The Venetian Switched to Slide Dealing for Poker
The casino updated its card-dealing procedure on October 14, 2026, to bolster security in its poker room.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Casino
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The Venetian has replaced its traditional pitch dealing method with slide dealing to better protect games from high-tech cheating. Players at the resort will now receive cards via a specialized shoe, a change that follows similar security shifts at the South Point Casino.
Why it matters
Casinos are increasingly adopting this technology to prevent unauthorized recording of cards via cell phones or other devices during a deal. The move follows reports of sophisticated cheating operations in both Europe and the United States, raising security stakes for high-stakes games.
The Venetian joined the South Point Casino in utilizing slide dealing, a practice that replaces the traditional pitch method to eliminate risks of card exposure. The total number of local venues opting for this security standard remains in flux as the industry monitors regional trends.
The players
The Venetian
The Las Vegas resort that implemented the new slide dealing security measure in its poker room.
South Point Casino
A Las Vegas property that adopted slide dealing in August 2026.
Chauncey Billups
A former coach linked to a reported cheating operation involving organized crime members in October 2025.
PokerStars
An international poker brand that adopted slide dealing for its European Poker Tour events in 2025.
The details
Dealers at The Venetian now use a playing card shoe to slide cards directly to players, a shift designed to ensure card faces remain hidden from both players and nearby cameras during the deal. This approach mimics measures taken at European Poker Tour events in 2025 and at the South Point Casino in August 2026. The change is intended to prevent cheating operations that utilize cell phones to record card values, an issue that led to arrests in Europe in 2024.
Timeline
2024: Authorities arrested suspects for cheating in European casinos.
2025: PokerStars implemented slide dealing at European events.
October 2025: A cheating operation involving Chauncey Billups was reported.
August 2026: South Point Casino implemented slide dealing.
October 14, 2026: The Venetian implemented slide dealing.
Beyond the Strip
The Venetian's security update follows a pattern set by the 2024 European casino cheating arrests to mitigate card-filming techniques. This move marks a departure from standard pitch dealing as local properties align with global security trends.
Poker players visiting The Venetian will now experience the slide method during all games in the poker room. You should expect to see dealers using a new playing card shoe rather than the traditional pitch method during your next session.
The takeaway
The move to slide dealing signals a permanent shift in how local casinos protect the integrity of their poker rooms. Players should prepare to see this security-focused method become more common across high-stakes games throughout the valley.
Further reading
For more on changes to local resort gaming operations, visit our Casino section.
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