Las Vegas’s Venetian Resort, which has an iconic poker room with 50 card tables, has become the first one on the Strip to adopt the “slide dealing” technique, which is designed to prevent cheaters from using hidden cameras to see the cards.
The Venetian Mandates the Use of “Slide Dealing” to Prevent Cheating
Up until now, the most common technique to deal out cards in poker was pitching them through the air. However, when cards are tossed through the air, their faces can briefly become visible. This potentially allows hidden cameras positioned at table level to capture players’ hole cards. Slide dealing keeps the cards flat against the felt, virtually eliminating the risk of such exposure.
To combat any potential cheating, the Venetian now mandates the “slide dealing” technique in its poker room. The change of dealership rules coincides with the Venetian unveiling Milano, a new extension of The Palazzo featuring almost 300 ultra-luxury suites.
Back to the poker room, Tommy LaRosa, director of poker operations at Venetian, explained that the method reduces the risk of cards being exposed during the deal by adding another layer of security to the game. He added that, as technology continues to evolve, the decision to adopt the technique was driven by the need to take measures to protect the player experience.
He explained that dealers received training and time to practice the technique before its implementation. LaRosa acknowledged that the change would require an adjustment period for both dealers and players, but noted that the initial response had been positive.
The casino aims to ensure a smooth transition for both staff and players while maintaining the efficiency and professionalism expected at the poker room. Ultimately, LaRosa emphasized that measures to strengthen game integrity are likely to be welcomed by many players.
The Venetian Was Not First in Vegas to Introduce the Technique
Although the Venetian is the first poker room on the Strip to introduce slide dealing, it is not the first in Las Vegas to do so, as South Point beat them to it by a couple of months. The 30-table room, located just a few miles south of the Strip, adopted the technique in August. This sparked a debate in Las Vegas about whether more casinos should implement the technique.
However, it seems it’s not only Las Vegas casinos that are lagging in adopting slide dealing, but the whole US, as the technique has already been quite popular internationally. PokerStars made slide dealing mandatory at European Poker Tour events last year, while also tightening restrictions on smart glasses and electronic devices.
In other news about the Venetian, earlier this summer, the casino was hit with a $7.2 million fine by the Nevada Gaming Commission for its dealings with illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer.