Casinos have always fascinated both players and cheats. Numerous cheating stories have left their mark on the history of gambling, some so ingenious that they managed to fool even the most vigilant casinos. This article explores the most famous cheating incidents, the methods used, and the consequences they led to.
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Joseph Jagger and the unbalanced roulette wheel (1873)
In 1873, Joseph Jagger, a textile industry businessman, discovered that one of the roulette wheels at the Monte Carlo casino was unbalanced, causing the ball to land more frequently on certain numbers. With a team of assistants, he observed and recorded the results of roulette games over several days. He eventually discovered that one of the tables showed a significant bias. Exploiting this flaw, Jagger started placing bets on the numbers most likely to appear, accumulating enormous winnings.
Within just a few days, he managed to pocket the equivalent of £2.6 million in today’s money. Jagger became famous for having “broken the bank at Monte Carlo”, a phrase that refers to winning all the money available on a roulette table. This cheat marked the start of systematic attempts to exploit the mechanical imperfections of casino equipment.
The MIT blackjack team and card counting (1979)
In 1979, a group of students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) discovered that they could use card counting to improve their chances of winning at blackjack. Card counting involves keeping track of high and low cards that have already been played to calculate the probabilities of the remaining cards.
The students formed a team, passed rigorous tests, and trained to conceal their card-counting techniques. They developed a sophisticated system of signals and communication to coordinate their efforts without arousing suspicion. Backed by investors, the team headed to Las Vegas, where they won £320,000 in a single weekend. Over the following years, they went on to win nearly £4 million.
Casinos, unable to prove cheating, eventually banned team members and adopted new security measures to detect card counting. This story later inspired the film “21”.
Marked cards and contact lenses (2011)
In 2011, three Italians attempted to cheat the Barrière de Cannes casino using a marked card deck. They marked strategic cards (such as kings and aces) with invisible ink. To read these markings, they wore special contact lenses that made the ink visible. Using this method, they identified important cards and adjusted their strategy accordingly. Within just a few hours, they managed to win £17,000 at poker.
However, their unusual behaviour caught the attention of the casino managers, who began closely monitoring their activities. The cheats were quickly caught and arrested. They were sentenced to prison for fraud.
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The international gang and mini-cameras (2004)
In 2004, a French-Lebanese-Romanian trio used hidden mini-cameras to film the dealer and spy on their opponents’ cards in 32 different casinos. The cameras were concealed in their clothing sleeves and transmitted real-time footage of the dealer’s cards to an accomplice outside the casino. This accomplice analysed the images and relayed instructions to the cheats via discreet earpieces.
This method allowed them to win up to £85,000. However, their suspicious behaviour eventually raised the staff’s suspicions. During one of their sessions, they were caught red-handed and arrested. The cheats were tried and convicted for fraud and conspiracy.
Gonzalo Pelayo and the roulette wheels (1990s)
In the 1990s, Gonzalo Pelayo, a Spanish gambling enthusiast, decided to follow in the footsteps of Joseph Jagger. With the help of his family, he observed roulette wheels in multiple casinos to identify flaws. They spent weeks analysing roulette results to determine which numbers appeared most frequently.
Pelayo discovered that some roulette wheels had biases that could be exploited to improve his chances of winning. Using this method, he began placing strategic bets and won approximately £1.2 million in various European and American casinos, including those in Madrid, Vienna, Copenhagen, London, and Las Vegas.
The casinos, suspecting foul play but unable to prove fraud, filed legal actions against Pelayo. However, he was ultimately cleared and kept his winnings.
The Tran organisation and corrupt dealers (2002–2005)
Between 2002 and 2005, a Vietnamese couple, Van Thu Tran and Phuong Truong, led a sophisticated organisation that stole millions of dollars with the help of corrupt casino dealers. The couple targeted vulnerable dealers, bribing them with promises of easy money. Once corrupted, the dealers stopped shuffling the cards properly after each game, allowing the cheats to memorise the sequence of the deck.
The cheats used computers to analyse the sequences and provided precise instructions to infiltrated players via earpieces. The FBI eventually infiltrated the network, leading to the arrest of several members of the organisation. Van Thu Tran and Phuong Truong were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for fraud and conspiracy.
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Richard Marcus and the “Savannah” technique
Richard Marcus, a former casino dealer, is known as one of the most ingenious casino cheats. Among his many techniques, his most famous is the “Savannah” method. Marcus placed a stack of chips on the table, hiding a high-value chip among low-value ones. If his bet won, he revealed the high-value chip and claimed the corresponding payout. If his bet lost, he discreetly removed the high-value chip, leaving only the low-value ones to minimise his losses.
Using this method, Marcus won thousands of pounds without ever being caught. His ability to outwit dealers and avoid suspicion earned him a legendary reputation in the gambling world.
Mike Postle and poker cheating (2018–2019)
In 2018 and 2019, Mike Postle, an American professional poker player, was accused of cheating during live-streamed poker games at the Stones Gambling Hall in California. Veronica Brill, another poker player, noticed Postle making inexplicably correct decisions, even in highly uncertain situations. Postle was suspected of using an electronic device to receive real-time information about his opponents’ hands.
These accusations triggered an internal investigation by Stones Gambling Hall, which concluded that there was no evidence of cheating—a finding widely criticised for its lack of transparency and rigour.
Legal actions: A class-action lawsuit was filed by several players against Postle, Stones Gambling Hall, and tournament director Justin Kuraitis, alleging financial losses due to the suspected cheating. In September 2020, the court dismissed most claims against Postle, Stones Gambling Hall, and Kuraitis, primarily because California law prevents the recovery of gambling losses. In April 2021, Mike Postle dropped his defamation lawsuit against Brill and others who had accused him of cheating.
Although Postle was not found guilty, the case damaged his reputation in the poker community. The controversy also raised concerns about the security of live and online poker games and measures to prevent cheating.
These cheating stories highlight the ingenuity of cheaters and the need for casinos to remain vigilant. While some succeed temporarily, legal consequences and enhanced security measures eventually catch up with most cheats. Preventing cheating remains a critical focus for the gambling industry, ensuring fairness and maintaining players’ trust in casinos worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most famous casino cheats in history?
The most famous casino cheats include Joseph Jagger’s exploits with the unbalanced roulette wheel, the MIT blackjack team’s card-counting methods, and Gonzalo Pelayo’s sophisticated strategies with his family.
How did Joseph Jagger cheat at the Monte Carlo casino?
Joseph Jagger discovered that a roulette wheel at the Monte Carlo casino was unbalanced, causing the ball to land more often on certain numbers. He exploited this flaw to win the equivalent of £2.6 million in today’s money.
How do cheats use technology to win in casinos?
Cheats use various technologies, such as marked cards with invisible ink readable via special contact lenses, mini-cameras to spy on dealers, and electronic devices to receive real-time information about their opponents’ hands.
Are casino cheats often caught?
Yes, many casino cheats are caught and sentenced for their actions. Casinos and authorities continually work to enhance security measures to detect and prevent cheating.
