they will use some new device or equipment to switch cards as secretly as possible. Let’s take Potter & Potter’s, for example. They sell a retractable brass holdout, which can help a player to exchange one of the cards he or she is holding and switch it with another card that he or she had previously stuffed down his or her sleeve. Sounds a bit like magic, and it is, to an extent.
Working with other players is another popular method people try to use. They may arrange with a partner to meet at a table. They will be very careful about not being seen together before the game. The two partners will send subtle codes that only they will be able to understand and be able to communicate with each other. For example, a slight cough or a finger rubbing across the eyebrow. This will them to try and switch cards without gaining the attention of the dealer.
This tactic is a very sophisticated scam, but it can easily be prevented. Because card switching is one of the most traditional forms of cheating, the house is meticulous in keeping an eye out for this scam. This is a very old scam, and many casinos have known about this scam for a long time, thus giving them enough time to prepare for it.
Dealers must address this problem by keeping track of all cards on the table. They’re also taught to scrutinize players with long-sleeve shirts more carefully to reduce risk.
The serious punishments for cheating
Prison time is, for the most part, the most severe consequence a scammer can receive. It is important to know that not all cheaters will be prosecuted. But, those who are caught trying to steal a copious amount of money or who have developed an incredibly sophisticated type of scam will more likely end up behind bars.
The punishments for cheating can vary significantly, and it depends on the administration, as well as the offense. Some scammers have been imprisoned for just a few days, while others go to prison for years. One individual, Derek Bethea, went to prison for 17 years for cheating
It’s also important to know that most casinos in many jurisdictions have powerful lobbying groups that can push for stronger and much more severe laws. Gaming regulators are also willing and able to press charges against scammers who they deem to be serious threats to the casino industry.
Scammers will not win in the end
Ultimately, scammers have consistently been the most prominent threat to casinos, posing an even more significant threat than theft and break-ins. And, while a lot of casino operators have included many of their fraud technology devices to catch scammers, some are still, and very intelligently, we might add, trying to learn more about the newest scams that cheaters are using.
The best way to defeat your enemy is to enter his or her mind. Know what he or she is thinking, and you will be able to prevent him or her from winning.
We have seen many of these precautions be very efficient in stopping scammers in their tracks. Precautions are essential tools in your arsenal when trying to prevent scams.
The best piece of information we can offer is to stay alert and keep updated on the latest scamming tricks and tools that are out there. Scammers and cheaters never rest, and if you want to keep your casino from losing money, it is essential that you stay up to date on the latest scamming methods.
