Air Gun Used to Cheat Roulette

Back in 1981 a pair of innovative cheats employed a novel tool to beat the wheel

7/5/20231 min read

Cheating Device Spot Light - Capped Dice

An expose on "Capped" dice. What does it mean? Did it really work?

10/9/20223 min read

LOADED DICECHEATERDICE

Cheating Device Spotlight - Shapes, Flats and Edge Work

Crooked dice of the mis-shaped variety. Explanations of many different ways crooked dice players use to alter the shape of a die to gain an edge over the house.

10/2/20224 min read

LOADED DICEDICECHEATER

Cheating Device Spot Light - The Dice Loads

The many different materials used by cheats to load dice. Loads from mercury to gold are exposed in this in depth article.

9/25/20226 min read

Cheating Device Spotlight - Magnetic Dice

A description of the various ways magnets have been used to gaff dice.

9/18/20224 min read

DICEGAMBLING ODDS

Telekinesis and Dice

Did you know famed Duke University conducted a study on the effect the mind could have on controlling the out come of a die roll? Not only was the study for telekinesis and dice completed but the scientist in charge determined PK worked!

9/11/20222 min read

ROULETTEFARO

The Crooked Gamblers

A 100+ year article explaining how crooked dealers used to gaff roulette wheels and cards to cheat players. Cheating faro and electronic wheel gaffs are explained in detail.

C. W. Dunn

9/11/20224 min read

HOLD OUTCHEATER

Cheating Device Spotlight - The Chip Cop

The old cheating devise "the chip cop" is described in detail. Including the "chip cop holdout"

9/11/20222 min read

FAROHOLD OUTMARKED CARDSPOKERCHEATER

Sure Things of Card Cheats

Article from 1909 with amazing descriptions of various cheating devices used by expert card sharps a century ago. Real inside cheating stuff here.

Sitter-In

8/22/20229 min read

ROULETTEFAROCHEATER

The Crooked Gambler

How cheats beat the game of roulette and faro from 1902.

8/21/20224 min read

POKERMARKED CARDSCHEATER

Bifocals Used to Cheat Poker

Article from the Lincoln Journal in 1894 explaining how poker cheats read marked cards with specially designed glasses

8/18/20221 min read

DICE

How to Control Fair Dice

A how to control fair dice using dice cups to shake the dice. The "New Maxim Shot" and the "Kick Off Shot" are described and illustrated

8/8/20220 min read

FAROCHEATERHISTORY

Electric Faro Box

Back in the 1800s when electricity was new, there were claims that Faro boxes rigged with electrical current used to manipulate the cards removed from the box were being used to fleece gamblers. Sounds unlikely to me. Read the article and decide for yourself

7/30/20223 min read

FAROHISTORYCHEATER

Bat Masterson Quickly Freed

Famous old west gambler, Bat Masterson, was arrested for running a cheating Faro game in New York City in 1902. He was discharged by the local magistrate due the poor preparation by the government.

7/30/20221 min read

FAROMARKED CARDSHISTORY

Bat Masterson's Marked Cards

A description of the exact location of the marks on the back of a deck of cards Bat Masterson's alleged dealer used to cheat on a Faro game in 1902.

7/30/20221 min read

FAROMARKED CARDSHISTORY

Bat Masterson Arrested

Story of the arrest of famous 1800 gambler and lawman being arrested in NewYork city for being involved with running a "brace" (cheating) Faro game. Gambling History brought to life

7/29/20223 min read

DICEHISTORY

How Casino Dice Were Made

Ever wonder how casino dice were made when the Rat Pack was rolling the bones? This article provides the answers.

7/16/20223 min read

FAROHISTORYMONTE

Earp Called Bat Masterson Out

Exciting tale of the time two Old West legends squared off at a Faro table.

The Washington Post 1905

7/16/20222 min read

FAROCHEATER

Faro Cheating with the High Layout

A Faro dealer invented a lucrative although short lived sure thing with his high layout cheating box.

7/16/20221 min read

FAROCHEATER

Players Cheating Faro

Not all cheaters on Faro table sat behind the table. Some clever players used a simple pin hole in 8 cards to rake in money. Before dealer's across the country finally "got wise"

New York Sun 1902

7/16/20222 min read

ROULETTECHEATER

Fixing The Roulette Wheel

Back in 1894 a group of innovative cheats rigged a roulette wheel and beat the house out of $20k. They did it by understanding that people see only what they are looking for, aka "Inattentional Blindness"

Richmond Dispatch 1894

7/10/20225 min read

DICEHISTORY

The Heavenly Origins of Dice

A brief description of the history of dice. Where and why were they invented. Dice have always had a heavenly purpose. Scholars have come to no consensus on the origins of dice, but invariably most of the ancient accounts involve the gods in some way. For the Ancients dice were often used as tools of deviation and cast as to determine the will of the gods. The gods themselves used dice to further their own desires.

7/9/20225 min read

BACCARATHISTORY

Baccarat en Banque

Baccarat's older version - Baccarat en Banque. Closely related to Black Jack and Seven and a Half.

7/9/20225 min read

POKERHOLD OUT

A Clever Device - Card Hold Out

19th century poker cheating device

San Francisco Chronicle July 17th 1889.

7/8/20221 min read

BACCARATHISTORY

An Introduction to the Game of Baccarat

Learn the in and outs of the elegant game of Baccarat, including the true odds and how the game compares to other more popular casino games.

7/7/202211 min read

FAROHISTORY

The Tiger

A list of employees running the "cheating" game Faro in London in 1731

San Francisco Examiner July 7, 1871

7/7/20222 min read

BACCARATHISTORY

Chemin de Fer

Baccarat's older cousin, Chemin de fer. Learn about this non- bankingpredecessor to baccarat. The original James Bond, when head to head against his arch nemesis not on a poker table but playing Cheminde For.

7/6/20227 min read

BACCARATHISTORY

The History of Baccarat

This article explores the history of the casino game baccarat, unearthing specific information on it's origins and introduction to the United States. Spoiler alert - Famous Gaming Expert John Scarne had the date Wrong!

7/6/202211 min read

POKERMARKED CARDS

Played with Marked Cards

Detailed description of a wealthy card sharp who cheated his peers in 1920 New York. He played with marked cards and just couldn't lose.

The World 02/02/1920

7/5/20220 min read

POKERHOLD OUT

Card Sharp is “Harnessed”

Story of a poker cheat who used a card hold out divice and was caught in 1909

Oakland Tribune 01/31/1909

7/5/20220 min read

LOADED DICE

Cheating with Dice

How professional sharpers rob and deceive victims with gaffed dice and manipulation

Los Angeles Evening Express 07/21/1894

7/4/20223 min read

MARKED CARDSBACCARAT

A Card Sharp's Trick

A short clip describing the use of phosphorus marks to cheat baccarat in Moscow - 1910

Ukiah Daily Journal

7/1/20221 min read

GAMBLING ODDS

What's the Odds?

Boondoggling in the Field of Percentages. Or Some Freaky Facts about Lady Luck 'Easy Money" 1935

ALLAN K. ECHOLS

6/30/202216 min read

At Rare Gambling Books we are committed to providing insightful gambling books featuring cheating methods and devices. One way we deliver on this commitment is by combing through old newspaper articles (all written before 1927) looking for the best gambling topics and making them accessible to you here. We also publish original content on all things gambling.

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