Part I: Card Game Cheating · Collusion & Electronic Cheating at Card Games

Scam #2: Chip Dumping

How it works

A player intentionally loses chips to a confederate at the table, usually by making obviously poor plays that transfer value. In tournaments, a large stack may deliberately lose chips to keep a short-stacked partner alive, ensuring both players cash. In cash games, chip dumping facilitates money laundering or settles debts outside the game. Methods include making huge calls with no hand and folding on the river, or building large pots and then folding to small bets.

Where it appears

Poker tournaments and cash games, live and online

On the record

In 2025, the WSOP investigated chip dumping allegations at the final table of Event #53 where the runner-up was accused of intentionally losing heads-up to secure a $1 million bonus for the winner from ClubWPT Gold. The 2012 WSOP Circuit event in Tunica saw multiple players disqualified for systematic chip transfers between known associates.

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.