Las Vegas Poker Rooms Ban Phones from Tables to Prevent Cheating

Station Casinos, which owns 17 properties in Southern Nevada, has implemented new rules in its Las Vegas poker rooms. Players are no longer allowed to keep their phones on the table. This measure is aimed at preventing cheating methods that have been reported in other regions.

At the Boulder Station property, the new rule is clearly stated on a whiteboard: “Cellphones & other electronics are not allowed to be on the table.” This rule is part of a broader effort to ensure the integrity of poker games. The company’s properties, including Red Rock Resort, Santa Fe Station, and Green Valley Ranch, have all adopted this policy.

This crackdown comes after a cheating method was used in high-stakes poker games in Europe in 2024. The method involved a microscopic camera hidden on a phone, which relayed information to a partner outside the casino. Poker pro Bart Hanson discussed similar scams in Southern California games on the Crush Live Poker podcast. South Point Casino has also taken precautions by changing their dealing method to the slide technique, which prevents cards from being airborne and vulnerable to cameras.