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

Scam #20: Edge Sorting (Phil Ivey Method)

How it works

Edge sorting exploits unintentional asymmetries in the back design of playing cards. Many card decks have backs that are not perfectly symmetrical when rotated 180 degrees - one long edge may show a slightly different pattern than the other. The player asks the dealer to rotate “lucky” high-value cards (7s through 9s in baccarat) during initial play under the guise of superstition. Once the shoe is completed, all high cards are oriented one way and low cards the other. After an automatic shuffle (which preserves orientation), the player can distinguish high from low cards by observing which edge pattern is visible, gaining a significant statistical edge.

Where it appears

Baccarat (primarily), Pai Gow, any game where card orientation matters

On the record

Phil Ivey and Cheung Yin Sun used edge sorting to win $9.6 million at Borgata Casino in Atlantic City (2012) and approximately $10 million at Crockfords in London (2012). UK courts ruled the technique “cheating for the purpose of civil law” and denied Ivey his winnings. Borgata successfully sued Ivey, who was ordered to repay $10.1 million. The UK Supreme Court’s 2017 decision in Ivey v Genting Casinos established that dishonesty was not a necessary element of cheating. Cheung Yin Sun testified she could identify imperfections on cards from any manufacturer.

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.