Venetian Overhauls Card Dealing Mechanics Amid Rising Tech Cheating Concerns

The Venetian poker room has abandoned traditional card pitching in favor of ‘slide dealing,’ a technique designed to prevent cheaters from using hidden cameras to catch a glimpse of hole cards.

The Venetian has become the first poker room on the Las Vegas Strip to mandate “slide dealing,” a method where dealers push cards face-down across the felt rather than pitching them through the air.

Cardroom management introduced the rule to protect games against high-tech cheating. When cards are tossed through the air, their faces can briefly flash open—allowing hidden cameras placed at table height to capture hole cards. Slide dealing keeps cards flush against the felt, making those glimpses virtually impossible.

Tommy LaRosa, director of poker operations at the Venetian, told PokerNews that slide dealing “reduces the possibility of cards being exposed during the deal” and enhances player security.

LaRosa noted the casino began evaluating the technique earlier this year before training dealers and rolling it out across its 50-table cardroom.

Hidden Cameras at the Table

The procedural change follows growing industry concerns over concealed technology at live gaming tables.

In 2024, French authorities arrested two men suspected of cheating at Casino Barrière Enghien-les-Bains near Paris.

The pair allegedly used miniature cameras hidden in smartphones to film cards as they were dealt, transmitting live feeds to accomplices who relayed hole-card information back through microscopic earpieces.

Authorities noted the syndicate had operated across several European venues, taking “several tens of thousands of euros each night.”

Let It Slide

While the Venetian is the first Strip property to adopt the rule, it is not the first in Las Vegas. South Point, located off the Strip, implemented slide dealing in August.

The technique has also gained traction internationally. PokerStars introduced mandatory slide dealing at European Poker Tour events last year, alongside stricter bans on smart glasses and electronic devices.

Local player reaction in Las Vegas has been mixed. While some players express concern that sliding cards could slow down hand frequency while dealers adapt, others argue that preserving game integrity outweighs a minor drop in hands per hour.

Poker Hall of Famer Daniel Negreanu endorsed the change, noting it creates a significant barrier for potential cheaters.

LaRosa added that initial feedback at the Venetian has been largely positive as staff and players adjust.