Part III: Business & Regulation · Gambling Mathematics & Probability

Edge Sorting

Advantage PlayREPORTED

Edge sorting is an advantage play technique in which a player exploits subtle, unintentional manufacturing asymmetries on the backs of playing cards to determine the value of face-down cards. Some card backs have slightly different patterns on the long edges that distinguish high-value cards (typically cards with more ink on the face, like 7s, 8s, and 9s) from low-value cards. By persuading the dealer to rotate certain cards during play (often by claiming superstition), the player can subsequently identify valuable cards by their orientation. Poker player Phil Ivey used edge sorting in 2012 to win about £7.7 million at Crockfords in London (which the casino never paid) and US$9.6 million at Borgata in Atlantic City, leading to high-profile legal battles. Casinos prevent edge sorting by using cards with perfectly symmetrical backs, replacing cards frequently, and refusing player requests to rotate cards.

In practice

The UK Supreme Court held in 2017 that Ivey’s play was cheating; a New Jersey federal court held in 2016 that it breached the casino contract and rejected the fraud claims. Edge sorting is most effective in games where knowing specific card values provides significant advantage, particularly baccarat. The technique requires certain brands of cards with detectable manufacturing inconsistencies.

One entry from the Casino Industry Glossary, 1,090 terms written for surveillance, compliance and operations professionals rather than for players. Definitions describe industry usage; where a term carries a regulatory meaning, verify against the instrument that governs your jurisdiction.