Part IV: Financial Fraud · Internal Collusion & Employee Fraud

Scam #6: Dealer Pinching Bets for Accomplices

How it works

The reverse of bet capping, pinching involves a dealer selectively not collecting the full losing bet from an accomplice, or removing the top chips from a losing bet before sweeping it into the tray. For example, a player bets $100 (four green $25 chips), loses the hand, but the dealer only collects one green chip while the other three are returned to the player. Alternatively, the dealer can palm chips from the losing bet and drop them into the player’s hand during the next payout cycle. This scheme is particularly effective when combined with distractions from other players or during busy periods when the pit boss has limited visibility.

Where it appears

Blackjack, any table game with chip-based betting

On the record

Pinching has been a known cheating technique for centuries. When dealers are complicit, it becomes nearly invisible because the action appears to be normal game procedure.

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.