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

Scam #9: Dealer-Player Card Sequencing (Baccarat)

How it works

In baccarat, a corrupt dealer may agree to skip shuffling a section of the deck after cards are fanned and shown to players. The player uses a hidden camera (often a smartphone) to photograph the fanned cards, then excuses themselves to the restroom to review the images. Since a portion of the deck retains its original order, the player only needs to recognize the sequence pattern when those cards reappear, allowing them to predict outcomes and place massive bets accordingly.

Where it appears

Baccarat

On the record

In 2017-2018, Ming Zhang and dealer Zhang co-conspired to cheat Maryland casinos of over $1 million using this exact technique. The dealer admitted to agreeing not to shuffle a section of cards after fanning, while the player photographed the cards and tracked the sequence. Both received federal prison sentences.

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.