Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1 -- GETTING STARTED

Game Protection

Overview, Cheaters, Card Counters, Advantage Players, Table Game Procedures

Cheaters

Crossroaders, Hustlers, Professionals and Amateurs

Knowledge, Experience, Judgement, Planning, Innovation, Technique, Money, Social Skills

Organization

Crews, Captain, Takeoff Man, Mechanic, Support Players, The Inside Man

Specialists

Motivation

Desperation, Ego, Larceny, Revenge, Industry Dislike, Independence

Advantage Players

History, Tricks, Exploitable Loopholes, Equipment Bias, The Peek Game, Other Games

The Elements of a Scam

Psychology

The Turn

Dealers, Supervisors, Surveillance, Customers

Signals

Call-in, Scrub, Stop/Go, George/Tom, Heat, Brush, Deviation, Multiple Systems, Card Signaling, Count Signaling, Sky Signals, Verbal, Physical

Employee Theft and Inside Collusion

Electronic Player Assistance

Signaling Devices

Thumpers, Transceivers, Transmitter-Receivers, Loops, Receiving Devices

Computers

Blackjack Computers, Roulette Computers, Technical Features, Confidential Report, Miniaturization, RF Leakage, Developments

Cameras

Methods of Concealment, Systems, Boosters, Applications, Imager Efficiency, Body Worn VCRs, Remote Stations, Uploading to the Internet, Developments

The Future

Wearable Gadgets, Surgically Implanted Devices, Hi Tech Wizards

What is Cheating?

Cheating Statues, Definitions, Conspiracies

The Law and Card Counting, Advantage Play, Signaling and Devices

Questionable Scenarios

Summary

CHAPTER 2 -- BLACKJACK

Mucking

The Steal, One Card Mucks, Chopping, Drink Muck, Double Down Mucks, Two Players, Two Card Mucks, Cleaning Up

Switchers

Double Chop, Feeders, One Player/Two Hands, One Hand Switch/Two Hands

Shiners

Hand Held Shiner, Cigarette Shiner, Chip Shiner, Money Shiner, Glass Shiner

Check Moves (Outside)

Capping/Pressing

Blackjack Cap, Bottom Bet Cap, Quadruple Down

Pinching

Quick Pinch, Scratch Pinch, Bottom Check Pinch

Claimers

Cutting Techniques

Wobble Cut, Cut Peek, Riffle Cut, Multiple Card Peek, Mechanical Peeker, Cutcard Peek

Dealer Agent Scams

Slug Scams and Stacking the Deck

False Shuffles

Carrying a Slug, Scrape Cut, Center Stripping, Other Methods

Classic Slug Scam

High Low Slug Scam

Stacking the Deck

Lay Stack, Pickup Stack, Riffle Stack, Circle Stack, New Deck Stack Nullifying the Cutoffs

Nullifying the Cut

Pop Cut, Laying a Brief, Short Cut, Cutcard Brief, Cutcard Shift

Coolers

Cold Deck (single deck), Cold Deck (multi-deck), New Deck Coolers, Burncard Coolers,

Slug Coolers, "Deadlock," Future Coolers

Peek/Flash Scams

Peeks

Back Peek, Heel Peek, Bubble Peek, Fan Peek

Flashing

Classic Flash, Bubble Flash, Gap Flash, Hitcard Flash, Holecard Flash

Shoe Peeks

Nail Peek, Fan Peek, Holecard flash, In the Shoe Peek

Check Moves (Inside)

Dumping the Game, Pushing Off to Agents, Sizing in High, Color Change/Color In Cap, Mixed Color Overpay, Blackjack Cap, Winning Hand Cap, Other Methods

Strong Arm Cheating

Pitch Moves

Wrong Hand, Switching the Player's Hand, Switching the Holecard, Capping the Deck, Cheap Shots

Shoe Moves

Playing the Topcard, Holdout Deal, Shoe Cap, Holecard Switch

Gaffed Shoes

Electronic Peek Shoe, Peek Shoe with Shiner, Other Methods

Summary

CHAPTER 3 -- CARD COUNTING

Short History

Blackjack Analysis, Early System Players, Strategies Hit the Printed Page, Beat the Dealer, The Industry Deals with Skilled Players

The Fundamentals

Basic Strategy

What is it worth? Rule Variations, The Public's Play, Basic Strategy and the Industry

Card Counting Systems

Balanced Counts, Un-Balanced Counts, Which Count is Best? (So Many Counts), How far can we go?, Which Count is Right for Gamers?, How Counts Look and Play

True Count

Traditional Methods, Short Cuts, Conversion Factors, Pivot

Playing Strategy

Strategy Indexes, Early Count Playing Strategies, The Top Plays

Betting Strategies

Optimal, Graduated, Parlay, Take Back, Spreading Down, Multiple Hands, Color Schemes, Cover Zones, Delayed Bet Spreads, Back Counting, Bet Spread Mathematics

The Card Counter's Bankroll

Pocket Bankroll, Risk, Kelly Criterion, Optimal Bet Size

Pseudo Card Counting Systems

Card Counting Props, Mechanical Devices and Computers

The Players

Tourists, Card Watchers, Imitators, Amateurs, Professional Players, Professional Teams

Card Counting - Perspective

Precision?, Computer Simulations, Understanding the Player's Edge, Probability of Winning, Risk of Ruin, Win Rates, Percentage Advantage versus Unit Win

Detection / Evaluation

Strategy Deviations, Bet Spread, Win Rate, Taking Your Time, Other Factors

Countermeasures and Barring

Summary

CHAPTER 4 -- ADVANTAGE PLAY (Blackjack)

Playing Holecard

Basers, Front Loaders, Index Dealer, The Express Play, Holecard Strategy

Steering

Bottom Card Steering, Center Cut Estimation, Playing the Stack

Playing the Turn

Shuffle Tracking

A Short History

Playing Location

Strip Flash, Lops, High Riffles

Slug Tracking

Grab Size, Pre-Shuffle Slugs, The Tracking Process, Mapping, Practice, Memory, Advantage, Cutcard, Dealer Selection, Strategy Features

Criss-Cross, Reload, 6 Packet Criss-Cross, Indicator Slugs, Dilution Shuffle, Tracking Bottoms

Slug Tracking Computers

Countermeasures, Tests, Plugging the Cutoffs, Caesar's Switch, Splits, Detection

Sequence Tracking

The Predictable Riffle Shuffle

Ace Tracking: Keycards, Double Keys, Triple Keys

Other forms of Sequential Information

Betting/Steering, Dealer Selection, Advantage, Teams, Maps

Sequential Tracking Computers, Captain Crunch, Locking into Two Sequences

Countermeasures, Tests, Number of Riffles, Stripping, Detection

Pseudo Shuffle Systems

Randomness, Bias, Clumping, Simulating Human Shuffles

Shuffling Machines

Continuous Shufflers

Loopholes, Card Counting, Skewed Frequency Distributions, Card Shenanigans

Non-Continuous Shufflers

Shuffle Master, Other Shufflers, Scams and Loopholes, Regulatory Approval

The Science of Shuffling

The Riffle Shuffle, Stripping the Deck, Boxing the Deck, The Best Procedures, Shuffle Speed, Dead Game Shuffling, Alternative Shuffling Procedures for Suspect Play

Perspective

Summary

CHAPTER 5 -- CRAPS

The Dice

Manufacturing Process, Manufacturing Variances, Precision Dice, Legal Specifications

Crooked Dice

Passers, Missouts, Weight, Flats, Bevels, Edge Work, Surface Work, Tops, Double Number, Magnetic Dice, Other Variations, Crooked Gambling Supply Houses

Dice Switches

Palm Switch, Thumb Switch, No Spill Switch, Money Switch, Jacket Switch,One Die Switches, Dice Shell, Other Methods, Cleaning Up

Scams with Gaffed Dice

The Old Days

The Casino Logo and Serial Number, Hot Stamp Machines, Stamps, Vulnerability

Scams/Percentage Dice, Scams/Tops, Scams/Double Number, The Craps Cooler

Detection/Tests

Visual Inspection, Spotting, Balancer, Dice Square, Edge Test, Surface Test, Micrometer, Magnet Test

Controlled Dice Shots

Push Shot, Spin Shot, Puck Shot, Walking the Die, Off the Table Shot, Other Shots

Countermeasures, The Back Wall, The String

Scams with Controlled Dice Shots

One Die Lay down

Setup, The Lay Down, Money Laydown

Outside Crap Moves

Proposition Hustles, Past Posting, Money Switch, Pressing the Don't, Other Methods

Dealer-Agent Scams

The Catch, Rail Moves, Handing Off, Comebet Overpays, Putting Bets Up, Thumb Busting, Totaling, Capping, Call Bet Scams, Miscalling, Other Methods

Stealing from the Box

Stealing Checks, Handing off to the Floor, Stealing Cash, Hanging a Bill

Setting the Dice

The System, Testing the System, Test Results

Summary

CHAPTER 6 -- ROULETTE

Past Posting

Solo, Past Posting with Props, Team Past Posting, Two Color Past Posting, Runners

Losing Bet Switches

Conversion Scams

Outside Ball Manipulation

Manipulating the Table, Steel Core Roulette Balls, Unusual Cheating Devices

Dealer-Agent Scams

Dealer Past Posting, Column Past Posting, Overpays, Double Check Past Post, Back Palm Past Post, Pushing Dirty Stacks, Other Methods

Gaffing the Wheel

Early Gaffed Wheels, Gaffing the Modern Wheel, Gaffed Wheels versus Biased Wheels

Bias Wheels

Bias, Collecting the Data, Analyzing the Data, Standard Deviation, Chi Square

Inspection

Visual, Table, Bowl, Spindle, Ball Track, Canoes, Number Strip, Rotor, Pockets, Cone, Inside Bowl, Ball, Software Analysis, Manufacturer's Guidelines

Roulette Computers

How Roulette Computers Work, Problems and Obstacles, The Capricious Nature of the Wheel, Overseas Conditions, The Modern Wheel, New Technologies

Visual Prediction

History

The Basics

Ball Track Bias, Rotor Speed, Ball Speed, Bounce, The Strategy

Real World Conditions

Roulette Computers versus Visual Prediction

Section Shooting

Skill, Section Shooting Versus Visual Prediction, It Can Be Done, Procedures, Roulette Specialists, House Dealers, Monte Carlo

Dealer's Signatures

Theory, Strategies, The 17 Rule

Summary

CHAPTER 7 -- BACCARAT

The Slug Scam

Mini-Baccarat

Baccarat's Vulnerability, Recording the Cards, 6-Row System, False Shuffles, The Zarrow Shuffle, Faking the Shuffle-Check, Faking the Wash

Big Table Baccarat

New Deck Slugs, Flashing During the Wash, Peek Stack

Slug Scams and Technology

Beating the Shuffler, Hidden Cameras and False Shuffles

Strong Arm Cheating

Shoe Peeks

Passing the Shoe, Lip Peek, Holdout Peek, Shoe Peek with Lid

Gaffed Shoes

Prism Shoes, Remote Control Slug Shoe

Coolers

Mucking/Switching

John Scarne, Stranger Cards, Macau Scam

Other Methods

Card Counting

Effect of Removal, Baccarat's Dependent Nature, Thorp and Griffin Studies

Advantage Play

Shuffle Tracking

Slug Tracking, Sequence Tracking, Tracking Nines, Locking into Two Sequences

Back Card Steering

Topcard Advantages, First Six Card Advantages

Other Methods

Capping, Pinching, Past Posting, Moving Losers, Late Bets

Summary

CHAPTER 8 -- ASIAN GAMES / NOVELTY GAMES

PAI GOW

The Dice

Asian Style Dice, Three Dice Frequencies, Dealing Orders

The Dice Cup

Metal Cups, Protection Cups, Acrylic Cubical Cup

Nullifying the Dice

Rank Methods, No Shake, Miss-Call, Cup Peek, Lid Control, Controlled Shakes

Crooked Dice: Magnetic Dice, Misspots, Percentage Dice, Other Possibilities

Dice Switches, Cup Switches

Marked Tiles

Sanding, Nicking, Scratching, Red Work, Finish Work, Other Methods, Hi Tech Marking

Stacking the Tiles

Culling, False Shuffles, No Touch False Shuffle, Professional "Shufflers"

Applications: Classic Stack, Stacking with Marked Tiles, The Odd-Even Stack, Delivery Stacking

Strong Arm Cheating

Mucking

One Tile Muck, Dupes, Cleaning Up

Switching

Double Chop, Feeders, Wrong Position Switching

Reflection Peek, Flash Scam

Strong Arm Cheating

Switching the Player's Hand, Pushing and Paying Losers, Other Methods

Freezing the Table

PAI GOW POKER

Skillful Play

The Dice, Crooked Dice, Stacking, The Asian Deal, Starter Cards, Strong Arm Cheating

SIC BO

Electronic Dice

NOVELTY GAMES

Mathematical Analysis, Dependent Trials, The Shuffle, Cut, Deal, Topcarding, Playing Holecard, Networking, Cheating, Novelty Game Basic Strategies

Summary

CHAPTER 9 -- POKER

Collusion

Local Courtesy, Playing Tophand, Middling, Pre-Arranged Strategies, Playing Cousins, Playing out of the Same Pocket, Perception, Tournaments

Shuffle Related Scams

Culling, Weeding, Faking the Scramble/Wash, Top Slug Controls, Push Through Full Deck Control

Nullifying the Cut

False Cuts, Slip Cut, In-Stripper Brief

Applications

The Kill, Slug Scam, Dealing Known Holecards, Flop Moves, Bad Beat Jackpots, Riffle Stacking, The Perfect Shuffle, The Peek Stack, Deal'em Back, Double Duke, The Delayed Stack, Slug or Cooler, Bin Cooler

Holding Out

Steals, Holding Out, Seven Card Stud Scenario, Hold'em, Holding Out with Inside Collusion, Cleaning Up

Mechanical Holdout Devices

Knee-Spread, Bean Shooter, Short Sleeve, Slick Sleeve, Bugs

Countermeasures

Changing the Deck, Count Down, Dupes, The Card Index

Strong Arm Cheating

Peeks

Heel Peek, 2-Down Peek

False Deals

Pitch Second Deal, Stud Second Deal, Bottom Deal, Greek Deal, Mechanic's Grip

Coolers

Buy-In Cooler, Chip Rack Cooler, Mechanical Cold Deck Machines

Capping the Deck

Check Copping, Spraying the Pot

Sending The Hand Over, Goose Neck, Spectators

Cheap Shots

Intentional String Bets, Other Methods

Summary

CHAPTER 10 -- UNIVERSAL SCAMS

Subs

Double Apron, Spring Loaded Sun, Sleeve Sub, Fly Sub, Shirt Sub, Tie Sub

Swinging without Subs, Other Methods

Chip Cup and the Double Sided Checks

Administrative Scams

Marker Scams, fills, credits, openers, closers, counterfeit checks (chips), counterfeit traveler's checks, counterfeit money, stolen payroll checks, theft

Marked Cards

Short History

Early Playing Cards, Steamboats, Stamped Decks, Crooked Gambling Supply Houses, Early Scams, Casino Scams

Inside and Outside Work, Combinations, The Shoe Game, European Style Blackjack, Other Games, Advantages, Card Control

The Work (Inside Systems)

Blockout

Matching the Ink, Enlarged Diamonds, Humps, White Ink

Cutout

Shade

Formulas, Reading Shade, Line Shade, Highway Shade, Spot Shade, Juice, Flash, White-on-White, Partial and Natural White-on-White, Triangle Shade

Sorts

Overall Back, Border Sorts, White Backed Sorts, Percentage Sorts

Trims

Overall Back, White Back, Cutters and Rounders

Sand/Scratch, The Shine, Luminous Readers, Rounders

The Work (Outside Systems)

Playing The Bend, Snaking (Waving), Top Carding Aces, Buckle, Plastic Cards

Daub, Daub Substitutes, Concealment, Graphite, Nail Nicking, Knockoff Sticks

Touch Work

Rough and Smooth, Punch, Blackline, The Flex

Factory Defects, One Way Backs, Creekers, Electronic Marked Cards, Other Methods

Tests for Detection

Box, Pip Configuration, Ribbon Spread, Riffle Test, Angled Light, Size Test, Bevel Test, Shade Tests, Gun Test, Squeeze Tests, Touch Tests, Filters, Blacklight, The Eyes, Evaluating the Play

Summary

CHAPTER 11 -- DETECTION

Industry Line of Defense

Dealers, Floor, Pit and Shift Supervisors, Casino Managers

Surveillance

Capability, The Real Benefits, Cheaters versus Surveillance, Software Detection

Griffin Investigations and Similar Agencies

Detection Skills

Profiling

Age, Ethnic Background, Sex, Image, Built-In Profiles, Disguises

Awareness, Knowledge, Thought Process, Realities, Detection Tips

Table Game Procedures

Uniformity, Anticipation, Which Procedures are Best, Guidelines for Dealers and Supervisors, Protection Against Cheating, Questions, Resistance to Change, Evaluation

Game Protection Mathematics

Percentage of Winning Hands, Strange Results, Poisson Distribution, The Law of Averages, Standard Deviation, Standard Deviation Shortcuts, Bayes Theorem

The Casino Hold Percentage

Measuring Game Performance, What Should My Games Be Holding, Fluctuation

Rating Systems

Weak Basic Strategy Players, Error Costs, Frequency of Error, Player Profiles

Myths and Misconceptions

Knowledge Traps, Cheating, Marked Cards, Counting, Shuffle Tracking, Betting Systems, Do Casinos Cheat?, The Short Shoe, Master Hi Low, Preferential Shuffling

The Future of Game Protection

Biometrics, Accountability Systems, Automation, Realities

Training, Sources and Experts

Background, Books, Videos, Software, The Internet, Lectures, Surveillance Footage, Personal Contacts, The Ultimate Source

Recommendations

Card Counting, Shuffle Tracking, Advantage Play, Craps, Roulette, Baccarat, Asian Games, Poker, Mathematics, Surveillance/Security, General, Cheating

Web Sites, Retail Outlets, Experts

Summary

Final Thoughts Book Expectations, Future Editions

Casino Game Protection Web Site