Field guide

Ball Tripping (Roulette)

How it works

Physical alteration of a roulette wheel by casino insiders or cheaters with access to create predictable outcomes. Includes loosening pocket frets, adding hidden magnets, or subtle geometry changes. Insiders with maintenance access subtly alter wheel components to create bias. Magnets under the wheelhead can attract a steel-inlaid ball. Frets can be loosened so certain pockets accept the ball more readily. The wheel appears normal but produces non-random results.

On the record

While rare in modern regulated casinos, wheel gaffing has occurred in illegal halls and jurisdictions with weak oversight. Historical cases in pre-regulation Nevada involved rigged wheels.

Published as a detection reference for surveillance, compliance and gaming-operations professionals. Thresholds and tuning are set by the property. Nothing here is instruction — the method is described so it can be recognised.