Indicators of Cheating, Theft and Crooked Play

By Gary L. Powell and Jim Goding

The following is a partial listing of “indicators” of possible crooked play. None of these is definite evidence by itself but these do indicate that something might be wrong. These might be termed “the reason to believe” that something is wrong and bears further observation and investigation.

Note: we are still in process of revising this article, adding more items to the listings of indicators, and further classifications to involve more areas of the casinos, as well as correlations between some of the indicators and the most likely scams involved. I will publish the revised article in full in the Newsletter as a keynote article when completed. In addition, this listing has been abbreviated (as with most of the website articles) because I have to make a living too.

Slot Cheaters and Thieves:

• Rubbernecking
• Leg jumping (uncontrolled rhythmic muscle spasms)
• Looking at the cameras
• Blocking the front of the machine
• Blockers (people crowding around)
• Candle on the machine covered
• Feeding the validator and cashing with no play (can be counterfeit money)

* * * (Deletion, 3/4 page list)

Table Games Cheats and Scammers

• Rubbernecking
• Refuses to give name
• Only gives his name when losing (advantage player doesn’t want his name on records as a winner)
• Hat which conceals face
• Won’t talk to floor people
• Brings large amounts of checks on first appearance
• Large buy-in, little play (possible counterfeit)

* * * (Deletion, 3/4 page list)

Dealers

• Does not clear hands before touching body
• Sometimes clears hands, but makes a big production of it
• Hands in bankroll tray when at rest
• Unneeded “straightening” of the bankroll
• Unexplained violations of procedure (card pickup, check handling, shuffle)
• Always watching for the floor supervisors

* * * (Deletion, 3/4 page list)

Floor Supervisors, Boxmen

• Rubbernecking (always knows where the boss is)
• Unexplained variations or violations of procedure (especially marker procedure)
• Hands in the bankroll
• Unusually high standard of living for the apparent income
• Gambles heavily when off duty
• Meets customers outside the Pit
• Low PC on games in his or her Pit
• Bad attitude
• Afraid of Surveillance (won’t talk to Surveillance, even required notifications)

Copyright ©  1997, 2002 by Gary L. Powell and Jim Goding. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized sales or duplication by any means is a violation of law and of the proprietary rights of the authors.  For a complete copy of this article in its present form, contact booksales@casinosurveillancenews.com