Baccarat: The Preferred Pastime for Fraudsters due to Its Atttractive Appeal

Baccarat: The Preferred Pastime for Fraudsters due to Its Atttractive Appeal

Casinos have long been a playground for cunning scoundrels, and baccarat is no exception. Last week, the news swarmed with the story of a gang of villains concocting a scheme to swindle a Singapore casino during a game of baccarat. The plot involved a woman disguised as a player, communicating with an associate through a hidden earpiece, relaying data to a specially designed Excel formula. The program dictated their following moves, such that they managed to amass $300,000 in a week before their downfall.

Such incidents are far from rare. In fact, at the World Gaming Protection Conference in Las Vegas last year, experts ranked four baccarat-related schemes among the top 5 casino frauds of the century.

For instance, over the past century, casinos have lost around $100 million due to "false shuffling." This scam entails a dealer shuffling the cards, and a player, often a woman, placing a bag with a hidden camera on the table. The lady then leaves, transmitting the footage to her accomplices, who analyze and memorize the card sequence. When the deck re-enters play, they make corresponding bets, according to the report from CDC Gaming.

There's another technique involving asymmetrical cards, exploiting casinos that skimp on deck quality. Cheaters could, for example, collude with regular customers, asking the dealer to display each card before the game. This way, players could memorize the cards' unique features, thereby increasing their odds.

Similarly, another scam involves a dealer and a player colluding, with the player wearing a hidden camera in their sleeve. The player shuffles the deck, permitting the camera to record the card sequence.

Lastly, the final scam features a collusion with a casino employee responsible for catering to VIP clients. The employee supposedly requests access to internal materials on behalf of their client. If the casino utilizes a machine to verify the shuffle's integrity, the fraudsters can obtain a video of the card sequence.

These schemes thrive due to the numerous rituals surrounding baccarat, making it an attractive target for unscrupulous players, as per an article in Popsci. Since baccarat is not overly intellectual and relies on chance, impressions can be augmented by rituals like blowing on the deck or handling it in a peculiar manner. Moreover, the game attracts numerous high-rollers, and their preferences usually warrant accommodation, providing ample opportunities for cheating.

Luck can favor a player for an extended period before suddenly abandoning them in games like baccarat. As a result, a series of large wins might not immediately trigger suspicions with security. Typically, by the time an unscrupulous player comes under the scrutiny, they have vacated the premises, moving on to another venue.

It's essential to note that while this article focuses on baccarat-related scams, various forms of corruption have plagued the casino industry throughout history. Cheats have been manipulating card games like poker blackjack by card switching and marking, whereas online casinos have been victims of fake websites and apps designed to extract personal information or trick people into sending money.

References:[1] CNN, "PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker Shut Down by U.S. Government on Black Friday," April 15, 2011.[2] The Guardian, "Anthony Hutchison, Poker Player, Guilty of Fraud Charges," October 23, 2012.[3] Bustle, "MrBeast's Phony Casino App Appears on Google Play Store; Here's How to Protect Yourself," June 14, 2020.

1. The casino-and-gambling culture in Las Vegas has been witness to numerous baccarat-related scams throughout history, as highlighted at the World Gaming Protection Conference last year.
2. Some casino-games, like baccarat, have been targeted by unscrupulous players who exploit the ritualistic environment and the reliance on chance to devise their schemes.
3. Various forms of fraud, such as "false shuffling," have caused casinos to lose millions over the past century, posing a significant threat to the casino industry, as documented in articles like the one in Popsci.

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