Cheating the casino – is it worth the risk?
Blackjack is famous as a casino game that takes more than just luck. For players to truly prosper, they need to master strategies and brush up on their skill levels. There are some casino players for whom this is all just too much like hard work. Rather than put in the time that it takes to become a great player they prefer, instead, to study ways of cheating. Let´s take a look at the risk of casino cheating. What risk is involved and can you diminish it?
The appeal of cheating a casino is clear: if carried out correctly it can see players walking away with huge piles of cash, and who doesn’t want that? The thing is though, getting one over any casino is far from easy. If you get caught, you’ll soon find that the consequences are less than desirable. We’re going to take a look at how some blackjack players try to cheat and then consider if it’s really worth it.
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Let’s be clear on card counting – The Risk of Casino Cheating
While we’re going to be considering how blackjack players try and cheat, it’s important to point out that card counting is neither illegal nor is it a form of cheating. It is in fact a skill that takes a great deal of work to master but it’s also one that can bring some impressive results.
Now, just because card counting is allowed that doesn’t mean that casinos like it. They know that it’s an extremely effective blackjack strategy and that means that it sees them losing money. For that reason, if you’re caught card counting there’s a very good chance that you’ll be asked to leave. Get caught again and you’re highly likely to get banned.
Does the dealer cheat?
You may think that it’s just players who are looking to cheat but you should never ignore the fact that the dealer may well be up to it too. Why would the dealer want to cheat? Well, it could be that they’re looking to help the house or they may even have a friend at the table who they’re trying to assist.
If you walk into a casino and start to talk with any blackjack players, it won’t take you long to find players who are extremely paranoid and are convinced that the dealer is out to get them. The reality is that cheating dealers are rare but when they do crop up they tend to be assisting another player so that they can share in the winnings.
Players and marking cards
One of the most common, and perhaps low-tech, ways for blackjack players to cheat is by marking cards. While it would be great to have x-ray vision and see exactly what’s on the other side of a card, this is something that no one has yet managed to master. The closest players can get to this is to leave a little mark on the rear of the card so they can identify what it is.
One of the ways that players mark cards is to use their fingernails. They simply scratch a small indent into the back of any cards that are worth 10 or higher. Of course, this mark needs to be beyond tiny otherwise it will be spotted by the dealer. However, it still needs to be big enough for you to comfortably spot. Getting the size just right is risky in itself.
There are clear advantages to having cards marked but there are plenty of risks involved with carrying out the act in the first place. Getting caught isn’t just about cheating the house, there’s also a very good chance that you’ll have committed a crime.
Taking advantage of a weak dealer to lower the risk of casino cheating
The skill of a dealer can make or break a game of blackjack. In fact, where poor dealers exist, players will refuse to play at the table and will seek out a better experience. However, there are times when a less-than-professional dealer can be a huge advantage, especially when they get a little sloppy.
Sloppy dealers are known to have exposed their hole cards on numerous occasions. The way that they hold their card makes it easy for someone to spot just what the value is. The thing is, the person spotting this won’t necessarily be sitting at the table but you can be sure that they’ll be sharing the information with the player that they’ve planted in the casino game for this exact reason.
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This form of cheating is extremely common but you really need some confidence to try and pull it off. It simply involves a player adding to their bet when they see that they have a strong hand. They may have been playing conservatively and wagered $100. However, on seeing their hand they now wish that they’d wagered more. Rather than just accept a missed opportunity, they cheat by pushing extra chips across and act like they were there all along.
Given just how discreet you need to be to carry out this cheat successfully, it’s probably not the best idea to be drinking during the game!
Risk of Casino Cheating: Casino Security
While there are plenty of ways to cheat at blackjack there are just as many, if not more, ways of getting caught. It’s worth bearing in mind that there are cameras everywhere. You could well be spotted marking a card or adding to your bet and find yourself leaving the premises pretty swiftly.
You may not be caught in the act but that doesn’t always mean that you’ve got away with it. If the house has noticed that you’ve had a fairly successful evening, don’t be surprised if they then go and review the footage that was recorded while you were playing. Yes, you may have gotten away with it there and then but who knows what greeting awaits you when you return?
Getting caught is going to see you banned from the casino as a minimum. You may find yourself being banned from a whole host of casinos. Worse than that, it could also lead to prison time.
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