Infrared Camera Poker Scam Busted in Birmingham Gambling Dens

Police in Birmingham, England, have shut down illicit gambling dens that used infrared cameras to track cards and scam patrons. The scheme often targeted foreign university students.

How Scammers Used Infrared Cameras to Cheat in Poker

Players were cheated in private poker games using said cameras in several dens across the city. After raiding an illegal home game and shutting down one of the venues, police released images of an overhead infrared camera that had been installed to monitor players’ marked hole cards. The data was then transmitted to other players at the table.

In a statement, police stated that international students are frequently targeted by organized crime groups, who use illegal gambling nights to gain influence over them, eventually coercing them into further criminal activity. 

The police also issued a warning about illegal gambling dens in Birmingham, emphasizing their ongoing efforts to shut them down. Officers from the Birmingham Serious Organised Crime and Exploitation Team (SOCEX), along with Operation Fearless, are actively working to tackle these unregulated venues, which are often connected to broader criminal networks and may pose significant risks to visitors. They also noted that individuals attending these gambling nights are vulnerable to exploitation and further financial harm.

Is Cheating in Gambling Common in the UK?

Cheating in gambling in the UK is relatively uncommon but nonetheless taken very seriously by regulators and law enforcement. While not widespread, significant cases have drawn attention to both traditional and emerging methods of illicit advantage. 

The situation with the infrared cameras presented here is a classic case of edge sorting, but using modern technology to do so. In this cheating method, a player exploits subtle flaws in the backs of playing cards to identify high-value cards, usually by manipulating dealer behavior (e.g., rotating cards). The technique is deemed cheating in civil law, as seen in the famous Phil Ivey case, where the UK Supreme Court ruled against him.

One common method of cheating in gambling in the UK is insider betting. Sports betting is quite popular in the country, with one study concluding that 47% of gamblers in the UK participate in sports betting, making it the most popular type of gambling activity, second only to lotteries at 37%.

However, betting using insider information, such as knowing the date of a general election before it is officially announced, constitutes cheating. For example, 15 individuals, including former political staffers, were charged over such bets made ahead of the 2024 general election.

The UK is continually striving to stay ahead of illegal gaming activities, and a recent example of this effort is the introduction of new anti-fraud rules. They will impact companies that benefit from fraudulent acts committed by their employees, agents, or subsidiaries.