Casino Cheating Expert Reviews Card Counting and Casino Scams From Movies | Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair

30 Sept 202123:24

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video script features Sal Piacente, an expert on casino cheating, who debunks cheating myths and explains various techniques used in gambling. He clarifies that card counting is legal and distinct from cheating, then analyzes scenes from movies like 'Rain Man,' 'Rounders,' and '21' to point out inaccuracies and real-world cheating methods. Sal also discusses team play advantages, signaling in poker, and the use of devices like 'thumpers' for silent communication. The script provides insights into the world of casino security and the sophistication of both cheaters and countermeasures.

Takeaways

🎲 Sal Piacente, an expert on casino cheating, explains various cheating techniques and how they are used in casinos.
🃏 The script clarifies that card counting is not considered cheating, despite common misconceptions.
🕵️‍♂️ Surveillance in casinos is vigilant, looking for signs of cheating such as 'catching' a card or using computers to track the game.
🤹‍♂️ The use of 'perfect strategy computers' is highlighted, which can track every card dealt and guide players through Morse code vibrations.
👁️ Cheating techniques such as 'mechanics grip', 'false shuffles', and 'hangers' are explained, showing how they can manipulate the game.
🃅 The script points out that even though a dealer might use a secure grip, it doesn't necessarily mean they are cheating.
🎬 Several movie clips are analyzed for their depiction of casino cheating, with some being unrealistic or inaccurate.
🧲 The use of magnetic dice and how they can be controlled with a magnetic field is demonstrated, showing a high-tech approach to cheating.
🤝 The importance of teamwork in cheating is discussed, with examples of how signals and coordinated actions can lead to winning large sums.
🔢 The concept of 'running count' and 'true count' in card counting is explained, showing the mathematical strategy behind it.
💰 The script concludes with a humorous note that the best way to guarantee a small fortune at a casino is to visit a large one.

Q & A

Who is Sal Piacente?
-Sal Piacente is an expert on casino cheating, hired by casinos worldwide to help protect their assets.
What is card counting and is it illegal?
-Card counting is a technique used to track the ratio of high cards to low cards in Blackjack. It is not illegal but is often frowned upon by casinos.
What does the term 'past posting' mean?
-Past posting refers to adding to a bet after the outcome is known or partially known, which is a form of cheating.
What are 'perfect strategy computers' in the context of Blackjack?
-Perfect strategy computers are devices that keep track of every card dealt and use this information to calculate the optimal play, often using a series of Morse code vibrations to signal the player.
What is a 'mechanics grip' and why is it used?
-A mechanics grip is a way of holding a deck that allows for various cheating moves such as peeking at the bottom card or dealing from the bottom. It is called 'mechanics' because it allows the person to 'fix' the game.
What is the significance of the 'false shuffle' used in card cheating?
-A false shuffle is a technique where the cards appear to be shuffled but remain in a specific order. This is used to control the outcome of the game.
How does signaling work in casino cheating?
-Signaling involves one player covertly communicating information about their hand to an accomplice. This can be done through subtle gestures or code words.
What are 'juice decks' and how are they used?
-Juice decks are marked decks where cards have a substance that makes certain areas slightly darker, allowing trained eyes to identify the card values.
What is 'bottom dealing' in card cheating?
-Bottom dealing is a technique where the dealer deals cards from the bottom of the deck instead of the top, allowing them to control which cards are dealt.
What does the term 'cooler' mean in poker cheating?
-A cooler refers to a pre-arranged deck that is switched into the game to ensure a predetermined outcome, usually resulting in a big win for the cheater's accomplice.

Outlines

00:00

🃏 Casino Cheating Techniques and Card Counting Clarification

Sal Piacente, an expert on casino cheating, introduces viewers to various cheating methods using cards, such as misidentifying the ace of hearts as the ace of diamonds. He clarifies that card counting is legal and not considered cheating. Sal explains different cheating observations like 'not catching the whole card' and 'past posting,' and introduces devices such as 'perfect strategy computers' that assist in tracking cards. He also discusses the effectiveness of card counting in a six-deck game and the advantages it provides to the player.

05:03

🎲 Analyzing Cheating in Poker and Blackjack from Movies

Sal continues by examining scenes from movies like 'Rounders' and 'The Sting,' where he identifies specific cheating techniques such as false shuffling, bookmarking, and the use of a 'mechanics grip.' He also explains the concept of 'coolers' and how decks can be pre-arranged to give certain players an advantage. Sal points out a mistake in a 'Austin Powers' clip regarding the dealing of Blackjack cards and discusses the use of 'juice decks' with hidden markings to indicate card values.

10:06

🧲 Exposing Dice Cheating and Signaling Methods in Gambling

In this section, Sal discusses the use of magnetic dice to control the outcome of dice games, as seen in 'Oceans 13.' He explains how the polarity of the dice can be reversed to change the outcome and the difficulty in making such an act appear natural. Sal also addresses the unrealistic portrayal of a surveillance room lockdown and the use of 'thumper' devices for silent signaling in gambling. He critiques a scene from 'The Cooler' and explains the method of switching dice and the use of 'tops or teas' and 'percentage dice' in cheating.

15:09

🃷 Advanced Cheating Techniques and Team Play in Card Counting

Sal elaborates on advanced cheating techniques such as 'stacking the deck' and 'dealing a punch,' where marked cards are used to give an unfair advantage. He also discusses team play in card counting, emphasizing the benefits of having multiple players at different tables and the use of signals to communicate the count. Sal provides an example of how a team might use verbal cues to transfer the count and make strategic decisions based on the count.

20:10

👥 Teamwork and Strategy in Card Counting Illustrated in '21'

The final paragraph focuses on the movie '21,' where Sal describes the advantages of team play in card counting, such as better camouflage and the ability to capitalize on a rich count by calling in big money. He explains the use of a 'pneumonic aid' for transferring the count and the difference between the running count and the true count. Sal also touches on unconventional strategies employed when the count is high, like taking insurance, and concludes with a humorous remark about the guaranteed outcome of visiting a casino.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Card Counting

Card counting is a technique used in blackjack to determine whether the next hand is likely to give an advantage to the player or the dealer. This is achieved by keeping a running count of high and low cards dealt. In the video, Sal Piacente explains that card counting is not illegal and is often misunderstood as cheating.

💡Mechanic's Grip

The mechanic's grip is a way of holding a deck of cards that allows the handler to perform sleight-of-hand tricks and cheating maneuvers. Sal Piacente describes how this grip enables cheats to perform actions like peeking at the bottom card or dealing from the bottom. It is called a mechanic's grip because a 'mechanic' is a term for someone who fixes or manipulates the game.

💡False Shuffle

A false shuffle is a technique used to make it appear as though a deck of cards is being shuffled when, in fact, it remains in the same order. Sal demonstrates this by showing how cards can be manipulated to look shuffled while keeping certain cards in place. This technique is commonly used by cheaters to maintain control over the card order.

💡Juice Deck

A juice deck is a deck of cards marked with a special substance that is visible only to those trained to see it. This allows the person using the juice deck to identify the cards by looking for specific marks or patterns. Sal illustrates this by showing how he can read the values of cards that appear normal to untrained eyes.

💡Base Dealing

Base dealing, also known as bottom dealing, is a cheating method where the dealer deals cards from the bottom of the deck instead of the top. This allows the dealer to control which cards are dealt. Sal demonstrates this technique and explains its significance in cheating scenarios, such as the scene from 'Rounders.'

💡Collusion

Collusion involves two or more people working together to cheat in a game. In the video, Sal and his wife demonstrate how signaling can be used to communicate about the cards held, thereby manipulating the game. This is one of the most dangerous and undetected forms of cheating in casinos.

💡Cooler

A cooler is a pre-arranged deck of cards designed to cool down a hot streak by dealing losing hands to the player. In 'The Sting,' a cooler is used to manipulate the outcome of a poker game by ensuring specific hands are dealt. Sal explains how a cooler is set up and switched into play during a game.

💡Thumper

A thumper is a signaling device used to communicate information covertly during a game. It involves a vibrating device that can be controlled by a switch, often placed in a shoe or pocket. In the movie 'Casino,' a thumper is used to signal the value of the dealer's hole card to a partner at another table.

💡Signaling

Signaling is the act of covertly communicating information about the game, such as card values or player hands, to a partner. This can be done through various methods like hand gestures, body language, or devices. Sal and his wife demonstrate how signaling can be used effectively in poker to cheat.

💡Marked Cards

Marked cards are cards that have been altered to provide an advantage to the person who knows how to read the marks. This can include subtle marks, dots, or patterns that indicate the card's value. Sal shows how juice decks and other marking techniques are used to cheat in card games.

Highlights

Sal Piacente introduces himself as an expert on casino cheating and discusses his role in helping casinos protect their assets.

Sal explains the misconception around card counting, emphasizing that it is not illegal or considered cheating.

Description of a perfect strategy computer that tracks every card dealt in Blackjack, vibrating to signal how to play the hand.

Explanation of the concept of past posting, where a player adds to their bet after knowing the outcome, which Sal confirms is not happening in the scene.

Sal demonstrates how to make a false shuffle, making cards appear shuffled while keeping their order intact.

The mechanics grip and its significance in cheating, including how it allows for various moves like peaking the bottom card or dealing seconds.

Importance of judgment in cheating, as shown when Mike McDermott folds three Kings in 'Rounders' to avoid suspicion.

Explanation of base dealing and the significance of catching a hanger, an indicator of dealing from the bottom of the deck.

Description of the cooler, a technique involving a pre-arranged deck to ensure a high-stakes player gets a losing hand.

Sal discusses magnetic dice and how they can be manipulated using a hidden magnet, as depicted in 'Oceans 13'.

Illustration of the signaling technique in 'Schitt's Creek', where players covertly communicate the strength of their hands.

Explanation of the juice deck, a deck marked with a substance that allows a trained eye to read the cards.

Sal reviews the thumper device used for silent communication between players, highlighting its real-world application.

Description of false shuffles and multiple shifts to control the placement of cards, ensuring a cheater always has a winning hand.

Sal critiques the realism of scenes from various movies, providing insights into the actual techniques and devices used in casino cheating.

Final advice from Sal on the risks and reality of cheating in casinos, ending with a humorous note on how to leave with a small fortune.

Transcripts

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