Tiny Cameras Cheat at High-Stakes Poker

Tiny Cameras Cheat at High-Stakes Poker

High-stakes poker pro Matt Berkey noticed suspicious behavior from a player wearing earbuds – unusual in such games. The player, seemingly an amateur, consistently won on the river, a statistical anomaly. His phone and earbud case placement also raised concerns, suggesting a hidden camera scheme.

A New Cheating Scheme

The player’s consistent seating to the dealer’s left and unusually large winnings fueled suspicions of a hidden camera feeding card information to an accomplice via an earpiece. Berkey alerted other players, and the game ended with the suspect winning hundreds of thousands of dollars. Similar incidents have been reported, lacking concrete evidence until recently.

A French Breakthrough

A French police investigation uncovered a sophisticated cheating operation. Surveillance of two suspected players at a casino revealed they placed something near the dealing shoe. Arrests followed, with the recovery of technology that surprised investigators with its ingenuity and simplicity. This highlights a worrying trend in poker cheating, using advanced technology.

What Can Be Done?

This case raises concerns for all levels of poker players. The use of hidden cameras is a growing concern and emphasizes the need for casinos and players to be vigilant against these sophisticated cheating methods. The simplicity of the technology used underscores the need for improved security measures to combat this evolving form of cheating.