All Posts By R. Paul Wilson

Illegal gaming devices come in all shapes and sizes and have been designed to beat or cheat any game on the casino floor. Some are for playing from “the outside” but others were designed to cheat the players by ...

The peek is a powerful tool for crooked card players and can be used to steer valuable cards to one’s own hand or damaging cards to an opponent.  In games like high/low a strong, undetectable peek is like having ...

In this article, we’re going to explore one of the most powerful sleights available to crooked poker dealers or croupiers. Knowing just a single card can provide an unbeatable advantage; there are dozens of methods to get a glimpse ...

I’ve been extremely fortunate in my career to have known and befriended many of the great names in magic and was always drawn to those who specialized in sleight of hand with cards. A few of these characters crossed ...

It bears repeating that we are all suckers to a great idea, but some ideas are not just too good to be true they’re just plain ridiculous. And yet, people keep falling for crazy products and ideas. It’s All A ...

In the rogue’s gallery of con artists, a wing of that exhibit must be dedicated to impostors who have successfully fooled millions of people into believing they were princes, heiresses, celebrities and even time travelers. The real danger from ...

It should be no surprise to learn that I am eternally fascinated by cons, scams and cheating of all types and this ranges from dishonest play at the card table to stealing cash from someone’s mattress. The spectrum of ...

Whenever we hear someone was conned out of a small fortune, we are quick to judge the victim based on the story they tell. We ask, “How could anyone fall for such an obvious lie?” Or “I would never believe ...

Gamblers love the idea of luck or fate and are often suckered by the notion of a system that can defeat the casino and beat the house at their own game. Sadly, these tend to either require a lot of work or ...

A great wave is coming. Not of water but of truth. Not real truth: Selected, approved, manipulated and fabricated truth that will engulf each of us from all directions. The digital age creates new opportunities and presents new dangers to all who ...