Part I: Card Game Cheating · DEALER COLLUSION TECHNIQUES

Dealer Flashing (Intentional Hole Card Exposure)

How it works

Flashing occurs when a dealer intentionally exposes their hole card (or upcoming cards) to a confederate player. The dealer uses subtle techniques: pushing the top card slightly off the deck so the index is visible between fingers; lifting cards at an angle that reveals values; dealing from a position that exposes cards beneath those being dealt. The confederate (“takeoff man”) uses this information to make optimal bets and plays. A skilled flasher only needs to expose a sliver of the card’s edge for the confederate to identify the value. The flash can be directed to different players at the table to further conceal the action.

Where it appears

Blackjack, any game with hole cards

On the record

Flashing has been used for decades. The introduction of electronic peeker devices was specifically designed to combat dealer flashing by removing the dealer’s need to see the hole card. Before peekers, dealers manually lifted cards to check for blackjack, creating exposure opportunities.

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.