Card Marking as a Way of Cheating at Casino

The plot of card marking

One of the most popular ways of casino cheating is a card marking. It is the process of putting small unrecognizable marks on the cards by players so they can later recognize the ranks and the suit of cards, using these advantages for their benefit.

The card marking development

No matter who shuffles or deals the cards, marking serves for the benefit of a player who cheats this way. In the earlier days, players used to make crimps, small bumps or bend the cards to recognize them later. Later when designs were printed on the backs of the cards, the players started altering them. Different scratches, pigments and inks have been used to mark cards over the years.

Several times players even use block out techniques by using the same colored ink as the designs on the back of the cards or color the small plain areas in designs so that they can recognize them. Players also sometimes scrape off the print on the designs by using razors or blades.

Advanced cheaters` techniques

Professional card cheaters use various techniques like luminous inks or even juice to avoid getting caught. The cards which are marked with luminous inks can only be read using special contact lenses or tinted glasses. There are several sophisticated techniques which have developed over the years. There are even video luminous cards which can only be read with the help of custom designed electronics. These cards are even used by various magicians for card tricks.

A casinos` solution

Sometimes these cards are used by the casinos themselves if they want to analyze a card game. During the game the players do not know which cards are marked and if they cheat, the records can be played back by the casinos and the marked cards can help them detect cheaters.

Juiced cards

Cards are also often marked by juice; these marks can only be read by a trained person, though no glasses would be required to read them. Sometimes a special type of paste is used by players to mark another player's deck which they are being used so that they would not have to be swapped later. Sometimes a tint solution is also used by players. Depending on how the design on the back of the cards is, the pattern for marking would differ.

In an advanced method of cheating, players also use juice dust to mark cards. This allows players to mark another player's deck secretly while they are being watched. The advantage of juice dust is that the finish of the cards would not be dulled because of it. Juice dust also works well on plastic as well as paper playing cards.

Card marking is practiced by players all over the world for ages, though the material used for marking cards has been different over the years.