Las Vegas Poker Room Changes How Cards Are Dealt to Combat Cheating (Video)

^{Tommy LaRosa, Director of the Venetian Poker Room}

The poker room at the Venetian casino in Las Vegas has changed how cards are dealt. Instead of tossing cards to players, dealers now slide them across the table. The move is designed to prevent cheating by people trying to peek at opponents’ cards, including with hidden cameras, according to PokerNews.

Under the traditional dealing method, dealers flick cards toward players with a quick motion of the wrist. Sometimes, a card lifts high enough off the table for others to see its face.

Cheaters can exploit this by deliberately peeking at opponents’ cards to gain an unfair advantage.

With the new technique, cards slide face down across the felt without leaving the table, making it much harder to see the cards’ faces during the deal.

The Venetian has become the first poker room on the famous Las Vegas Strip to adopt the technique. Dealers at South Point, a casino located off the Strip, had already begun learning the method.

According to Venetian poker room director Tommy LaRosa, preparations for the change began in early 2026. Dealers received special training, and initial feedback has been positive.

Poker pro Daniel Negreanu has also welcomed the move, noting that the new dealing method would make cheating significantly more difficult.

The Venetian operates the largest poker room on the Las Vegas Strip. Located inside The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, the 50-table poker room regularly hosts major international poker tournaments.