Edge sorting: Difference between revisions

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'''Edge sorting''' is a technique used in [[advantage gambling]] where a player determines whether a face-down [[playing card]] is likely to be low or high at [[List of table games|casino table games]] by observing and exploiting subtle unintentional differences on the backs of some types of card, after persuading a [[croupier]] to cooperate by unwittingly sorting the cards into low and high.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/what-edge-sorting-phil-ivey-sued-borgata-casino-allegedly-cheated-win-96-million-baccarat-1571442 |title=What Is Edge Sorting? Phil Ivey Sued By Borgata Casino, Allegedly Cheated To Win $9.6 Million In Baccarat |publisher=[[International Business Times]] |author=Thomas Barrabi |date=2014-04-14 |accessdate=2014-04-19}}</ref> Many packs of cards produced by manufacturers have unintentional edge irregularities. Typically all the backs of the cards in such a pack are identical, but the two long edges of each card are consistently distinguishable: the pattern is not symmetrical to a 180° rotation (half a full turn). During the course of a game, a player will ask the dealer, a casino employee, to rotate some face-up cards, perhaps saying they feel it will bring them luck. The dealer does not realise that cards are being turned so that low cards, typically, 6, 7, 8, or 9 are one way round, high cards the other way round, and that the edges are different. The dealer is also asked to shuffle the cards with an [[Shuffling machine|automatic shuffler]], which does not change the orientation as a manual shuffle may do. The dealer is not obliged to comply with these requests, but will usually do so if thought to be due to gamblers' superstition or mistrust. Over the course of a game, low cards will tend to be oriented one way, high cards the other.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2420796/I-read-cards-Im-cheat-U-S-poker-ace-suing-Britains-oldest-casino-denied-8million-win-admits-using-controversial-edge-sorting-technique.html |title='I read the cards but I'm no cheat': U.S. poker ace suing Britain's oldest casino after being denied £8million win admits using controversial 'edge sorting' technique |publisher=[[Daily Mail]] |author=Ian Gallagher |date=2013-09-14 |accessdate=2014-04-19}}</ref> Once a significant proportion of cards have been rotated, any player who knows this can gain a statistical edge more than outweighing [[house edge]] by using the knowledge whether the card to be turned is likely to be low or high.<ref name=PAMAG>{{cite web|url=http://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/04/14/borgata-poker-star-phil-ivey-cheated-edge-sorting/ |title=Borgata: Poker Star Phil Ivey Cheated Us Out of $10 Million Using Edge Sorting |publisher=Philly Mag |author=Victor Fiorillo |date=2014-04-14 |accessdate=2014-04-19}}</ref>

AThe UK [[UKHigh Court of Justice|High Court]] judgement ruled that the technique, which requires the player to trick the croupier into rotating cards, is cheating in civil law, and that a casino was justified in refusing payment of winnings; this ruling would not be applicable if the player simply took advantage of an observed error or anomaly for which he was not responsible in, say, the backs of the cards.

==Legality==

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</ref><ref name=CNN>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/13/us/casino-sues-poker-champ-phillip-ivey/ |title=Atlantic City casino claims poker champ Phillip Ivey cheated to win $9.6 million |publisher=[[CNN]] |author=Haley Draznin and Sho Wills |date=2014-04-13 |accessdate=2014-04-19}}</ref> In April 2014 the Borgata filed a lawsuit against Ivey for his winnings.<ref name=CNN/>

Later in 2012 he was reported to have won £7.7 million (approx. $11 million) playing [[Baccarat (card game)#Punto banco|punto banco]], a version of baccarat, at [[Crockfords (casino)|Crockfords casino]] in London. Crockfords refunded his £1 million stake and agreed to send him his winnings, but ultimately refused payment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/09/phil-ivey-poker-champion-_n_1951012.html|title=Phil Ivey, Poker Champion, Denied $11.7 Million Payout From Punto Banco Card Game|date=2012-10-09|author=Ron Dicker|publisher=[[Huffington Post]]}}</ref> Ivey sued them for payment, but lost in the UK [[High Court of Justice|High Court]]; it was judged that the edge sorting was "cheating for the purpose of civil law".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29543448|title=Top poker player Phil Ivey loses £7.7m court battle|date=2014-10-08|publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref><ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/08/top-poker-player-phil-ivey-loses-court-battle-7-million-winnings Guardian newspaper: Top poker player Phil Ivey loses court battle over £7.7m winnings, 8 October 2014].</ref> It was accepted that Ivey and others genuinely considered that edge sorting was not cheating, and deemed immaterial that the casino could easily have protected itself. Critically, the judgementjudgment pointed out that Ivey had gained an advantage by actively using a croupier as his innocent agent, rather than taking advantage of an error or anomaly on the casino's part.

On the 29th November 2015 it was reported that Ivey had been given permission to appeal after a judge ruled that his case raises an important question of law and has "a real prospect of success".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3337982/I-m-getting-second-shot-Poker-ace-accused-cheating-exclusive-Mayfair-gaming-club-8million-winnings-court-appeal.html|title=Poker ace accused of cheating by exclusive Mayfair gaming club may get back his £8million winnings in court appeal|date=2015-11-29|publisher=[[Daily Mail]]}}</ref>