While cheating at casinos is illegal and unethical, there have been numerous stories throughout history where individuals attempted to gain an unfair advantage. It’s important to note that cheating is strongly discouraged and can result in severe legal consequences. Here are a few notorious casino cheater stories:
- Tommy Glenn Carmichael:
- Carmichael was a notorious slot machine cheater who used various devices to manipulate slot machines. One of his most famous inventions was the “monkey paw,” a device that could trigger the payout mechanism of certain slot machines. Carmichael’s activities spanned several decades, and he eventually served time in prison for his actions.
- Richard Marcus:
- Marcus was a professional blackjack and baccarat cheater known for his “past posting” techniques. In baccarat, he would place larger bets after the outcome was known. He also used a technique called the “Savannah,” a move where he would place a small bet and, if he lost, claim that he intended to bet much more. Marcus was eventually caught and banned from numerous casinos.
- Monique Laurent and her Radio Transmitter:
- In the late 1970s, a French woman named Monique Laurent and her brother teamed up to cheat at roulette using a radio transmitter hidden in a cigarette pack. The transmitter could manipulate the ball and wheel, allowing them to predict the winning number. Their scheme was eventually uncovered, leading to their arrest.
- The MIT Blackjack Team:
- While not cheaters in the traditional sense, the MIT Blackjack Team gained fame for using card counting techniques to gain an edge in blackjack. The team, consisting of students and ex-students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, successfully won millions of dollars from various casinos before eventually being banned.
- Dennis Nikrasch:
- Nikrasch was a master slot machine cheater who used his technical skills to rig the machines. In the late 20th century, he managed to develop a device that could manipulate the computer chips in slot machines. Nikrasch and his team successfully cheated casinos out of millions before being apprehended.
It’s important to reiterate that cheating at casinos is illegal and can result in serious legal consequences, including fines and imprisonment. Casinos employ sophisticated security measures to detect and prevent cheating, and individuals caught cheating can face not only legal repercussions but also a lifetime ban from the casino industry.