Blackjack Cheating involving Collusion

In blackjack, it is considered cheating if a player works in conjunction with another person. This is referred to as collusion. In blackjack, collusion can involve working with another player at the table. Additionally, blackjack cheaters engaging in collusion sometimes work with players at a different table or even an observer not involved directly in any blackjack game.

When collusion is involved, one person typically has a bird’s eye view of the dealer’s hole cards. The strategically positioned individual then signals the dealer’s hand strength to the players he is working with as part of the blackjack cheating scheme. Then, the blackjack player or players adjust their play accordingly, depending upon what they have learned from the person who has view of the dealer’s holdings. Sometimes, the dealer is even involved in the blackjack-cheating scheme. Regardless of whom the participants in the cheating efforts are, collusion of this sort where knowledge of the dealer’s cards is used to gain an edge is illegal and officially considered a form of blackjack cheating.

In blackjack, collusion does not always involve signals or knowledge of the dealer’s cards. Sometimes, players will swap cards with other blackjack players in order to create a better hand. Card swapping, the switching of cards, is done to give a player a more profitable hand than that which they currently possess. Players engaging in card swapping often switch cards to create more profitable double down situations.

For example, a couple is seated next to one another at the blackjack table. One person receives a count of twelve (seven and five), while the other receives a six and eight (fourteen). The couple switches the six and seven, so that the first player now holds eleven and the second player holds a hand with the value of fifteen. The player who has an eleven is now able to double down profitably. Sharing, trading, swapping, or switching cards with another player at the blackjack table is considered cheating and is not legal in the casino.

Blackjack is meant to be a game that is played fairly. Players may engage in unassisted card counting, and may use optimal strategy. However, blackjack players are not permitted to gain direct or indirect insight into the dealer’s down card, nor are they permitted to exchange cards with anyone else at the table. Cheating at blackjack by swapping cards or peaking at a dealer’s cards can cause the offender or offenders to forfeit their winnings, be removed from the casino, or even fined and/or imprisoned.