Venetian First Las Vegas Strip Room to Require Slide Dealing
Venetian becomes the first Las Vegas Strip poker room to mandate slide dealing, a method built to stop hidden-camera cheating at the tables.
The Venetian has become the first Las Vegas Strip poker room to mandate slide dealing, a method where dealers push cards flat across the felt instead of pitching them. Casino.org and PokerNews report the change targets hidden-camera cheating that can catch a flash of hole cards during a pitch. The switch follows South Point's move in August and comes as MGM Resorts says it is exploring the same step.
- Venetian's 50-table poker room is the first on the Las Vegas Strip to mandate slide dealing.
- South Point, a 30-table room off the Strip, began training dealers on the method in August.
- PokerStars made slide dealing mandatory at European Poker Tour events starting in 2024.
- MGM Resorts confirmed to Poker.org it is exploring the method across its poker operations.
- Venetian's WPT Fall Championship, a $5,000 buy-in event, starts November 5.
What is slide dealing and why did Venetian adopt it?
Slide dealing replaces the traditional pitch, where dealers toss cards through the air to each seat. Instead, dealers slide cards face-down across the felt. Casino.org reports the method keeps cards flush against the table, making it far harder for a hidden camera at table height to catch a glimpse of a hole card during the deal.
Tommy LaRosa, Venetian's director of poker operations, told PokerNews the change 'reduces the possibility of cards being exposed during the deal' and adds another layer of security. He said the room began evaluating slide dealing earlier this year before training its dealers and rolling it out across all 50 tables.
How does this fit into the wider poker cheating story?
Concern over concealed cameras at live tables has grown steadily. Casino.org points to a 2024 case in France, where authorities arrested two men accused of using cameras hidden in smartphones to film hole cards at Casino Barrière Enghien-les-Bains near Paris, feeding information to accomplices through earpieces.
That syndicate reportedly took in tens of thousands of euros a night across several European venues, according to the outlet. PokerStars responded by making slide dealing mandatory at EPT events starting in 2024, alongside bans on smart glasses and other electronic devices at the table.
Is Venetian really the first in Las Vegas?
Venetian is the first Strip casino to require slide dealing, but not the first room in the city overall. South Point, located off the Strip, started training dealers on the technique in August, a move that sparked debate in the local poker community over whether Strip rooms should follow, according to PokerNews.
Poker.org reports that player advocates, including pro Joey Ingram, had pushed for the switch for roughly two years. A demonstration at the Global Gaming Expo reportedly showed how a pinhole camera could catch hole cards when a dealer pitched them poorly.
What are players and operators saying about the switch?
Reaction has leaned positive but not unanimous. Poker Hall of Famer Daniel Negreanu told PokerNews the change will make cheating much harder, and said cheaters 'won't like it.' Pro Matt Berkey posted video of the Venetian's rollout, calling it a sign operators are finally taking game integrity seriously.
Some players worry slide dealing slows the game and cuts hands per hour, a concern Poker.org also notes. LaRosa said Venetian's dealers trained and practiced before the floor rollout, and that early feedback from staff and players has been largely positive despite the adjustment period.
Could other Las Vegas rooms follow?
MGM Resorts confirmed to Poker.org that it has begun 'initial discussions' about slide pitching across its poker operations, though no rollout has been set. Executive Sean McCormack said game integrity and player protection remain priorities as the company weighs the move.
Poker.org suggests the WSOP could present the biggest test, given the sheer number of dealers it hires each summer. But with Venetian now setting a precedent on the Strip, pressure on other rooms to match it is likely to build.
What it means for players
For anyone who plays live poker, this is a security upgrade worth watching for at your local room. Slide dealing closes a real gap that hidden-camera cheats have exploited at other venues, and it costs players nothing beyond a brief adjustment to pace. If your home room still pitches cards high and fast, it may be worth asking whether a switch is on the table, since operators elsewhere are clearly feeling pressure to move.
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Frequently asked
What is slide dealing in poker?
Slide dealing is a technique where dealers push cards flat across the table instead of tossing them through the air. It keeps card faces against the felt, making it much harder for hidden cameras to catch a hole card during the deal.
Why did Venetian switch to slide dealing?
Venetian made the change to guard against high-tech cheating, after cases elsewhere showed cheaters using hidden cameras to read hole cards. PokerNews reports the room evaluated the method earlier in the year before training dealers and rolling it out across all 50 tables.
Which other poker rooms use slide dealing?
South Point in Las Vegas began training dealers on slide dealing in August, and PokerStars made it mandatory at European Poker Tour events starting in 2024. MGM Resorts has told Poker.org it is exploring the method across its own poker rooms.