Blackjack Cheating Techniques Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Blackjack can be beaten by disciplined players using advantage play techniques.
• Cheating by dealers can negate any advantage a player might have.
• Discussion about dealer cheating techniques and their prevalence.

Historical Context

• Ed Thorp: Developed first effective card counting system and published it in "Beat the Dealer".
  • Required an expert in card dealing to watch for cheating during initial trials.
• Cheating by dealers was highly prevalent during Thorp's time in Las Vegas.

Cheating Techniques

1. Second Dealing: Dealer deals the second card instead of the top card to avoid giving player valuable cards.

   • Uses a technique called bubble peek to see the top card.

2. Removing Valuable Cards: Tens and Aces are removed before dealing.

   • Can be done without looking at the top card.

3. Trick Shuffling: Ensures high cards stay in the same place and are not dealt to players.

   • Dealer can control which cards stay clumped together.

4. False Shuffling: Specific cards are not shuffled and stay in the same place.

   • Dealer ensures these cards stay at the bottom.

5. Prism Shoe: Uses a specially designed shoe to see the next card without the player's knowledge.

   • Dealer can decide whether to deal or hold back the card.

6. Mis-Paying: Dealer intentionally mis-pays the player to steal chips.

   • Can be done subtly and is hard to notice.

Prevention and Detection

• Gaming Control Board: Regulates casinos and ensures fairness.
• Casino Surveillance: Monitors all tables to catch any cheating.
• Economic Disincentives: Fines and penalties for cheating are higher than potential gains.

Conclusion

• Cheating is less common in well-regulated casinos today.
• Dealers are more likely to conspire with agents rather than cheat players directly.
• Casinos have inherent advantages making cheating unnecessary.
• Players should still be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

Notable Incidents

• TR Mob: Group that recruited dealers to cheat casinos, resulting in $7 million in winnings.
• Recent Example: A dealer in New York caught twice for colluding with players.

Final Thoughts

• Casinos are heavily regulated and monitored, reducing the risk of cheating.
• Players need to be aware of potential dealer scams but can generally trust the system.
• Understanding these cheating techniques can help players stay alert.