How often do casinos catch hole carders?

[blueman]

How often are hole carding APs caught? Carnival games and/or blackjack hole carding.

[ZeeBabar]

I suppose if the count is positive, if you have a max bet of $1k out and get a hand of 18, know the dealer has an 8 up and an Ace in the hole, you might get tempted to hit it. If they see you playing correctly and then do shit like that, they may catch you but more likely, they will replace the dealer.

[Ryemo]

I imagine hole carders are harder to detect sometimes. But I do have a friend who was hole carding a carnie game and was detected. No BO, but the dealer was replaced. The next day, he was playing a straight count game at a sister property and was backed off right away. And the store he was straight counting is known to be pretty tolerant.

[Stealth]

In the carnival games that are subject to hole carding it is usually the big wins and the returning for more big wins that gets you. Greed is a big thing when you have a game that is very beatable (35-45% advantage), it is hard not to burn it up. Additionally, these games are often played with a partner and that adds the risk of signal detection to the game. Big bets when you have what would be normally considered bad cards (but you have information) are also a red flag. It is true that these games are not watched as closely as blackjack but over staying your welcome can get you caught.

Often these games have low table limits and with the type of advantage we have we tend to want to bet big all the time. Not so good, for what is generally a red chip game. With all of that being understood we were only backed off at one property out of maybe 40 and it was very likely for cumulative win. We loved those "rock stars"!

You should also understand that backoffs have different levels with card counting lone wolf being the lowest (no more blackjack for you). When you progress to team play, shuffle tracking and hole carding they are not as amicable (trespass?).

I would also add that these games have a predictable "hold" that is likely violated dramatically when they suffer a hole carder. This is the casinos style of variance and their math does not tolerate a 35-45% negative edge!. A big loss for the casino is likely several standard deviations away from the norm. That will get the game inspected after the fact and may have you stopped in your next visit. It will also get the dealer fixed!

[Joe Mama]

. That will get the game inspected after the fact and may have you stopped in your next visit. It will also get the dealer fixed!

Pretty harsh! You can always tell when the dealer's been fixed when they go from baritone to soprano.

[mofungoo]

The casino's first thought will likely be that the player is marking the cards or otherwise cheating. If there is no proof of collusion or cheating the casino may back the player off anyway as a policy, assuming some sort of advantage play. Further video review may catch the dealer flashing and they will be corrected.

[Freightman]

I know someone who suggested they were very obvious' and were simply told to sit up straight. They were eventually backed off.

[Solo player]

How often are hole carding APs caught? Carnival games and/or blackjack hole carding.

Not very often.

Many (but not all casinos) are just plain stupid and are managed poorly. HCing is very often not detected. With some discretion and good casino comportment, games can last a long time. Especially at carney games. IMHO most of the time, trouble happens when team playing BJ. When a team comes into a BJ game and chip trays start getting emptied. That is gonna be a red flag. But the casino more often than not, still have no clue. They will suspect cheating. That can result in team members being surrounded by security, casino management, and members from gaming control for a not so friendly chat. I have had this happen.

Then went back to the casino a few months later and saw nothing had changed. Same sloppy dealers and poor game management. Even with there HI-TECH surveillance and card sharps working the pits. Most are clueless.