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r paul wilson
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: It Ain’t Paranoia If They’re Really Out To Get Me

A question I’m often asked is, "Have you ever been conned?" Of course the answer is "yes" - and I’ve even described some examples in these articles. This surprises some people since I regularly advocate that knowledge is your best defence against all forms of deception...

May 2, 2022 5 min read
Lottery tickets and balls
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: Why The Lottery Is A Waste Of Your Time

One of my favourite performance pieces is an absolute miracle with a borrowed deck of cards, created by the Spanish maestro Juan Tamariz. This particular masterpiece has been shared with only a few friends and students but creates a staggering moment of wonder if the audience...

April 19, 2022 5 min read
Lottery scam
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: Lottery Scams

Lottery scams come in many shapes and sizes, from bogus systems to counterfeit tickets. I’ve talked about lotteries as a...
April 6, 2022 5 min read
Roulette wheel and table
Guides, Insider Insights, Top 10s

10 Things Casinos Never Want You To Know

Casinos are a hot house of fun - we all know that - but they are a business at the...
April 4, 2022 5 min read
Casino chip
Industry, Insider Insights

How Casinos Spot Fake Chips (And Why You Should Never Use Them)

About a decade ago, I was tasked with the unique job of going through all the floats (the racks that...
March 25, 2022 4 min read
self-help guru scammer
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: The Self-Help “Experts” Who Are Out To Get You

I have a healthy suspicion of anyone who tries to oversimplify complicated aspects of life and business. A few of...
March 21, 2022 5 min read
Illusionist white hand magic trick
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: The Benefits Of Magical Thinking

One of the peculiarities of being a magician is that we often find solutions to problems no one else would...
February 25, 2022 5 min read
online shopping scam
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: Deals That Seem Too Good To Be True

In the last year or so there seems to have been a dramatic increase in online advertising that offers amazing...
February 7, 2022 5 min read
Fake casino chip
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: The Fake Chip Collateral Scam

Late night in Las Vegas, in a dark corner of a quiet bar, a discussion becomes heated until it is...
January 27, 2022 6 min read
Donald Trump
Insider Insights, Tips & Tricks

2024 US Election Betting: Will History Repeat Itself?

Recommended Bets Back Republicans to win Presidency @ 1.88 (Betfair)Back Elizabeth Warren to be the Democrat Nominee @ 32.0 (Betfair)Back...
January 24, 2022 4 min read
Dai Vernon
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: When Sleight Of Hand Magicians And Card Cheaters Collide

Over the years, a few sleight of hand magicians have sought out card cheaters and crooked gamblers to share ideas...
January 15, 2022 5 min read
2022 politics betting markets
Insider Insights

Top Political Betting Markets In 2022 (And What You Should Bet On)

Recommended Bets Buy Brian Kemp for Republican Georgia Primary @ 44c (PredictIt) Back 2022 for Boris Johnson Exit @ 2.96...
January 7, 2022 4 min read
R Paul Wilson
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: The Oversimplification Fallacy

Con artists understand how to weave complex concepts into simple ideas that capture the imagination of their marks, but simplicity...
December 27, 2021 5 min read
the flipper - con artist
Insider Insights, Tips & Tricks

R. Paul Wilson On: The Mysterious Case Of “The Flipper”

How many bets or important decisions have been determined by the toss of a coin? From sporting events to all-or-nothing...
December 14, 2021 5 min read
Playing cards trick with ace hands with gloves on black background
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: The Secret Behind This Magic Card Trick

It’s getting close to silly season so I thought I might break the habit of a lifetime and share a...
November 27, 2021 5 min read
Money Laundering explained
Industry, Insider Insights

How Money Laundering Really Works & Why It’s A Problem In The Gambling Industry

Money laundering is a very serious criminal activity and is much more prevalent than you might think. What Is Money...
November 25, 2021 4 min read
Mobile news application in smartphone.
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: Why You Need To Act Like An Advantage Player 24/7

I’ve often spoken about the value of identifying useful information in a gaming context. This can secure an advantage for...
November 17, 2021 5 min read
Finger of woman pushing heart icon on screen on mobile
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: The Tinder Trap

Modern dating apps offer a convenient method to meet people (hopefully) searching for similar relationships but this form of digital...
October 31, 2021 5 min read
Red heart in a trap on pink background.
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: The Scams That Were Forbidden On “The Real Hustle”

When filming The Real Hustle, we aimed to expose as many scams as we could but there were several challenges...
October 23, 2021 5 min read
Trapped piggy bank in net on dark background with copy space. Avoid debt traps and speculation. Savings and retirement financial scams
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: Investment Scams Are Going Up-Up-Up!

Since diving into Bitcoin as the basis for potential scams, I’ve found myself drawn deeper into the mire of investment...
October 10, 2021 5 min read
fake scam
Insider Insights, Tips & Tricks

R. Paul Wilson On: Bogus Scams

Not every scam I hear about is as real or widespread as you might think. I regularly receive panicked warnings...
September 26, 2021 5 min read
Scene from con men by R Paul Wilson
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: The Truth About His Feature Film “Con Men”

Sometime in 2015, I found myself in Samy’s Camera store in Los Angeles about to buy an expensive camera to...
September 13, 2021 5 min read
Call centre scams
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: Call Center Cons

I’ve studied and executed almost every kind of scam you can imagine. For The Real Hustle, the goal was always...
August 29, 2021 4 min read
Man showing tricks with cards
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: Coincidence Or Magic?

In an earlier article I discussed how seemingly impossible bad beats can actually happen at the card table and how...
August 16, 2021 5 min read
Question Mark on a dice and wooden alphabet tiles against yellow background. Concept of Choice,FAQ, Solution,Decision and luck
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: The Seemingly Impossible

The ‘seemingly impossible’ happens every day. Crazy, wild coincidences are a passion of mine and I have more than a...
August 9, 2021 5 min read
Casino dealer
Insider Insights, Tips & Tricks, Top 10s

Top 10 Insider Tips We Learned From Casino Staff On Reddit

Casino employees are the best people to go to for tips and tricks on all things casino-related, and they're often...
August 6, 2021 4 min read
close up view of dealer shuffling cards in hands
Insider Insights, Top 10s

10 Crazy Casino Secrets We Learned From Reddit

Casinos have all kinds of secrets they don't want you to know. But over on Reddit, thanks to AMAs and...
July 9, 2021 3 min read
Person scared of COVID
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: Why Fear Is The Enemy

Can thinking like a gambler help us navigate times of fear and uncertainty? At the time of writing, many countries...
June 21, 2021 5 min read
cryptocurrency trap
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: Crypto Scams (2/2)

The current craze surrounding cryptocurrency highlights how old con games continue to work on a new generation of suckers. While...
June 13, 2021 4 min read
blockchain
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: Crypto Scams (1/2)

I know next to nothing about cryptocurrency. Like any investment, crypto offers varying degrees of risk and can return profits...
June 12, 2021 5 min read
person with head in hands
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: The Psychology Of Being Conned

I’ve often said that the difference between being mugged at knifepoint and handing over your savings to a scammer is...
May 24, 2021 5 min read
Insider Insights, Tips & Tricks

R. Paul Wilson On: The Fortune Teller’s Egg Scam

Over 11 seasons and three specials of The Real Hustle television show, there were a few con games that made...
March 18, 2021 5 min read
Soapy Smith
Insider Insights, Tips & Tricks

R. Paul Wilson On: The Secret Of Soapy Smith

The name Jefferson Randolph “Soapy” Smith is well known amongst magicians, Old West historians and cheating aficionados. Soapy evolved from...
February 27, 2021 4 min read
Person getting money out of wallet
Insider Insights, Tips & Tricks

R. Paul Wilson On: Reworking Old Con Games

Con games evolve over time and can be adapted to new circumstances, cultural shifts or technology. In this article, I’m...
February 13, 2021 5 min read
Montage of politicians
Insider Insights, Tips & Tricks

Top Politics Betting Markets To Follow Around The World In 2021

2020 broke all records for political betting. Turnover on the race for next US president rose eightfold, on what was...
February 9, 2021 3 min read
The Jam Scam - The Real Hustle
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: The Jam Scam – How Not To Get Conned At A Market

The jam auction is a veritable old-school scam that has stood the test of time and can be found in...
November 9, 2020 5 min read
Young woman using smart phone,Social media concept.
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: Why You Need To Think Like A Poker Player To Avoid Being Manipulated

In today’s world, we are surrounded by forms of deception that work their way into every aspect of our lives....
November 4, 2020 5 min read
Insider Insights, Tips & Tricks

US Election Betting Tips – Predictions For The Result, Margin, States And Senate

Political Betting Expert Paul Krishnamurty's Recommended Bets (All with Betfair) Joe Biden to become Next President @ 1.54 Joe Biden to...
October 23, 2020 4 min read
Nespresso coffee pods
Insider Insights

R. Paul Wilson On: Nespresso Money Mules

I recently wrote a short series of blogs on the topic of credit card theft, security and protection. There are...
September 30, 2020 5 min read
Trump and Biden
Insider Insights, Tips & Tricks

How To Bet On The US Election

Ask one hundred people what they believe is the single biggest betting market of all-time, or will be in 2024,...
September 28, 2020 4 min read