Since the very first casino opened its doors, an endless war has raged between the operators trying to protect their money and the criminals trying to steal it.

The casino's "Eye in the Sky" catches most of them eventually, but recognizing the signs of a scam unfolding right next to you is a fascinating skill.
Past Posting: The Art of the Late Bet
If they win a hand of blackjack, their original $10 bet is magically transformed into a $100 bet right before the dealer pays them out.

Often, a confederate (an accomplice) will intentionally spill a drink or loudly argue with a waitress at the exact moment the cheater makes the move.
The scam almost always involves a loud, intentional distraction created by an accompliceCheaters also use "pinching," which is removing chips from a bet after losing the handIf a player is constantly hovering their hands near their chips after the deal, pit bosses become highly suspicious The Complex Scam of Edge Sorting
In card games like Blackjack and Baccarat, the entire house edge relies entirely on the fact that the next card in the shoe is a complete mystery.

A more sophisticated, highly controversial method popularized by poker legend Phil Ivey is known as "edge sorting."
The Mechanics of a Craps Scam
The craps table is extremely difficult to cheat due to the massive size of the table, the required wall-bounce, and the presence of four highly trained dealers.

By keeping the desired number facing upward during the entire slide, they only have to worry about the random outcome of the second tumbling die.
Scam NameRequired Skill LevelDetection DifficultyDice SlidingExtremely High (Physical skill)Low (Dealers watch the throw closely)Invisible InkLow (Requires tainted deck)High (Requires UV light to detect)
Attempting to cheat a modern casino is an incredibly foolish endeavor that almost universally ends in severe felony charges and prison time.