Fine Line Between Advantage Play and Cheating

Edge sorting refers to techniques used in casino card games like baccarat and blackjack to gain an advantage by detecting subtle differences in the back designs of playing cards. This controversial practice occupies a nebulous space between legal advantage play and illegal cheating. Proponents argue it simply leverages powers of observation, while critics claim it defeats the purpose of randomization essential for fair odds.

So when does edge sorting cross ethical and legal boundaries? Below we delve into the debate and examine high-profile legal cases that have helped define the boundaries.

Fine Line Between Advantage Play and Cheating

Advantage players at Wild Fortune use legal means like card counting to gain an edge over the house. Cheating refers to illegal methods like sleight-of-hand maneuvers, electronics or compromising staff. Edge sorting occupies the gray area in between as players use observation skills rather than intrusive techniques. But whether this defeats the integrity of the game remains open to interpretation.

The purpose of shuffling cards is to randomize and conceal their values to all parties. If the shuffling process fails to completely conceal the cards’ identities, is it still cheating if players detect these visible patterns? Or is the casino at fault for this vulnerability? Opponents argue that intentionally exploiting this equates to compromising a game’s integrity despite not directly tampering with the cards.

How Edge Sorting Card Counting Works

Detecting patterns on the card backs requires that identical cards have distinguishable backs. Players then observe during play which markings belong to specific card values. This allows them to secretly “count” the cards and wager advantageously based on the cards remaining in the shoe.

For example, say the diamondbacks belong to the 6s and spades to 7s. If the player notices lots of 7s played, fewer 6s should remain, allowing them to bet more confidently against that value. Casinos normally use special automatic shufflers to prevent this, but flaws can cause some cards not to rotate, leaving distinguishable marks.

Notable Legal Cases and Rulings

Several high-stakes legal battles have helped define edge sorting’s legality over skills versus cheating. Gaining worldwide attention was the “Baccarat Case” between famed advantage players Phil Ivey and Cheung Yin “Kelly” Sun versus the Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City.

Baccarat Case - Borgata v. Ivey

Over four sessions in 2012, Ivey and Sun used edge sorting in baccarat to win $9.6 million at Borgata. They later sued for their winnings after the casino refused to pay out. Borgata filed a counterclaim asserting they cheated by violating gambling regulations against manipulating games.

Key facts of the case:

• Ivey requested special accommodations like a private table, dealer rotations and the same deck being used for all eight decks. This enabled him to spot card patterns over time.
• The court ruled that Ivey did violate state gambling regulations against manipulating games and cheating, requiring him to return the $9.6 million.
• However the court noted Ivey did not technically introduce any outside elements like markings on the cards. His advantage came through careful observation of flaws already present.

This set a precedent that while edge sorting violates the spirit of fair gambling, it does not constitute direct manipulation or tampering if no external elements are introduced. The onus falls more on casinos to provide properly randomized cards.

Phil Ivey v. Crockfords Casino

A similar case occurred in 2012 when Ivey won £7.8 million edge sorting baccarat at London’s Crockfords Club. Management also refused to pay out his winnings and destroyed the cards. Ivey sued to collect his winnings but ultimately lost in a lengthy appeals process with the UK Supreme Court ruling against him in 2020. Their reasoning echoed the key factors in the Borgata case.

Edge Sorting in Blackjack

While most common in baccarat, blackjack players have also attempted to gain an edge from subtle card markings. One case involved Kansas City shuffle tracking expert Tommy Hyland in 2012 at the Borgata.

Borgata v. Hyland

Hyland won over $1 million playing blackjack while edge sorting. Similar to Ivey, he made special requests like the same cards being used for an entire six-deck shoe. Borgata later investigated videos showing him sorting certain cards into separate piles. They concluded he was exploiting card flaws and banned him from their property.
No lawsuits were filed but this demonstrated edge sorting techniques crossing over into blackjack as well. Hyland defended his methods as simply achieving the same counting advantage legally through advanced observation.

Legality Summary

These landmark cases help shed light on the legal limits regarding edge sorting specifically and advantage play in general:

• Edge sorting violates state gaming regulations against manipulating the intended randomness of card games. It compromises the purpose behind shuffling and concealment.
• However it does not constitute direct cheating through external manipulation of cards or devices. The advantage comes through keen observation of flaws inherent in the cards themselves.
• The onus still falls more on casinos to provide properly shuffled cards that do not betray their values. So while unethical, players cannot be legally accused if they do not physically introduce any external cheating elements.
• Extra requests like repeated shuffles, new card decks or dealers rotating also does not prove manipulation if they theoretically could aid observation without tampering.

In summary, while deemed illegal, edge sorting occupies a gray area between cheating and advantage play. It aims to defeat the randomness integral for fair card games but stops short of directly tampering with said randomness. Players should carefully consider if these blurred lines still cross ethical boundaries before attempting such techniques.

Data on Major Edge Sorting Legal Cases

Conclusion

Edge sorting has rapidly gained notoriety over the past decade as advantage players test the boundaries between legal and illegal play. While deemed manipulation based on gaming regulations, it still focuses on skilled observation rather than direct tampering. Yet for the spirit and integrity of casino card games that rely on randomness, casinos seem justified in denying payouts and banning players found edge sorting at their tables. But the onus still falls on them to provide cards and conditions where values cannot be potentially read to begin with.

So while unethical and illegal per gaming commissions, edge sorting continues to occupy a gray area. Players walk a fine line between wrong and right, often risking years of litigation and overturned rewards when attempting to gain this controversial advantage. Yet its implications and rulings will help better define ethical advantage play vs outright cheating in years to come.