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

Thumb Busting / Overpayment

How it works

The dealer intentionally overpays the colluding player, or pays a bet that should have lost, using sleight of hand or simple “errors.” “Thumb busting” refers to the dealer using their thumb to push extra chips to the player during the payout process. Come bet overpays involve paying a come bet at incorrect (higher) odds. The dealer might also “forget” to take down a losing bet, leaving it in play for the next roll. These “errors” are coordinated with the player who may signal when to make them.

Where it appears

Casino Craps

On the record

A persistent form of collusion because small overpayments on each transaction accumulate significantly over a shift.

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.