Now take in the fact that in the professional world of casino game protection there are guys who will make Sal look like a novice both in experience and technical ability. Not meant as a dig at Sal. Just trying to illuminate how deep the rabbit hole goes. Especially to the uninitiated
His moves were butter! Very impressive, I wish we would've seen the marked cards, the actual marks I mean. Either way, guys moves are so friggin smooth.
I like that he tried to relate best he could to the movies, instead of just dismissing them as being Hollywood or whatever. Most expert videos tend to do that, this is much more entertaining.
I worked as a dealer for a few months. I thought it was going to be glamorous but it was just depressing. Taking money off people that really can't afford it day in, day out. Watching the desperation...
When he talks about the scene in 21, he's 100% right in that the movie was trying to keep things simple for the viewer. The book that 21 was based on, which was based on a true story, goes into all of the details about True Counts vs. Running Counts. Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich. Read it in high school and it's still one of my favorite books. The splitting 8s scene is a HUGE scene in the book, so I'm glad that it made it to the movie.
Very, very fun book and I love it, but I do recommend looking up Jeff Ma (the real "Kevin Lewis") to learn what was and wasn't true in the book -- Mezrich is one of those guys who doesn't let the truth get in the way of a good story. This became more of an issue when he wrote "the Accidental Billionaires," which turned into The Social Network.
Sal worked for a casino I worked at. We were all experienced pit bosses and dealers and he'd cheat right in front of us. He came in several times a year just to show us new cheats and advantage moves. Plus he is a really good guy to spend time with.
An expert that still seems like they are having fun with their profession and enjoy teaching a thing or two about the business. Class act, please bring this man back for a second round of information as long as it's not to revealing, he is great to listen to. :D
I used to be a craps/blackjack dealer at a Riverboat Casino in Indiana. Sal was our Head of Gaming security. The things this man could do were incredible. True photographic memory, and one of the kindest people you will ever meet. Sal, if you read this, I was excited to see you and glad you are healthy and well, also... I still have no idea all these years later how you levitated in the High Limit pit that night... haha
Can we just acknowledge how awesome Edward Norton is for learning all those cheating techniques and shuffles for a movie when most people aren't going to even notice they're happening in the scene. I've seen Rounders like 5 times and never knew he was using actual cheating techniques.
I only noticed he was bottom dealing, none of the other stuff...but i play a lot of poker...thank goodness i live near a casino..house games can be the worse when it comes to shuffling and dealing the cards
I've worked in casinos my entire life, and the way this gentleman just explained this stuff is absolutely spot on and in a very engaging way even for me. Really well done!
Are they cheating with roullete?? Its not possible it usually comes on fhe numbers there are many betts on. And always next to my number. Please tell me is there a magnet or something?
@@ewadrerrie4747 No there's nothing as there are usually regulations that are adhered to in most places. Especially in the United States, but most are not aware of it or mentioned much.
The fact that even he and his wife had worked out the cheats together!!! Mind blowing this guy could go into any casino and win everything if he wanted 😂😂😂
@@bobbyd9319 I know right. Luckily he has all his fingers, but I bet he got caught and beat up a lot, before becoming an asset. I think here and there he still goes in with her wife to have some fun. Remember, what they say in the casino: greed is what make them fall. This guy just goes in, plays with the dice, win 2 times in a row, moves away, no one will ever get suspicious nor they care. Nonetheless, I would never recommend trying anything like this because it is so emberassing and cheating will always be bad.
@@andraspalatinus145 you know who cheats the most, politicians and casinos. You should see what casino they do to normal folks who beat them. Have you seen the movie 21, yes things like that happen. By normal, I mean, not cheaters, but use their brains
@@bobbyd9319 I've always looked at a Casino as a house of risk, where I have to play by their rules... At the end of the day, we don't have to walk in there and play. Very unfortunate though that they can refuse players for being “too good to play”. Politicians though, well... Their cheating affects everyone.
"I really hate it when people see a comment with lots of likes and no replies and feel the need reply for that sole reason" - me at some point in that past, probably
Despite him explaining exactly what he is doing he is good enough for it to still not be visible. It's crazy how good you'd have to be to notice those tricks mid game
I stopped playing cards the first time I played with a card shark, he said never play cards with someone you don’t know, he then showed me why. It was incredible to see, he was so fast you couldn’t see even when he told what to look for.
I’m always glad to hear the pros say card counting isn’t cheating, casinos just don’t like it. All card counting is, is remembering what cards have been played, and understanding the odds of what cards are left.
All casino games have odds that favour the casino. If you play Blackjack intelligently enough, via card counting, its the one game where you can push the odds to become slightly in the players favour, thats why they are so vigilant about policing it. Completely legal, just giving players a fair chance, and the casinos can't have that, lol
@@xsuploader There is still "skill" when playing blackjack without card counting. Just trying to play perfect strategy itself requires a significant degree of skill most people don't have. And they won't back you off if you're just playing perfect strategy. Also, you can count cards in Poker. You're not playing against the house
Don't like cheaters in any game/hobby, but I also can't help admiring the skill and ingenuity that a person has to have to come up with some of these tactics and tricks.
Not all of it is cheating, some of it is just meticulously learning a game and finding a way to flip the odds in your favor. My favorite example is the guy who went on price is right after studying the products in their showcases. He found they reused products and was able to give his price accurate to the dollar in the final showcase.
I feel like there is so much skill involved in cheating at cards that if someone can do it successfully and not get caught then that's like an artistry and game in itself.
He had me laughing at the end -- 'If you want to win a small fortune, go to the casino with a large one.' It reminded me of Seasick Steve, 'I came into the world with nothing and I've still got most of it left.'
ok but that's actually super true. Vegas casinos wouldn't be enormous hotels with a small mall in the bottom if you had a 50/50 chance of winning. They're here to make money, and the fact of the matter is that every game in there has a higher chance of taking money instead of giving it to you.
What I found more impressive than his obvious skill is that he is plainly spoken. He did not try to bury the audience in "babble". In a 2013 trip to DC, we visited the National Cathedral. The tour guide was an exceptional vault of knowledge that could boggle my mind with her vast knowledge about intricate details that never required deception. After her impressive presentation in the free tour, of course I "donated" $20, but also learned she was a retired elementary school teacher.
@@traycarrot What my LISTENING SKILLS picked up was the communication ability of an individual to explain a complex matter into simplistic terms. You can learn that as well if you ever know something with that much depth.
Just want to add to all the people saying how cool this was. Some of the experts are just like "Lul that's not how you do it" but he was like "Oh, so they modified it for the movie, but here's what it's based off of."
"Card counting" isn't cheating no matter how much casinos insist it is, it is literally just _paying attention_ which of course they don't want you to do, hence the endless free booze
@@melancholypuppy3595 capable casinos will offer free booze and amenities to high balance tables/lounges in an attempt to get them to make more reckless decisions while playing; at the same time it makes them look very hospitable and customer caring. Its fairly funny actually.
Though in some places casinos are allowed to ask patrons to leave a certain game which is mostly to get rid of card counters in black jack to minimize losses.
Here on UA-cam, you always see these "Expert Reviews". And so often it's a person that knows a bit more than the basics, making the video boring or uninteresting. But this guy, he's truly an expert, and it was so cool and interesting to not only listen, but see the tricks he explains and performs right there!
Its always military dudes to. I remember one that was like "MARINE reacts to Top Gun!" And like, not only is it the wrong branch, but the guy was an infantry soldier (and yes I am *intentionally* calling a marine a soldier because im so annoyed just thinking about it)
This is the best one so far. I mean the guy had the actual things to show, trick dice, cards, the morse code thing, the secret colluding language with his wife; absolutely fantastic.
The patience, smarts, and techniques this guy has is legendary. A lot of this stuff is confusing asf but listening to him explain stuff is so entertaining.
Thanks everyone for taking the time to watch! And thanks to Vanity Fair for asking me to do this! I've been in Casino Game Protection for 36 years and every now and then, a fun project like this comes along. It's humbling to see so many people enjoy it. I appreciate that. Merry Christmas and all the best for a healthy, safe, and fulfilling New Year!
Merry Christmas, Sal! Just got done watching your video for the fourth or fifth time since it was posted. I always come back to your great presentation when I'm on a "pro in their field breaks down whatever" video bender. Your vid along with dialect coach Erik Singer and ancient-warfare expert Roel "you should be digging many ditches!" Konijnendijk, are always in the mix for repeat viewings. Cheers!
WOW! That was very well done, I actually LOVED the movie 21 . Your explanations and moves were absolutely flawless. I'm a penny pincher, I would love to go to the casinos however I would act like I'm gambling and just take pictures. Lol 😆
It takes years of practise to manipulate cards to the skill level of this dude. I am NEVER going to play any card game with you sir. Great demonstration....really enjoyed watching that.
I especially disliked the angle they were using when he explained the dots that are hard to see. Now I can't confirm what he said because we had to look at the cards at an ~20° angle.
You got my respect Sal , I know zero about cards & casinos but like everything in life when a master teaches his craft all you can do is sit back & enjoy the knowledge being shared and admire the dedication that was put in to get at that level
I am 100% convinced this dude is a wizard. Even seeing his "cheats" in slow motion, I am amazed that he can do it. Palming the dice and switching them out? Crazy! Shuffling the deck and being able to stack it in that split-second view?! Mindblowing.
@@GSungaila Have you ever tried DMT while you were counting cards? WOW yeah its unbelievable what these gorillas can do with a human arm. Jamie bring up that Gorilla who walked into the casino.
Honestly just wow… the knowledge and the way he tells how everything is done it’s just mind blowing. I didn’t believe someone like that exist. Blessings to you bud. Hope we can see more content like this soon.
It would probably end in a fist fight coz they will get caught. - "Hey! That was a false shuffle!" - "What? No it wasn't" - "Re-deal the hand!" - "But it wasn't a false shuffle!" - "Yes it f#ckn was you slimey cheat!" - "Takes one to know one!" - "Aaaggh" ..Bof!!!
I love how him and his wife just casually showed how they have a collusion scheme down pat in poker. If I ever see them both sitting at a table I'm calling the floor. Or re watching this video for the tells.
My mind was boggled as I watched this video for two reasons: the world of gambling and the systems developed to cheat them are so convoluted and complex that it is hard to imagine. Second is that Mr. Piacente knows and understands all of them so well that nothing would be unnoticed by him. He must have spent a lifetime working in Casino security to have obtained such expertise...pretty amazing! Mr. Piacente gives lectures and demonstrations, as many magicians do, at various magic shops across the country. I had an opportunity to attend one of his lectures in Baltimore (magic and card trick oriented) and it was unbelievable how talented he is...a very humble and truly nice gentleman as well.
I hear you. This man’s expertise and his ability to clearly explain it, is superb. I can’t believe how much this video blew me away. This man is so talented in so many ways.
Excellent summary of cheating techniques. The best I’ve ever seen. Very well explained, totally accurate, but easily to understand without “dumbing down” the material. Excellent job. A casino would be lucky to have this man working for them. Obviously hugely talented, a total class act. I’m so impressed by this man. Watching this video was a privilege! Thank you Sal!!
I like this guy because even for videos that are clearly nonsense, he explains how the concept applied can be used in reality, rather than just saying "nah that's unrealistic, next"
Only clicked on the video hoping a specific other would be recommended since I'm too lazy to look for it, but got hooked right away. The video I wanted to watch is right there, yet here I am, rewatching Sal! And I don't even play!
Sometimes in these videos, the expert just says “this is unrealistic here’s why” and moves on. This guy took even unrealistic scenes and related them to real life! Great video awesome expert.
I was always bothered that the "Rain Man" producers bragged about all the psychologists they hired to get the details of autism right; but they didn't hire any statisticians to get the details of card counting plot device right.
Also they didn’t really get the autism elements right - that’s the thing about science (especially experimental science like psychology)… films based on them can look a little silly in 10 years time.
@@Fullyautomagic It was a flawed scene to anyone that understood card-counting and casino operations (which, I admit, was a small percentage of the audience). Happens all the time in movies, TV, and news if scenes involve something you know well. Look into the Gell-Mann Effect
One of the best Vanity Fair videos so far, you definitely need to bring this guy back. So easy listening and easy to understand, explained it all in sensical terms, and clearly knew his stuff!
Great to see Sal on this video. My wife and I have fond memories of "old Vegas" because of Sal. We were just college students back in the mid-late 90s, but went to Vegas very often. Sal was the pit boss at the Monte Carlo and he remembers us poor college kids every time! Back then the pit bosses hand wrote comp slips lol!
I gamble once a year on the Grand National so I have no clue, but I'm amazed just how complex things can get with just a deck of 52 cards. We are a very devious and inventive species.
He is soooo good... I've seen break downs of some of these movies before and he is catching things alot of people missed and explaining how it's done really well
This is how someone who's been in the industry a long time talks about these kinds of things. He's great and definitely knows his stuff. I've also been in the business quite some time, so it's refreshing to see instead of these other hacks. Cheers!
It's a bit like "white hat" hacking for companies-he gets paid to watch out for and teach cheating but legally and be paid (I assume very well) for it haha
@@teethgrinder83 haha thats normal. He isnt cheating, Hes looking for cheaters. Its like calling me a criminal just because I spent half of my life studying criminal masterminds... :P
Although they may have done it together before.. and are probably more than clever enough to get away with it, most casinos know the identity the person before they even sit at the table, especially if they are winning. They’ll know your job and salary before 10 seconds after you place a hand.
@@bigzy8183 Plenty of private poker games around if you know where to look, also casinos don't care as much if you're cheating other players out of money, they focus more on people who are cheating the casino directly.
I don’t even know how to play solitary and hardly understood anything, but I could listen to this guy for hours. Fascinating! So much knowledge and skills. Bring him back! :)
Thats is kind like security casino self-school, you learning how to cheating to try some, propably you be catch, so you lerning how they detecting "undetectable" tricks, you modyfing/mixing/improwing popular things or inventing yours and they useles to. Army cameras watching everything in casino, computers analizing games and detecting anomalies in "numerical haracteristic and probability" of the games, they specialists analizing posible reasons of this. Thats not must by abnormal winnings, thats can be loosing(to suport"partner") or some sequences or loops. AI helping to detecting this by recognizing not known to that moment methods. If you pass all this seciurity checks but be see you cheating thenhold yours win for deeper investigation, if dont find nothing then withdrawyour win. If you do this secound time and stilldidint find nothing(they be waithing for you with outher tools/methods/specialists to analize your game) you have big chance to have proposition where you can keep your win and they give you bonus and wery good contract for job. Because this mean you lernedmost of trics and method to detected them and yours skils,inteligenceand imagination can make new tricks immune on already known detecting methods, so you probably able to catch uncatchable to. In that momemt beter if you take this job, because they want and need you on his side or they must known how you cheating. If you dont take this job you gona to tel him how you do this, and you do this because you be want to be kiled to finish pain and tortures.
I've never played a card game in my life, nor do I have much interest in it. However, Sal is a wonderful speaker and educator and I could listen to him all day! He is very engaging.
That was really really educational and thoroughly entertaining. I’ve never had any interest in gambling until now. This has really cemented my disinterest!
Betting Sal is always the most honest guy in the room and plays fair, but every time he wins, even in say bingo, everybody’s going, “Umm hm, what did you do there Sal? I know you did something.” Haha. Thanks for sharing!
The cashing-out thing in Oceans 13 is the most practical of the tricks in that scene; if you have people on the inside who will be taking a cut, they will likely help you out (especially if their employer is about to go bankrupt).
I really wish there was a longer version of this video/interview where we get to see the things they cut out. He is really fascinating to listen to and I've watched this 3 times now.
One of the most interesting things I've seen about casino cheating. Guy knows what he's talking about AND can show what's actually going on. Lots of respect man!
Sal was just so good presenting this. I was particularly pleased at one point to believe that I could recognise the shapes of a dishonest grip. Before remembering how good he must be at lying/misdirecting. Let's not forget...this is magic. Great show. Thank you.
"If you wanna leave the casino with a small fortune, bring a large one" smiles - pure gold!
@@xMarpx you're welcome son
we also use this strategy in crypto
@@Naomi-vr4fw don't call me dad unless you get A+ on math,
Now get back to studying
Reminds me of: "It's easy to become a millionaire in the space industry. You just have to start as a billionaire."
@@xMarpx don't worry, everyone; Lieutenant Smartass is on the scene.
this guy was flawless, not only is he obviously an expert, but he’s also an amazing communicator
Love the replica pfp
He's the type of guy you want to have drinks with and just listen to his amazing stories.
@@MrFancyGamer I second this, opn is amazing
He reminds me of my HS Algebra teacher, super easy to understand and knowledgeable.
True.
Not only the guy instantly notice the cheating technique, but he reproduce it and break it down for us. Such a great man and a great video
This guy brought so much to the table. All the examples, all the knowledge, even an accomplice. What a great speaker and educator.
He also brought cards and his wife.
Now take in the fact that in the professional world of casino game protection there are guys who will make Sal look like a novice both in experience and technical ability. Not meant as a dig at Sal. Just trying to illuminate how deep the rabbit hole goes. Especially to the uninitiated
@@Juggtacula 🤣🤣
@@esoterikizm Steve Forte!
It’s such a dirt bag move to be a cheater in cards .
Need to bring this guy back for more! He's clearly an expert and super fascinating
I want to see a 🐆 (cheetah) competition with John Cena now.
Deal with the Cheetah John Cena in a game with the cards.
Yeah, gambling experts are amazing ngl
This guy needs his own show.
Who can play this guy in a card game....lol
Usually these “experts” are kind of showy hacks. But this guy was solid gold. And he was very entertaining to watch. Bring him back, please.
He also has a solid gold chain
Agreed.
%stg2hxg%q
His moves were butter!
Very impressive, I wish we would've seen the marked cards, the actual marks I mean.
Either way, guys moves are so friggin smooth.
@@dsandoval9396 a
I like that he tried to relate best he could to the movies, instead of just dismissing them as being Hollywood or whatever. Most expert videos tend to do that, this is much more entertaining.
I think most people forget that actors most of the time study what they act, especially old movies,
edward norton studied hard for “Rounders”
I don’t know a single thing about casino games/poker/etc, and yet I’m interested enough to watch a 23 minute video of a professional talking about it
Same, and I didn’t even realize it has been 23 minutes until I read your comment lmao
Exactly
Totally. I don't even know how to play blackjack, but this dude is captivating.
😂😂true
Its the guy, very interesting man
I literally know 0 card games except Uno, never want to set foot in a casino but watching an expert explain a trade is always fascinating
Exactly
I worked as a dealer for a few months. I thought it was going to be glamorous but it was just depressing. Taking money off people that really can't afford it day in, day out. Watching the desperation...
@@marcwilliams9824 that's why I'll never go to a casino, it sounds very depressing indeed. But playing a casual game with friends could be nice
We play Texas hold em with the family for fun. No money just good ol competition. It's fun!
Still don’t understand, but he makes it entertaining
You have to bring this guy back in at least once every few months
Smh my head. Another small UA-camr trying to get subs by commenting on a bigger channel.
I rate this guy's channel 9/10, a little something for everyone
True
hey guys look its my man sportscaster bus bronson
jus gohnson
When he talks about the scene in 21, he's 100% right in that the movie was trying to keep things simple for the viewer. The book that 21 was based on, which was based on a true story, goes into all of the details about True Counts vs. Running Counts. Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich. Read it in high school and it's still one of my favorite books.
The splitting 8s scene is a HUGE scene in the book, so I'm glad that it made it to the movie.
Very, very fun book and I love it, but I do recommend looking up Jeff Ma (the real "Kevin Lewis") to learn what was and wasn't true in the book -- Mezrich is one of those guys who doesn't let the truth get in the way of a good story. This became more of an issue when he wrote "the Accidental Billionaires," which turned into The Social Network.
Sal worked for a casino I worked at. We were all experienced pit bosses and dealers and he'd cheat right in front of us. He came in several times a year just to show us new cheats and advantage moves. Plus he is a really good guy to spend time with.
True that girl
Sal ain't got no shee on me! Bring him to my den, Imma smoke this ninja.
can confirm, i was the dice
MF those casinos. they MF everyone else.
@@fredsanford6749 LMFAO
I was in casino surveillance for 11 years, our casino hired Sal to teach us gaming protection, best course ever and one on one experience was amazing.
ua-cam.com/video/4G6e4TaJxkI/v-deo.html absolutely
It’s nice to hear my feelings confirmed. He’s the best teacher I’ve ever seen.
I like how much overlap there is between cheating games and magicians tricks.
i'm not a cheater! i'm a casino illusionist!
*gets kicked out anyway*
Hand is quicker than the eyes.
So many closeup magicians started out as mechanics.
Both rely on card manipulation. Fascinating
A good magician is tasked with cheating your brain, to be honest
An expert that still seems like they are having fun with their profession and enjoy teaching a thing or two about the business. Class act, please bring this man back for a second round of information as long as it's not to revealing, he is great to listen to. :D
I used to be a craps/blackjack dealer at a Riverboat Casino in Indiana. Sal was our Head of Gaming security. The things this man could do were incredible. True photographic memory, and one of the kindest people you will ever meet. Sal, if you read this, I was excited to see you and glad you are healthy and well, also... I still have no idea all these years later how you levitated in the High Limit pit that night... haha
The Horseshoe!??? I was stationed at Fort Knox and used to hit that place up all the time wish I could have met him!
Was he kind when ripping the fingernails off of cheats?
Blue Chip in Michigan City?
@@oxide9679 Hey, my ma went there last night!
@@Corsavette02 it’s probably best you didn’t meet him. because if you did… well.. you’d be cheating 🤣
Can we just acknowledge how awesome Edward Norton is for learning all those cheating techniques and shuffles for a movie when most people aren't going to even notice they're happening in the scene. I've seen Rounders like 5 times and never knew he was using actual cheating techniques.
bruh straight up i love rounders and literally never noticed any of it
He studied for a long time to get those techniques down pat.
I only noticed he was bottom dealing, none of the other stuff...but i play a lot of poker...thank goodness i live near a casino..house games can be the worse when it comes to shuffling and dealing the cards
ua-cam.com/video/4G6e4TaJxkI/v-deo.html absolutely
@@jayste9334 dude, he really became a mechanic for real ✊🏾✊🏾
I've worked in casinos my entire life, and the way this gentleman just explained this stuff is absolutely spot on and in a very engaging way even for me. Really well done!
Are they cheating with roullete?? Its not possible it usually comes on fhe numbers there are many betts on. And always next to my number. Please tell me is there a magnet or something?
Probably spot on because he taught the casino who then taught you.
Did you ever see a computer in a shoe?
@@fluxion187 I saw one in a cowboy hat once.
@@ewadrerrie4747 No there's nothing as there are usually regulations that are adhered to in most places. Especially in the United States, but most are not aware of it or mentioned much.
The fact that even he and his wife had worked out the cheats together!!! Mind blowing this guy could go into any casino and win everything if he wanted 😂😂😂
No he couldn’t, or he would have.
@@bobbyd9319 I know right. Luckily he has all his fingers, but I bet he got caught and beat up a lot, before becoming an asset. I think here and there he still goes in with her wife to have some fun. Remember, what they say in the casino: greed is what make them fall. This guy just goes in, plays with the dice, win 2 times in a row, moves away, no one will ever get suspicious nor they care. Nonetheless, I would never recommend trying anything like this because it is so emberassing and cheating will always be bad.
@@andraspalatinus145 you know who cheats the most, politicians and casinos. You should see what casino they do to normal folks who beat them. Have you seen the movie 21, yes things like that happen. By normal, I mean, not cheaters, but use their brains
@@bobbyd9319 I've always looked at a Casino as a house of risk, where I have to play by their rules... At the end of the day, we don't have to walk in there and play. Very unfortunate though that they can refuse players for being “too good to play”.
Politicians though, well... Their cheating affects everyone.
this guy walks into any casino and he would be greeted by name and handed free drinks. No way is he sitting at a table.
"The thigh is the most sensitive part of the body"
*corrects himself*
"ONE of the most sensitive"
- Great expert. loved this!
He ain’t a docta lol
he talking about the genitals
Well, proximity alert anyway
He’s talking about a pinky toe and a ball peen hammer
@@Coram_D30 you're slow
He explains things in a way that someone who doesn’t know the topic can understand completely. What a actual orator.
b2... I wish I could agree with the word COMPLETELY. I still have a long way to go before I understand card cheating.
macforme you got this!!
This guy has to be the world's greatest uncle.
I think it would be pretty cool to be a dealer in a casino. Unfortunately, I’m not clever that way. 🤷🏻♀️🤣
I can see the image of him teaching his nephew how to catch cheaters when it comes to playing cards, definitely a cool uncle.
Why does he wear auntie's jewellery though?
@@canterlevi I have been a dealer before it's quite fun. You live off of tips. You don't have to be clever to deal
@@snipelite94 cause he’s so self-assured doing what he does that he has no need to be concerned about our opinion at all
Duuude even after seeing him cheat I’m still blown away. He makes it look so natural! Such a charismatic guy and the explanations were great!
See Richard Turner seeing seconds for truly perfect cheat: ua-cam.com/video/TwFIJyWKs1k/v-deo.html
Gotta bring this guy back he’s clearly an expert and demonstrates so well.
Imagine you’re at this guys house for a bbq and he just brings out the poker set and says “anybody want to play poker?”
If there's no money is involved, why not
Looks like he'd be fun to play with anyways. Even without cheating he could probably clean everyone out.
I’d buy in for $100 with full awareness he’s cheating just to see how it’s done
🤣
@@ts4gv only to discover you can't see any of it
this guy was smooth and really fun to watch
"I really hate it when people see a comment with lots of likes and no replies and feel the need reply for that sole reason" - me at some point in that past, probably
@@arya6085 yeah and you just did it lmao
Despite him explaining exactly what he is doing he is good enough for it to still not be visible. It's crazy how good you'd have to be to notice those tricks mid game
He explained what he was doing, you even slowed down the video and I STILL couldnt even catch it sometimes lol
Mans finger dexterity is on level 9000 holy Goku.
Lmao Chris Angel is as good of a magician as this guy is a card counter.
TV Magic.
Check out the video Ricky Jay Plays Poker
@@00gyb00gy You should see Sal in person before you even think about making that comment. Though I would agree about the Chris Angel part.
I thought it was just me
I stopped playing cards the first time I played with a card shark, he said never play cards with someone you don’t know, he then showed me why. It was incredible to see, he was so fast you couldn’t see even when he told what to look for.
I’m always glad to hear the pros say card counting isn’t cheating, casinos just don’t like it. All card counting is, is remembering what cards have been played, and understanding the odds of what cards are left.
casinos only want games of chance so that the house can keep winning
any game that introduces skill is something they are frightened of
Your comment made me just realize I been card counting since I was a kid and didn’t realize it
All casino games have odds that favour the casino. If you play Blackjack intelligently enough, via card counting, its the one game where you can push the odds to become slightly in the players favour, thats why they are so vigilant about policing it. Completely legal, just giving players a fair chance, and the casinos can't have that, lol
@@xsuploader There is still "skill" when playing blackjack without card counting. Just trying to play perfect strategy itself requires a significant degree of skill most people don't have. And they won't back you off if you're just playing perfect strategy.
Also, you can count cards in Poker. You're not playing against the house
@@KS-xk2so You can do the same in Poker without getting kicked. If you want to make money, play poker.
Imagine how dangerous it would be to play cards with this guy. If he wanted to rob you blind he could with ease. Great video! 👍
Don't like cheaters in any game/hobby, but I also can't help admiring the skill and ingenuity that a person has to have to come up with some of these tactics and tricks.
Not all of it is cheating, some of it is just meticulously learning a game and finding a way to flip the odds in your favor. My favorite example is the guy who went on price is right after studying the products in their showcases. He found they reused products and was able to give his price accurate to the dollar in the final showcase.
I feel like there is so much skill involved in cheating at cards that if someone can do it successfully and not get caught then that's like an artistry and game in itself.
You can learn to cheat 99% of of everyone you've ever played cards with, in a month.
The casinos are absolutely no better
Counting cards isn't cheating at all, lol.
I met Sal back in 2010. Our casino hired him to teach us game protection, this man is unbelievably amazing. And a super nice guy
He had me laughing at the end -- 'If you want to win a small fortune, go to the casino with a large one.' It reminded me of Seasick Steve, 'I came into the world with nothing and I've still got most of it left.'
ok but that's actually super true. Vegas casinos wouldn't be enormous hotels with a small mall in the bottom if you had a 50/50 chance of winning. They're here to make money, and the fact of the matter is that every game in there has a higher chance of taking money instead of giving it to you.
It's true. Casinos are the biggest scams in the world.
Or become a poker pro
What I found more impressive than his obvious skill is that he is plainly spoken. He did not try to bury the audience in "babble". In a 2013 trip to DC, we visited the National Cathedral. The tour guide was an exceptional vault of knowledge that could boggle my mind with her vast knowledge about intricate details that never required deception. After her impressive presentation in the free tour, of course I "donated" $20, but also learned she was a retired elementary school teacher.
Ironically, you turned a simple sentence into a verbose monologue LOL
@@traycarrot What my LISTENING SKILLS picked up was the communication ability of an individual to explain a complex matter into simplistic terms. You can learn that as well if you ever know something with that much depth.
@@mofo7689 nah
@@traycarrot For real lol, he complains about babbling right before he does it.
@@doicaretho6851 That was hardly babble though.
This guys knowledge is incredible . I could listen to him talk about casino cheating for hours on end.
Just want to add to all the people saying how cool this was.
Some of the experts are just like "Lul that's not how you do it" but he was like "Oh, so they modified it for the movie, but here's what it's based off of."
This right here, the man respects the medium and alongside his immense and clear knowledge he has also earned respect.
"Card counting" isn't cheating no matter how much casinos insist it is, it is literally just _paying attention_ which of course they don't want you to do, hence the endless free booze
Free booze??
@@melancholypuppy3595 capable casinos will offer free booze and amenities to high balance tables/lounges in an attempt to get them to make more reckless decisions while playing; at the same time it makes them look very hospitable and customer caring. Its fairly funny actually.
Though in some places casinos are allowed to ask patrons to leave a certain game which is mostly to get rid of card counters in black jack to minimize losses.
@@Intrasport probably ones with 100 minimum buy lol
@@melancholypuppy3595 no lol, you get free drinks while gambling anywhere. Table games, slots doesnt matter. Finding a waitress is the hard part.
Here on UA-cam, you always see these "Expert Reviews". And so often it's a person that knows a bit more than the basics, making the video boring or uninteresting. But this guy, he's truly an expert, and it was so cool and interesting to not only listen, but see the tricks he explains and performs right there!
Its always military dudes to.
I remember one that was like "MARINE reacts to Top Gun!" And like, not only is it the wrong branch, but the guy was an infantry soldier (and yes I am *intentionally* calling a marine a soldier because im so annoyed just thinking about it)
Bring this guy back. No B.S., and explained/showed everything to go with the clip
This is the best one so far. I mean the guy had the actual things to show, trick dice, cards, the morse code thing, the secret colluding language with his wife; absolutely fantastic.
The patience, smarts, and techniques this guy has is legendary. A lot of this stuff is confusing asf but listening to him explain stuff is so entertaining.
Thanks everyone for taking the time to watch! And thanks to Vanity Fair for asking me to do this! I've been in Casino Game Protection for 36 years and every now and then, a fun project like this comes along. It's humbling to see so many people enjoy it. I appreciate that.
Merry Christmas and all the best for a healthy, safe, and fulfilling New Year!
Merry Christmas, Sal! Just got done watching your video for the fourth or fifth time since it was posted. I always come back to your great presentation when I'm on a "pro in their field breaks down whatever" video bender. Your vid along with dialect coach Erik Singer and ancient-warfare expert Roel "you should be digging many ditches!" Konijnendijk, are always in the mix for repeat viewings. Cheers!
Do your friends invite you to card games much?
You’ve gotta do more videos on this !! Merry Christmas !!!
WOW! That was very well done, I actually LOVED the movie 21 . Your explanations and moves were absolutely flawless. I'm a penny pincher, I would love to go to the casinos however I would act like I'm gambling and just take pictures. Lol 😆
This was awesome!! Merry Christmas and happy new year1
It takes years of practise to manipulate cards to the skill level of this dude. I am NEVER going to play any card game with you sir. Great demonstration....really enjoyed watching that.
"Common wisdom is if you see a guy holding car like this, walk away" "All dealers hold cards like this" Sounds like pretty good wisdom to me
In other words, if that grip is being used by someone who's NOT a professional dealer, keep your eyes open.
@@jasontodd2533 not everyone can break it down like you did. Some people can only see the surface.
Worked as a dealer for 8 years. It depends on the casino and whether the croupiers are taught to slide or pitch the cards. So yeah it varies
He looks EXACTLY like what a person who calls themselves a casino cheating expert would look like.
I wanted to like your comment, but it was 333 likes. Too lucky for me
And sounds EXACTLY like one too.
but unlike most, he IS one!
What about Phil Ivey?
@@00bean00 phil never cheated anyone. Taking advantage of bad cards isn't cheating.
If you ever do something like this again, please don’t cut away when he is handling the cards. He’s trying to be instructive
I especially disliked the angle they were using when he explained the dots that are hard to see. Now I can't confirm what he said because we had to look at the cards at an ~20° angle.
@@ingratus8160 right, like show a close up or an animation of the pattern or something.
@@ingratus8160 ppu
You got my respect Sal , I know zero about cards & casinos but like everything in life when a master teaches his craft all you can do is sit back & enjoy the knowledge being shared and admire the dedication that was put in to get at that level
I am 100% convinced this dude is a wizard. Even seeing his "cheats" in slow motion, I am amazed that he can do it. Palming the dice and switching them out? Crazy! Shuffling the deck and being able to stack it in that split-second view?! Mindblowing.
Need to get this guy on a podcast. I wanna hear his stories.
He'd be good on Rogan
Yea I want him on Joe Rogan or Value entertainment
Yes, very informative
@@nine182 an hour in Joe Rogan will ask him about DMT
@@GSungaila Have you ever tried DMT while you were counting cards? WOW yeah its unbelievable what these gorillas can do with a human arm. Jamie bring up that Gorilla who walked into the casino.
Sal is such a legend, I rarely gamble but this has been really entertaining and informative at the same time. Love this guy's vibes.
cool story bro, unfortunately i dont care since you bought or hacked an old youtube channel with 100k+ in order for your comments to get traction
@@KompadoodleLEL Yup
Wow congratulations on buying a botted account. I hope you feel very special
Congrats bro. Nobody believes stories like yours. So shut up.
I never gamble… cuz I’m only 10!
Honestly just wow… the knowledge and the way he tells how everything is done it’s just mind blowing.
I didn’t believe someone like that exist.
Blessings to you bud.
Hope we can see more content like this soon.
"Let me bring in my wife to demonstrate."
I need to know y'alls story, stat.
They cheated. They got away with it.
He did mention how he met her here ua-cam.com/video/I4V3K5mkww4/v-deo.html
I’m still convinced he wasn’t cheating even after looking right at his tactics…. That’s how good this guy is
Yeah I could not keep up with the fake shuffles lol
I would love to see a tournament made up of the best cheats just to see who can out cheat the others.
I bet that him and his friends' monthly poker match basically is that.
now THAT'S a game I would pay to watch
That my friend is called a presidential election.
@@dave474c
Yep. All smoke and mirrors.
And no matter who wins, you lose.
It would probably end in a fist fight coz they will get caught.
- "Hey! That was a false shuffle!"
- "What? No it wasn't"
- "Re-deal the hand!"
- "But it wasn't a false shuffle!"
- "Yes it f#ckn was you slimey cheat!"
- "Takes one to know one!"
- "Aaaggh" ..Bof!!!
I took one of his classes on game protection. This guy is as legit as they come.
This man can deliver an hour long lecture and I would not be a single bit bored. Absolute legend.
ua-cam.com/video/4G6e4TaJxkI/v-deo.html absolutely
I love how him and his wife just casually showed how they have a collusion scheme down pat in poker. If I ever see them both sitting at a table I'm calling the floor. Or re watching this video for the tells.
Just can’t trust a gambler.
@@oldmech619 not a gambler, an advantaged player. Very different
@@salvadorllerenas140 he's a cheater
@@breakingtide now that he gave the tricks, he’s Robinhood
Lmaoo I was dying you can tell they went crazy before
My mind was boggled as I watched this video for two reasons: the world of gambling and the systems developed to cheat them are so convoluted and complex that it is hard to imagine. Second is that Mr. Piacente knows and understands all of them so well that nothing would be unnoticed by him. He must have spent a lifetime working in Casino security to have obtained such expertise...pretty amazing! Mr. Piacente gives lectures and demonstrations, as many magicians do, at various magic shops across the country. I had an opportunity to attend one of his lectures in Baltimore (magic and card trick oriented) and it was unbelievable how talented he is...a very humble and truly nice gentleman as well.
I hear you. This man’s expertise and his ability to clearly explain it, is superb. I can’t believe how much this video blew me away. This man is so talented in so many ways.
Excellent summary of cheating techniques. The best I’ve ever seen. Very well explained, totally accurate, but easily to understand without “dumbing down” the material. Excellent job. A casino would be lucky to have this man working for them. Obviously hugely talented, a total class act. I’m so impressed by this man. Watching this video was a privilege! Thank you Sal!!
There's obviously a lot more richness to this guy's life than gambling cheats. Dude needs his own channel.
No
I’ll cheat right in his face!
I've never wanted to see more of someone before in my life...MAKE THIS A SERIES WITH THIS GUY
I like this guy because even for videos that are clearly nonsense, he explains how the concept applied can be used in reality, rather than just saying "nah that's unrealistic, next"
Only clicked on the video hoping a specific other would be recommended since I'm too lazy to look for it, but got hooked right away. The video I wanted to watch is right there, yet here I am, rewatching Sal! And I don't even play!
Sometimes in these videos, the expert just says “this is unrealistic here’s why” and moves on. This guy took even unrealistic scenes and related them to real life! Great video awesome expert.
I was always bothered that the "Rain Man" producers bragged about all the psychologists they hired to get the details of autism right; but they didn't hire any statisticians to get the details of card counting plot device right.
Because the story was about a man’s relationship with his autistic brother and his father, not a small plot point.
@@Fullyautomagic and eventually the casino asked them to leave
Also they didn’t really get the autism elements right - that’s the thing about science (especially experimental science like psychology)… films based on them can look a little silly in 10 years time.
I remember seeing it back then with someone who had studied autism twenty years earlier. And he said: that's not how match counting works.
@@Fullyautomagic It was a flawed scene to anyone that understood card-counting and casino operations (which, I admit, was a small percentage of the audience). Happens all the time in movies, TV, and news if scenes involve something you know well. Look into the Gell-Mann Effect
One of the best Vanity Fair videos so far, you definitely need to bring this guy back. So easy listening and easy to understand, explained it all in sensical terms, and clearly knew his stuff!
Casino surveillance for 10 years. I will definitely use this as an example in table training. Love this ❤️
This guy is a great guy. When I worked at a casino in Australia we had a course with him and his mind is crazy, he can memorise decks and everything.
@A W is he a rainman like card counter
what casino? One of the Crowns?
Great to see Sal on this video. My wife and I have fond memories of "old Vegas" because of Sal. We were just college students back in the mid-late 90s, but went to Vegas very often. Sal was the pit boss at the Monte Carlo and he remembers us poor college kids every time! Back then the pit bosses hand wrote comp slips lol!
The sheer elegance and grace that this man moves with when he replicated the tricks is phenomenal
I gamble once a year on the Grand National so I have no clue, but I'm amazed just how complex things can get with just a deck of 52 cards. We are a very devious and inventive species.
Ever won anything on the National? I had Many Clouds (1st) 15-1 E/W in 2015 and Santini (4th) 33-1 E/W this year.
I've studied card magic and sleight of hand for years, and apparently, so has this guy.
He's honestly the first guy that I've seen on here that looks like his profession lol. Best on so far! Thank you!
Indeed. But ultimately, looks don't matter at the end of the day. The skills to pay the bills do, heh.
What about the mortician in another video 😂 homie looked exactly like a mortician would and had the name to match haha
Tatyana lol exactly what I thought. Victor was a textbook mortician
He is soooo good... I've seen break downs of some of these movies before and he is catching things alot of people missed and explaining how it's done really well
Sal has come to Casinos Niagara in several times and his teachings are mind blowing, seeing do card tricks alive is like watching a magician!
This is how someone who's been in the industry a long time talks about these kinds of things. He's great and definitely knows his stuff. I've also been in the business quite some time, so it's refreshing to see instead of these other hacks. Cheers!
You can tell he enjoys what he does, he explains everything very well and teaches straight to the point
It's a bit like "white hat" hacking for companies-he gets paid to watch out for and teach cheating but legally and be paid (I assume very well) for it haha
@@teethgrinder83 haha thats normal. He isnt cheating, Hes looking for cheaters. Its like calling me a criminal just because I spent half of my life studying criminal masterminds... :P
Sal “The Hitman” Piacente is entertaining, informative, and is a first-class gaming expert. He is always worth watching.
Hes my cousin
@@kevinpiacente3456 im trying to figure out how your related to us? no bs, sal's my uncle, my mothers baby brother.
@@jbeach12078 haha classic New York Italians. Finding out some random guy on UA-cam is ur cousin🤣🤣
@@alleniverson8310 Brooklyn Italians
@@jbeach12078 ask ur mom how sal and phil piacente are related. And than ask about timothy piacente he died in 1973. Timothy was my grandfather.
This is one of the best one of these types of videos I've seen. He's very knowledgeable, and never missed an opportunity teach something.
Holy crap, talk about a power couple. Can't imagine how many bank accounts they've obliterated.
Although they may have done it together before.. and are probably more than clever enough to get away with it, most casinos know the identity the person before they even sit at the table, especially if they are winning. They’ll know your job and salary before 10 seconds after you place a hand.
@@bigzy8183 imagine he wore prosthetics and a disguise though
@@bigzy8183 Plenty of private poker games around if you know where to look, also casinos don't care as much if you're cheating other players out of money, they focus more on people who are cheating the casino directly.
Love everything about this guy’s demeanor, knowledge, explanations, etc. Pleasure to watch.
the fact he actually has his wife trained up in communicating card hands is insane lol.
@@eolsunder she was so dry and matter of fact about it too, it was hysterical 😂
I don’t even know how to play solitary and hardly understood anything, but I could listen to this guy for hours. Fascinating! So much knowledge and skills. Bring him back! :)
This was one of the best and most entertaining scene analyzing videos I've watched. Thank you Sal
This has the same energy as meeting an uncle you've never met but he's a actual badass yet wholesome at the same time
I wanna know his past. He definitely did not learn this at the "casino security school" 🤣
so true😂😂😂
He is a pro wym
Right so you know how oceans 8 has based on a true story in very small print
Thats is kind like security casino self-school, you learning how to cheating to try some, propably you be catch, so you lerning how they detecting "undetectable" tricks, you modyfing/mixing/improwing popular things or inventing yours and they useles to. Army cameras watching everything in casino, computers analizing games and detecting anomalies in "numerical haracteristic and probability" of the games, they specialists analizing posible reasons of this. Thats not must by abnormal winnings, thats can be loosing(to suport"partner") or some sequences or loops. AI helping to detecting this by recognizing not known to that moment methods. If you pass all this seciurity checks but be see you cheating thenhold yours win for deeper investigation, if dont find nothing then withdrawyour win. If you do this secound time and stilldidint find nothing(they be waithing for you with outher tools/methods/specialists to analize your game) you have big chance to have proposition where you can keep your win and they give you bonus and wery good contract for job. Because this mean you lernedmost of trics and method to detected them and yours skils,inteligenceand imagination can make new tricks immune on already known detecting methods, so you probably able to catch uncatchable to. In that momemt beter if you take this job, because they want and need you on his side or they must known how you cheating. If you dont take this job you gona to tel him how you do this, and you do this because you be want to be kiled to finish pain and tortures.
He used to be a Blackjack dealer.
Of all of the "experts weigh in" videos by vanity fair, GQ, Insider, etc. THIS ONE IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVES. Gotta be top 5. So well done!
I've never played a card game in my life, nor do I have much interest in it. However, Sal is a wonderful speaker and educator and I could listen to him all day! He is very engaging.
That was really really educational and thoroughly entertaining. I’ve never had any interest in gambling until now. This has really cemented my disinterest!
Betting Sal is always the most honest guy in the room and plays fair, but every time he wins, even in say bingo, everybody’s going, “Umm hm, what did you do there Sal? I know you did something.” Haha. Thanks for sharing!
Casino is "So real world." Annnddd then there's Ocean's 13.
But that's alright, I love the Oceans movies anyway.
Yeah! They never really try to be real world either. So much borderline sci-fi in those movies, clearly just for the fun of it.
Very sci-fi but oddly a movie I can watch multiple times and not get bored of it
The cashing-out thing in Oceans 13 is the most practical of the tricks in that scene; if you have people on the inside who will be taking a cut, they will likely help you out (especially if their employer is about to go bankrupt).
Its rare to see a True Expert ! Someone who doesnt just know How its done and How to spot it.....But Actually Can Perform the Cheats! Great Job !
This guy is beyond competent at what he does, hard to find someone like this.
I really wish there was a longer version of this video/interview where we get to see the things they cut out. He is really fascinating to listen to and I've watched this 3 times now.
This one has been the best one so far, perfect communication, demonstration and everything always interesting.
This was a brilliant breakdown of a lot of films really quickly and concisely. Well done.
We need more of these. Especially this guy, he's a great presenter
One of the most interesting things I've seen about casino cheating. Guy knows what he's talking about AND can show what's actually going on. Lots of respect man!
Sal was just so good presenting this. I was particularly pleased at one point to believe that I could recognise the shapes of a dishonest grip. Before remembering how good he must be at lying/misdirecting. Let's not forget...this is magic. Great show. Thank you.
This guy has no ego. Just the skills and the facts. He's truly amazing!