The Venetian Switched to Slide Dealing for Poker
The Las Vegas casino adopted the new dealing method to prevent potential high-tech card cheating.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Casino
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The Venetian Las Vegas has officially transitioned its poker room to slide dealing. This method utilizes a playing card shoe to distribute cards, ensuring that faces remain hidden from both players and cameras.
Why it matters
Casinos are increasingly adopting this technology to mitigate the risk of cheating via cell phones and other high-tech surveillance methods. This shift aims to protect game integrity in an era where sophisticated cheating operations have targeted major poker circuits.
The transition replaces the traditional pitch dealing method, which has been associated with recent cheating scandals in both Europe and the United States. Future adoption is projected to increase across other high-stakes poker environments in the country.
The players
The Venetian Las Vegas
This major luxury hotel and casino resort operates one of the most prominent poker rooms in Las Vegas.
South Point Casino
Located in Las Vegas, this gaming establishment was among the first in the region to implement slide dealing.
Chauncey Billups
The former coach was linked to a high-profile cheating operation reported in October 2025.
PokerStars
This international online poker company organizes major live events such as the European Poker Tour.
The details
By using a card shoe to slide cards to players, the casino removes the possibility of card faces being exposed during the delivery process. This change follows a string of industry concerns involving cell phone-based filming operations, including a notable case reported in October 2025.
Timeline
Authorities made arrests related to European cheating operations in 2024.
A cheating operation involving Chauncey Billups was reported in October 2025.
PokerStars implemented slide dealing for European Poker Tour events in 2025.
South Point Casino implemented the slide method in August 2026.
The Venetian officially adopted slide dealing on October 14, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The Venetian's shift follows the broader industry response to the rise of cell phone-based card marking and filming cheating operations. This move reflects a wider effort among major casino operators to modernize game security against sophisticated high-tech threats.
Poker players at The Venetian can expect a permanent change in how dealers distribute cards during all games. This update ensures a higher standard of security for participants, though it represents a departure from the traditional manual pitch method.
The takeaway
Slide dealing is becoming the new standard for protecting the integrity of live high-stakes poker games. Players should prepare for this method as it continues to replace legacy dealing techniques across major casinos.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in the gaming industry by visiting the Casino section.
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