Richard Marcus is infamous for cheating casinos. So much so, that he now gives back to the industry by providing insights into his methods and experiences. His chip manipulation techniques, psychological prowess has allowed him to elude casino security for over two decades. We spoke with him by asking a series of questions on how he did it and the lessons learned.

Interview Questions:

1. What methods did you employ to manipulate the outcomes of blackjack games in their favor without raising suspicion?

2. In the context of baccarat, how did you manage to exploit weaknesses in the game or manipulate the odds to your advantage.

3. Did you employ any electronic devices or gadgets to cheat in roulette, and if so, how did these devices work?

4. Were there accomplices involved in the cheating operation, and if yes, what roles did they play in executing the scams in different casino games?

5. How did you evade casino surveillance systems and the watchful eyes of security personnel while engaging in their deceptive practices?

6. Were there any specific measures or technologies implemented by the casinos to detect and prevent cheating, and how did it work around these security measures?

7. Did you eventually get caught, and how did law enforcement or casino authorities apprehend you?

8. Did you face legal repercussions, and if so, what charges were brought against you in connection with activities in the various casino games?

9. How did the casino industry respond to the discovery of these cheating methods, and were there any changes in security protocols or game rules as a result?

10. Are there lessons learned from this case that have influenced the way casinos protect themselves against potential cheats in the future?

11. In retrospect, what measures could have been taken by the casinos to prevent or detect cheating earlier in the process?

Blackjack Advantages & Baccarat Deception

Richard Marcus states, "Actually, it was chip manipulation that I employed. I didn’t need to manipulate the outcomes of the hands, spins or rolls of the dice." Marcus strategically altered chip values after winning or losing, avoiding suspicion by modifying bets with high or low-denomination chips.

When it came to exploiting baccarat, Marcus reveals, "I used the mere fact that baccarat is a high-rollers’ game to pass myself off as a legitimate high-roller." Employing chip manipulation, Marcus successfully cheated baccarat tables, securing significant sums.

Avoiding Electronic Devices in Roulette

Marcus steered clear of electronic devices, emphasizing the psychological aspect of his cheating. He controlled casino personnel and dealers strategically to create opportunities for chip manipulation. According to him, "No, I stayed away from electronic devices to cheat for two reasons”.

“#1” I didn’t need them as my cheating was based on psychology more than anything else. I knew how to control casino floor personnel by getting inside their heads, and even controlled the dealers´ movements to give me a window in which I could manipulate the chips. That was done by strategic placements of my bets to force the dealers to take their eyes off the layouts at the precise instant I needed them to do so.

“#2” Using devices or gadgets in many jurisdictions including Nevada is a felony offense! So, if I were going to be caught, I wasn’t planning on doing any time!”

Psychology in Casino Games

While poker wasn’t a game Marcus cheated, he used psychology as a primary weapon for the games he did play. "I did this by convincing casino personnel through a series of set-ups and 'bet-backs' that I was indeed a high-roller and not a professional casino cheat." What we found intriguing is that Marcus used to tip dealers after losses. Something that was rare in the industry. Which in return helped convince casino personnel of his high-roller status.

Team Dynamics in Cheating

Marcus worked with a team when it came to his cheating tactics. With each member having a specific role. Marcus says, "I ran my cheat team like a military operation, similar to how Navy SEAL teams conduct hostage and apprehension operations. Each function was specific. We had a “mechanic” who manipulated the chips, two “chip-bettors,” who made a series of bets to enable the window the mechanic needed to do the cheat move, and a “claimer” whose job was to claim the payoffs for the manipulated bets. As well, we had one team member who was not involved in the carrying out of the moves but rather served as our own security and surveillance to ascertain that we were not picking up any heat as we cheated and took the money off the tables. That person never participated physically in the moves.”

Evasion of Surveillance

Marcus not only evaded surveillance but made them  accomplices. Marcus says “The way we avoided security and surveillance was by taking mental control of floor staff so they would not call security and surveillance." Through psychological manipulation, Marcus ensured floor staff didn't alert security, creating a unique layer of protection. Having internal help worked well in Marcus favor.

Legal Implications

Despite minor brushes with security, Marcus was never charged with a casino offense. He states, “I had a few minor brushes over a 25-year cheating career, but was never charged with any casino offense." However, he did say he faced a misdemeanor charge once, but it was ultimately dropped later on. Thus, leaving him with no significant legal repercussions. This is impressive given Marcus’s career in casino cheating.

Casino Industry Response

Marcus infers that the industry remained oblivious until he revealed his methods in his memoirs. "They never had any accurate ideas as to what I was doing all those years but they just knew it was me doing it!" To Marcus’s point, the level of technology on the market back then wasn’t to where it is today. However, the introduction of 24-hour surveillance coverage in 1989 was a direct response to his revelations, according to industry insiders.

Lessons Learned, Industry Changes & Preventing Future Cheating

Marcus's book "American Roulette" is now a resource for casino staff. He states “I am told by several surveillance directors that they have their staff read my book 'American Roulette' and refer to my moves often during their in-house training sessions." Since then, casinos have adapted procedures to better protect against high-level cheats, integrating lessons from Marcus's experiences.

Marcus believes that, until his revelations, casinos were unaware of how professional cheat teams operated. He says, "They could only defend themselves by drawing upon the knowledge they had at the time." Marcus’s moves seemed inconceivable to them, making it challenging to defend against such tactics.

In conclusion, Richard Marcus's legacy serves as a cautionary tale for the casino industry, prompting changes in surveillance, security protocols, and training procedures to better safeguard against high-level cheats. His tactics are now used as lessons learned and examples for new hires and vets in the industry. More so, Marcus gives back to the industry by not only sharing these tactics but by putting on his own conference called the “Global Table Games & Game Protection Conference” in Las Vegas each year. Bringing together both table game experts and surveillance directors alike. A first in the industry.

This coming March at the Sahara Las Vegas, it will be Marcus’s third year putting on the conference. With some saying the conference has the most value in the industry.

You can check it out here. https://globaltablegamesprotection.com