Part II: Table Game Cheating · Dice & Craps Cheating Methods

The Savannah (Adapted for Craps)

How it works

Originally a roulette scam, the Savannah has been adapted for craps. The cheater hides high-value chips underneath low-value chips on proposition bets (typically 2:1 payouts like the Field or certain hop bets). If the bet wins, the cheater reveals the high-value chips and demands payment at the full rate. If the bet loses, the cheater quickly switches out the losing stack (containing the high-value chip) and replaces it with low-value chips before the dealer can collect. The cheater may feign drunkenness if caught, claiming they didn’t realize the roll had completed.

Where it appears

Casino Craps - Proposition Bets

On the record

Richard Marcus famously used this technique in roulette, winning $10,010 on each winning bet while losing only $10 on losing bets by hiding $5,000 chips under $5 chips.

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.