The Slot Machine Button Sequence Glitch
A player discovered that a certain type of video poker machine has a software glitch that can be exploited . The “ double-up bug ” allows players to replay winning jackpots with higher wagers . The player sits at a machine playing 1 cent a spin . When he eventually scores a jackpot , he doesn ’ t cash out but immediately hits a specific sequence of buttons replaying the winning hand but with a maximum wager this time . Casino losses : $ 1M +
The Craps Call Bet Collusion Caper
Craps dealers in collusion with players pay long-odds “ hop bets ” that don ’ t exist . As the dice are rolled , one of the players in cahoots with the dealers will mumble something that no one can understand , as if it was a call bet ( or maybe not ). After the dice come to rest , the crooked dealer will pay the player for a winning hop bet . Casino losses : $ 1M +
The Baccarat Card Carrier Thieves
A team of thieves gathers around a card storage cabinet in a high-limit baccarat room , obstructing the view of staff and surveillance . They break into the cabinet and steal a card carrier containing 416 pre-shuffled cards stored for future use on a game . They go to their hotel room for a short period of time , where they open the carrier and record the sequence of the cards before returning them to the cabinet in the same manner they removed them . They wait until the cards are put into play and bet accordingly . Casino losses : $ 10M- $ 100M
The Camera Van Teams
A player with a concealed camera up his sleeve plays Three Card Poker with a dealer who inadvertently lifts her cards before placing them face down on the table . The player positions himself so that the camera can view the card values . The camera broadcasts the live play back to a van outside the casino . Accomplices view and identify the dealer ’ s hand and communicate with the player at the table via a hidden earpiece . Casino losses : $ 1M +
The Employee Slot Machine Riggers
A team of crooked slot employees with access to the inside of machines rigged them to pay out bogus credits . Using their expertise they were able to change the “ coin in ” amounts and delete the history of the false and fraudulent amounts from the machines . The ill-gotten gains were cashed out by their wives and partners over a 4.5-year period who set up shell companies and multiple bank accounts to “ wash ” the stolen money . Casino losses : $ 1M- $ 10M
The Face-Up Baccarat Spread Camera
A casino using manufacturer pre-shuffled cards on their baccarat games introduces a procedure mandating that the dealer spreads approximately two decks of cards face up across the table so that players can see the cards are mixed . A player in collusion with the dealer uses a concealed camera up his sleeve to record the two decks . The dealer conducts a false shuffle keeping the two-deck sequence intact . The player leaves the game and reviews the video . On his return the player and his friends wait for the sequence to begin , calculate upcoming results and bet accordingly . Casino losses : $ 1M +
The Exploitation of Asymmetrical Cards
A woman searched for casinos that used automatic shufflers on baccarat , open-faced shoes and poorly designed and manufactured cards that could be “ edge sorted .” Conspiring with a big player , they requested and were granted changes in the casino ’ s standard procedures . The most significant changes were dealing cards face down and having the dealer reveal each card to them individually before she instructed the card be turned straight over , or to the side . This facilitated a scheme where high and low cards could be identified before wagering in future rounds of play , gaining a considerable edge over the house . Casino losses : $ 10M- $ 100M
The Dealer Memorizing Cards
During the baccarat shuffle procedures , an unsupervised dealer takes approximately 20 cards , thumbs through them face up and commits the order to memory . He then conducts a false shuffle that leaves the 20-card sequence intact . In collusion with the players at the table he waits until the memorized sequence appears and calculates the results of the next three to five hands in his head . Before each hand is dealt , he discretely gestures to his accomplices playing at the table what to bet on . Casino losses : $ 1M- $ 10M
But Wait , There ’ s More …
There are plenty more scams that just missed the cut . Some are slight variations of scams on our list . Technology advancements in concealed cameras , wireless and computer technology have made some of the scams more sophisticated and efficient , but the principles of gaining inside information remain the same .
In most of the scams listed there is more to the story . In some cases I ’ ve purposely left some of the details out . In others , I admit I just don ’ t have all of the details . I also have no doubt there are other scams that could make our Top 20 that we simply don ’ t know about . But hopefully there is enough information included to help casino managers understand major threats , review their own practices for vulnerabilities and take the necessary steps to reduce the risk .
At the World Game Protection Conference in February , I will discuss a lot of these scams in more detail in my CORE training seminar on table games protection . We will have a chance to dissect the scams and discuss what we learned as an industry to better protect our games .
World Game Protection Conference attendees will also have a chance to win a copy of Steve Forte ’ s latest book Gambling Sleight of Hand : Forte Years of Research . Simply read this article , and while at the WGPC complete the survey on the show app naming in order your top five scams from our list . As a survey participant , your name will go into the draw for the prize . On the last day of the conference we will hold a draw for the prize and announce the “ WGPC Attendees Top 5 Casino Scams of the Century .”
Willy Allison is the founder and managing director of the World Game Protection Conference in Las Vegas . He started in the casino business in 1987 and has worked in surveillance management , consulted for major casino organizations and conducted game protection training seminars around the world .
20 Global Gaming Business FEBRUARY 2022