Las Vegas Cheaters?

[FGK42]

I saw an interesting show on the Travel Channel recently entitled, “Cheaters in Las Vegas – exposed”. They had interviews with slot cheaters, a slight of hand expert who was a dealer, an insider on the gaming commission and finally another slot cheater who had a LIFE SENTENCE for cheating!

What I found most disturbing was the joy and glee that the pit bosses and surveillance people demonstrated and displayed when talking about how they prosecute and apprehend “cheats”. One casino guy was giddy when saying, “…we love to lead people out in handcuffs.”

My wife commented, “boy you kill someone and get 15 years but you rob a slot machine and get life? What’s wrong with that picture?”

I guess the most bothersome, at least to me, is knowing that a lot of casino personal thing/refer/regard card counters as “cheats” when it is merely using the existing rules and brain power to create an advantageous situation! Ouch!

[Automatic Monkey]

You're right, it is disturbing. You can get more time for cheating in a casino than for robbing it with a gun.

While the senior people in surveillance and security are aware that AP's are not cheating, the GED's who are actually down on the floor putting handcuffs on people may not understand the difference. Remember a lot of our techniques they have never heard of, and if they discover one they might honestly not be able to figure out if it is cheating or AP. Then there are grey areas involving teams and signaling. A dealer in an Indian casino once told me that they considered keeping count with your chip stacks to be a form of device play and they treat it accordingly.

This is just one more reason to be careful out there. You can never discount the possibility that the next security guard to be sent to remove you from a game is going to be an ex-cop who was fired for brutality or some other unstable person, and that when he approaches you a chain of events is going to be set off that culminates with you being arrested, injured or killed. This isn't something to be paranoid about, just aware of when you are dealing with these guys.

[blackchipjim]

I started laughing when I got to your last paragraph. My mother in law knows I'm a card counter and thinks it's cheating. I explained to her while it's not illegal it is frowned upon and you can be banned. I have about the same feeling coming from the program. I think they do that to scare off anyone who is thinking about cheating. There was a program I'm not sure if it was the same one that stated 60% of the convicted felons in Nevada were for gaming violations. I think some of the pit bosses belong in prison the way they settle some disputes. Blackchipjim.

[ColorMeUp]

Originally Posted by FGK42

I saw an interesting show on the Travel Channel recently entitled, “Cheaters in Las Vegas – exposed”. They had interviews with slot cheaters, a slight of hand expert who was a dealer, an insider on the gaming commission and finally another slot cheater who had a LIFE SENTENCE for cheating!

What I found most disturbing was the joy and glee that the pit bosses and surveillance people demonstrated and displayed when talking about how they prosecute and apprehend “cheats”. One casino guy was giddy when saying, “…we love to lead people out in handcuffs.”

My wife commented, “boy you kill someone and get 15 years but you rob a slot machine and get life? What’s wrong with that picture?”

I guess the most bothersome, at least to me, is knowing that a lot of casino personal thing/refer/regard card counters as “cheats” when it is merely using the existing rules and brain power to create an advantageous situation! Ouch!

Yeah, and the one woman gaming commission cop who they kept running the clip of saying something like "we just love putting people behind bars" or something to that effect. That's nice.

How about that dealer who flashed the next card to be dealt to his buddy at first base as he tucked the hole card? Slick. I would imagine there are many/even easier ways for dealers to cheat.....heck, they look under 10's & A's with a mirror, they could have a toe switched wired to a hearing aid in a cohorts ear and tell them the hole card each time they have a 10 or A up. Would make for a huge advantage.

I noticed the show didn't say a thing about card counters, just real cheats, people using mirrors, marking cards, etc.

I've read in many places that any good/experienced wheel dealer can roll any number he wants with pretty good accuracy - what's to keep his buddy from showing up and having the dealer aim for x number??

[EasyRhino]

I'm guessing the life sentences were part of a three-strikes regime.

[FGK42]

Originally Posted by EasyRhino

I'm guessing the life sentences were part of a three-strikes regime.

BUT LIFE?

Kill a person get 15-20

Rob a slot and life?

[ihate17]

There is gambling in other states, but only in the state of Nevada is gambling everything to the state. The casinos own the state and run it, and to discourage anyone who might cheat them, the state has passed very strong gambling laws. One thing mentioned though in the show and not mentioned in the above posts is that they also mentioned that often first timers are given probation for gaming crimes. But yes, steal from slots often enough and you can be in jail for life.

ihate17