Casino cheating is serious business. Each year, thousands of casino players attempt to gain an unfair advantage in their favorite game, only to be caught after a few lucky wins and banned from playing in that particular casino ever again.
While the cheating methods vary from player to player, the most notorious offenders are those who try to count cards at the blackjack tables or use marking, capping, and other deceptive techniques to win at the poker tables.
The great card-counting schemes of the 1960s made a few players very wealthy but eventually earned them lifetime bans from casinos worldwide. While card counting isn’t illegal, most casinos have house rules prohibiting it, and they can enforce them.
This article looks at some of the most notorious cases of casino cheaters who got banned from casinos.
Casino Rules and Regulations
The rules of a casino are established to ensure both fairness and security. Whether you are playing in a brick-and-mortar casino or online, it is important to familiarise yourself with the rules and regulations before playing any game. For instance, the best New Zealand online casino sites provide customers with a comprehensive list of rules, terms, and conditions they must follow.
Breaking any of these rules can result in serious consequences and possibly a lifetime ban from the casino. Read more about the best NZ online casinos in our guide.
The Players Who Got Banned for Cheating
In recent years, casinos have become more advanced in their methods of detecting and punishing cheaters, but there have been some particularly notable cases of players who were caught cheating and banned from playing. Some of the most famous are listed below.
Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck inevitably comes up whenever the topic of famous poker players comes up. The Oscar winner in acting, writing, directing, and producing is also well-known for his poker skills. In 2014, Affleck decided to shake things up by sitting at a high-stakes blackjack table at a Hard Rock Casino. After all, what could possibly go wrong?
But there was a catch. Affleck has a reputation as a cheater. He can use his knowledge of games to beat the odds and the house. The blackjack crew at the Hard Rock began to assume Affleck was counting cards after he consistently won. They told him he was no longer welcome to play blackjack at any Hard Rock establishment because he was too good at the game.
Although it is not against the law to count cards, just being accused of doing so at a blackjack table will get you kicked out. Fortunately for Affleck, he can enjoy the thrill of live dealer casino games at the click of a button. Affleck, according to insiders, has started gambling on games like poker and baccarat at online casinos.
Phillip Ivey
Phil Ivey is another well-known poker pro who was banned from a casino for an alleged cheating incident. In 2012, Ivey and a companion visited the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City to play baccarat. Over the course of 10 days, Ivey was able to win over $9.6 million.
The Borgata accused Ivey of using a technique called “edge sorting,” which is a way to identify patterns on the backs of playing cards and then arrange them in a certain way, giving him an edge over the casino. After a lengthy legal battle, Ivey was ultimately ordered to return the winnings to the casino.
Ivey protested his innocence and maintained that he did not cheat. He stated that edge sorting is a legitimate strategy, not a cheating form. Nevertheless, he was banned from the Borgata and other casinos in Atlantic City.
Mike Postle
One of the most controversial cases of cheating in the gambling world is that of Mike Postle. In 2019, accusations began to swirl that Postle was cheating at poker, specifically by using a device to get inside information in certain games broadcast on Twitch.
Postle denied the accusations, and a lawsuit was launched against him. But several poker pros testified to his guilt. Postle was eventually banned from all casinos in California and Nevada, effectively ending his career as a professional poker player.
Final Words
The three players above are just a few examples of the kinds of consequences that can come from cheating in casinos. It is important to remember that cheating is not only illegal but morally wrong. Players who are caught cheating risk getting banned from the casino forever, as well as facing other serious legal repercussions.
The best course of action is always to play fair and honest casino games. This way, you can enjoy your time in the casino without the risk of getting kicked out. So, before you decide to try your luck at the casino, make sure to play by the rules!
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