CROUPIERS' TRICKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14465, 3 September 1910, Page 2 (Supplement)

CROUPIERS' TRICKS.

MODERN METHOD OF STEALING. It is well known how freely the gold coins roll on the gambling tables of the many casinos at the winter and summer resorts, but what the general public does not know are the numerous measures of precaution which the managers take to avoid some of the gold being appropriated by the employee who is supposed to oversee the stake and to distribute the winnings, and who are well known us the croupier. It seems that nothing better was found than to forbid these croupiers to have any pockets in their clothes. But various tricks, it is said, have been resorted to by those who yielded to temptation, one of which was to have little pockets under the shirt-front or at the back of their ties. The immense majority of the croupiers are no doubt severely honest and conscientious men, who would not appropriate a single coin not belonging to them, but black sheep are found everywhere. One of the latest tricks said to have been discovered at a provincial casino is a dcvice in the palette or rake used by the croupier for raking in the money on the table. The cross-piece of the rake was hollowed out, and a sort of trap caused the coin to glide easily to the inside of the blade and to remain there. The managers of the casino wondered how the gold lor.is disappeared so mysteriously, and inspectors who watched the croupier's movements failed for a long time to detect the trick. When he was arrested at last three palettes fitted with the clever device were found in his possession.