Would you still believe that people cheat at casinos? Or was it just me who thought that modern technologies guarantee the “no cheating at the casino” rule?
Well, after reading a few articles, I figured that I was wrong, cheating still happens, and on top of that, just last year, some unbelievable (for me at least) casino cheating cases took place.
Baccarat Cut-Card Scam
To be honest, I put this scam first because it just blew my mind, and based on how many articles put this case as number one scam on their list, I bet it blew the mind of many others, too.
People say “Old habits never die”, well, that’s definitely true in this case.
Back in 2010, the same trick cost the casinos in Asia about $100 million. In 2024, at least on the internet, it says the losses were $1 to $1.5 million, but it’s probably more than that because some of the cases were most likely unnoticed.
How the Baccarat Cut-Card Scam Works?
Ok, before we get into any other details, here’s a short explanation of how the scam works.
In baccarat, once the dealer shuffles the cards, a player is invited to place the cut card, deciding where the shoe will be divided. The scammers used this moment to tilt or slightly lift the corner of the cards using a fingernail, pin, or even pressure from the cut card itself, to expose the card faces just enough to be caught on a hidden camera.
After filming the order of cards, they’d analyze it, sometimes using software, and share the info with their partners, who would place bets once the sequence played out.
The only difference from the scam in 2010 and 2024 is that back in the day, the footage was recorded using a wired button or bulky technology. Now? Tiny cameras, smartwatches, or phones do the job perfectly.
Why Did the Scam Repeat?
After reading about this scam, one question still lingered on my mind: “If the casinos lost so much money in 2010, how did the trick come around again?”
Here’s your answer:
The baccarat cut-card scam was mainly used in Asia, while the rest of the world didn’t really pay attention to it, so when someone found the old book trick, they used it. Simple as that.
Hidden Cameras on Table Games
This case was just as surprising for me as the previous one. Like I said, I thought that modern technologies guaranteed no cheating in casinos, but in this case, modern technologies helped with cheating instead.
Who would have thought that technologies could backfire in such a way, huh?
Hidden Cameras on Table Games Incident
So what, exactly, happened? In July 2024, two men were caught in a Paris casino using tiny hidden cameras to cheat at table games. Reports say they walked away with €200,000 in one night, and they weren’t alone.
Some authorities even believe they’re part of a professional cheating network across multiple countries.
To anyone wondering who these men are: no names were publicly released, the only information I found is that they supposedly were from Latvia and Ukraine.
How Do the Hidden Cameras on Table Games Work?
The scam process goes like this:
One player hides a camera, sometimes in a phone or clothing, positioned near the dealer to capture cards as they’re dealt. The live feed is sent to an outside accomplice (often sitting in a car), who analyzes the video and relays the card info through a tiny earpiece.
Actually, in some sort of way, the hidden cameras on table games scam for me sounds very similar to the Baccarat cut-card scam, just for different games and with more modern tech.
Counterfeit Chips
For me, this scam sounded like it’s straight out of a heist movie. In March 2024, a man tried to pass off high-quality fake chips at Sydney’s Star Casino and nearly got away with it.
What Happened at the Counterfeit Chips Scene?
The suspect, a Chinese national, arrived in Australia on March 29 and was at the casino within the hour. Around 11:30 p.m., he approached the cashier cage to request a color change. But when staff grew suspicious of the chips, he bolted, leaving $10,000 worth of fake chips behind.
How It All Went Down
Security footage shows the man sprinting from the casino in black clothes and white sneakers, evading guards.
Within 10 minutes, he checked out of his hotel and was on a flight back to China by 8:00 am.
Authorities believe this may have been a small-scale test for a much larger scam, especially since an additional $24,000 in fake chips was later found on the floor.
Is It So Easy to Fake Chips?
To anyone wondering, “But shouldn’t the fake chips be visible that they’re fake?“ Well, to answer simple – the modern stuff does its magic.
On one side, yes, the modern casino chips are protected using RFID (radio-frequency identification) tags, UV markings, and microprint patterns. On the other hand, the chips are becoming unimaginably realistic because of:
- Access to high-quality materials online.
- Dark web marketplaces offering chip replicas.
- Advanced printing and molding technology.
In one way, it’s even a bit scary to think about what could be possible with such advancements in the future.