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Editorial: Famous gambling cheats

As long as there has been gambling, there have been gambling cheaters, players who bend (or break) the rules to turn the game to their advantage. Some of these casino cheaters are only after the casino's money. Others, such as those who cheat at poker, are after the bankroll of their opponents. A rare few, like those who cheat at craps, do it for the thrill and the excitement of the "chase".

In this piece, we outline some of the methods used by long-time gambling cheats at various games.

Famous Gambling Cheats: Physical Slot Machines

Slot machine cheaters have developed a wide variety of mechanical devices to trick the old "one-armed bandits" into making payouts. One of the most common methods favored by the slot machine cheater is to use "slugs" or worthless chunks of metal shaped like coins to fool the machine. Other slot machine cheaters have used thin wires that they work into the guts of the machine to open the coin banks.

Famous Gambling Cheats: Electronic Slot Machines

Now that most slot machines get their results from computer software and not mechanical reels, the era of the slot machine cheater is over, right? Wrong! The technology changes, but the gambling cheaters never do. Inventive casino cheaters have developed "light wands" to fool a machine's internal sensors and computer hardware to tamper with its programming and predict the results of each spin.

Famous Gambling Cheats: Card Counters

Although card counting is not "technically" a blackjack cheat, casinos frown upon its practice. The infamous "Blackjack Team" from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology took down millions of dollars from casinos around the globe simply by remembering cards and playing according to basic strategy. Despite all the media attention, the method is still considered a form of blackjack cheating.

Famous Gambling Cheats: Roulette Past Posting

The most infamous roulette cheating method in live casinos is called "past posting". In standard roulette, the player places their bet before the wheel stops. The croupier will pass his hand over the table and announce, "No more bets". In past posting, a roulette cheat will post a bet after they see the winning spin, often by disguising his move or distracting the croupier.

Famous Gambling Cheats: Pai Gow Poker Switch

Pai Gow Poker is quickly becoming one of the most popular casino table games. The growing popularity means more money at the table and, of course, more temptation to engage in casino cheating. Teams of players will often work together and switch out their cards to improve their hands, although the rules state "one player to a hand".

Famous Gambling Cheats: Trick Dice

Craps is often considered to be one of the most popular classic casino games. The excitement around the long table grows with every toss of the dice. Many casino cheaters attempt to cheat at craps by using dice that are weighted, shaved or otherwise altered to sway the outcome in their favor. Some of the more daring gambling cheaters may even cheat at craps by throwing the dice in a special way.

Famous Gambling Cheats: Marked Cards

A blackjack cheat will often use special methods to mark or tamper with cards so that they can tell what card they will get the next time the dealer goes through the deck. Players who cheat at poker do much the same thing to tell what cards their opponent holds. Fingernails, alcohol and special dyes are the tools of the trade for those who try to cheat at poker tables.

Famous Gambling Cheats: Online Poker

The biggest cheating scandal involving gambling cheaters in recent history did not happen in Las Vegas, but online. Several players tried to cheat at poker by using "superuser" accounts to see their opponents' cards at some notable online poker sites. These online casino cheaters took down millions of dollars in cash-game and tournament winnings before the sites closed their accounts.

Famous Gambling Cheats: Conclusion

Although the technology of gambling has evolved from bone dice and paper cards to electronic slots and online poker, gambling cheaters have only continued to keep up with the new types of play available. Whether it's a blackjack cheat peeking at a dealer's hole card or a roulette cheat taking advantage of a biased wheel, new casino cheaters will always be tempted by the lure of quick cash.

14-Feb-2010, 14:46

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