Expert shows Pa. dealers how to spot a cheater

GEORGE JOSEPH knew he was getting good at cards when he started winning money. It didn't hurt that he was sometimes cheating. But then again, cupping a few cards in his hand came naturally, as he was raised on gambling and then learned card tricks as a magician's assistant.

"I always gambled my whole life," he said. "I never thought I was special."

From his grandmother teaching him how to play gin when he was a young child to betting on sports with his father, Joseph grew up with a set of cards in his hands.

Now, a professional casino consultant, Joseph, 61, is touring Pennsylvania to teach casino employees and dealers how to spot those who may be hiding a set of cards up their sleeve.

The state Gaming Control Board hired the internationally known table-gaming expert to spend five weeks updating dealers on the latest cheating techniques.

"It would have been a head-in-the-sand moment if we would not have believed that there are people coming into Pennsylvania to cheat," said Greg Fajt, chairman of the gaming board.

Joseph has spent the last week at Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack.

There, he taught state police, casino guards and dealers how to spot bottom-dealers, illegal bets and even dice changeups.

"It's exciting to watch these [people] learning their craft," Joseph said. "They're going to be excited and nervous and make mistakes, and bad guys might try to take advantage of the newness. But they'll be ready for the game."

Joseph was drawn to more than just card games, though. When he moved to Las Vegas in 1974 from his hometown Detroit, Joseph wanted to be a singer. But fate took a turn when the owner of The Aladdin casino in Las Vegas, now Planet Hollywood casino and resort, offered him a job watching tables.

"We had no cameras then," Joseph said. "We had no video to review."

After singing in a lounge at the casino, Joseph would hang from the "catwalk" above the card tables and spy on players who seemed suspicious.

Within his first month working at The Aladdin, Joseph knew he was in the right profession.

"I'd go home where I'd grown up and my friends would be in trouble or in jail," Joseph said. "They never really did anything with their life. Then all of a sudden, it really dawned on me. It's much nicer having people pat you on the back rather than chasing you."

Roger Greenbank, 62, eastern regional director of the bureau of investigations and enforcement, sat in on some of Joseph's lessons. Greenbank said he had never been involved in casino scamming. "This is very, very new to me," he said. "And it's an invaluable experience."

Greenback said he learned the most from Joseph on the craps table. "Craps has the most potential for cheating," he said.

"Bringing dice in and out of the game and the variety of ways players can increase their bet seems very difficult to catch. This really was an eye-opener."