Edge Sorting

There are many gambling terms that those unfamiliar with the betting world might not be aware of. Edge sorting takes some explaining but is a complex way for bettors to gain a betting advantage in a card game.

It takes a great deal of study and skill to perform edge sorting from the perspective of a gambler, but the practice has been the centre of high-profile legal disputes for over a decade. Since edge sorting has become more known, casinos have been highly alert to identify players potentially using the practice.

At Betsquare, we like to explore every aspect of the gambling industry. For that reason, we’ll l look at what edge sorting is, why it can be advantageous or even a drawback, its legality within organised gambling, and famous instances where it has been used. Let’s look at the subject to understand more about the topic.

What Is Edge Sorting?

Edge sorting is complex, and executing it correctly is very hard, which is why so few people have tried to use the practice throughout the years. However, edge sorting shouldn’t be confused with card counting. This method determines the likelihood of a desired card appearing by statistically analysing what cards have already been dealt and judging your next decision based on that likelihood.

What is Edge Sorting?

Edge sorting is the practice of identifying whether a face-down card is likely to be a higher-value card or a lower-value card based on subtle differences in card appearances. It is typically used during blackjack or baccarat and can only be used in person rather than in an online casino.

How Does Edge Sorting Work?

Every deck of cards will have a front and back: the front shows the card’s value (Queen, Jack, 10, etc.), and the back is usually some pattern or design. Although it’s tough to notice, the longer sides of each card are different, as some patterns are not symmetrical, and others are due to the way they’re cut or printed.

Players will tell the dealer they have a superstition and ask them to rotate all the high-value cards 180°; the same players could even bring their own deck for “luck” if the dealer inspects them and sees nothing wrong. If the dealer is unaware of edge sorting, they might agree to this out of indulgence. Eagle-eyed players can then ascertain the higher-value and lower-value cards, even if they can’t tell exactly which value it will be when face-down. 

Why Use Edge Sorting?

Edge sorting can theoretically give a player an advantage in distinguishing which face-down cards are of high value or low value. If you can predict this, you’ll stand a better chance of presuming which cards have been dealt from the back of the card, thus using it to your advantage when hitting or sticking in blackjack, for instance. 

Edge Sorting – Pros and Cons 

Although it isn’t illegal everywhere, edge sorting pros and cons exist, and many casinos view it as an ethically questionable practice. Like any other “tactic” within a table game, the scheme has edge-sorting advantages and disadvantages. As edge sorting isn’t foolproof, let’s examine the pros and cons.

 

Edge Sorting Pros	Edge Sorting Cons
It presents an advantage for face-down cards	It can land you in trouble with casinos
It reduces the amount of luck you need	It’s extremely difficult to perform well
The house is less likely to refuse if large sums of money are played	It requires indulgence from dealers

 

You won’t be able to show up at a casino and perform edge sorting, as some requests you make to the dealer will need to be granted, which they can view with scepticism. An extraordinary amount of vision and memory is required to perform it effectively.

If you were to master edge sorting somehow, however, you’d have an advantage in knowing whether a card is of a higher or lower value, regardless of how ethical it is.

Is Edge Sorting Illegal? 

Edge sorting isn’t technically illegal, but nearly every casino worldwide frowns upon it. Many players might ask, “Is edge sorting illegal?” The legal status of edge sorting has indeed been questioned for several years, with occasional very high-profile cases put under the microscope in the past decade, but, as it stands, it is a legal practice.

You might find yourself barred from a casino if you’re caught edge sorting, and they might try to take legal action against you, even if they’re unsuccessful. Nevertheless, casinos will do all they can to prevent edge sorting from occurring because they want the game to be as fair as possible and avoid “cheating”, as many casinos view edge sorting. 

Edge Sorting and Phil Ivey 

Perhaps the most well-known case of alleged edge sorting occurred in 2012 when Phil Ivey, one of the planet’s most famous poker players, won millions at The Borgata casino in New Jersey and Crockfords casino in London. However, the latter refused to pay out his winnings, only refunding his £1 million stake, leading to a lawsuit from Ivey. The Borgata casino in Atlantic City paid the $9.6 million baccarat winnings to Ivey and Cheung Yin Sun, his playing partner, but sued the pair two years later.

The respective courts in the USA and UK judged in favour of the casinos in those cases, deeming edge sorting a form of cheating. Ivey disputes this, yet the story of Phil Ivey and edge sorting continues to be discussed today.

The outcome of Ivey and Yin Sun’s legal battles raises further questions about what will happen in the future when similar accusations are made. The chances are that you won’t be gambling the same money that Phil Ivey and Cheung Yin Sun were betting during their visits to the casinos above. Still, the cases prove that, even if you can perform edge sorting, it’s far from guaranteed that the casinos will pay out any winnings.

The Bottom Line 

In summary, edge sorting is incredibly tough to perform successfully. It carries risks regarding whether you’ll get paid your winnings if you’re found to have undertaken it and whether you’ll ever be allowed to revisit that casino or its affiliates. Although it isn’t illegal to use edge sorting, performing it undetected is not easy whatsoever.

As we’ve discussed, there are pros and cons involved with edge sorting, controversies regarding the practice, and famous examples of how it has been used during high-stakes table games. Betsquare reviews table games and the casinos that offer these games regularly, and if you’re looking for somewhere to place a bet, either online or in person, you should explore our website for complete comparisons.

Your betting behaviours must stay responsible for your own sake and finances. It’s essential that you know the warning signs regarding irresponsible betting and the tools that are there to help you by browsing our Responsible Gambling page.