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The story of Richard Marcus is not about risky gambling or large-scale fraud. He became famous because of his quiet, inconspicuous behavior and a brilliant idea that helped him circumvent the American gambling system. His income from this scheme, according to conservative estimates, could reach $30 million. The most interesting thing is that he was never caught, although the FBI literally kept an eye on him in the 90s.
Marcus was born into a poor family in New York and spent his childhood and youth in New Jersey. From an early age, he had an unquenchable passion for gambling, and even at school he was often fond of it.
However, he was not always lucky. One day, his friends tricked him out of his favorite collection of baseball cards during a game. This moment was a turning point for Marcus: he realized that he could earn good money if he learned to be cunning.
The dream of trying himself in a real casino finally matured when he was in college. It happened after he won $20,000 at the horse races. After packing his winnings into a backpack, Marcus got behind the wheel and headed west to Las Vegas, the city where he thought all dreams come true.
Vegas struck him to the core. The shiny neon casino signs, luxury hotels, expensive cars, and restaurants open around the clock all seemed to enchant Marcus. But the main question he asked himself was: how to become a master in this world of luxury and success?
In the 70s, Richard Marcus was an ordinary guy who, despite his gambling past in New Jersey, continued to believe in his “American dream”. He was convinced that he could succeed in Las Vegas with honest work and professional skills. But the reality quickly landed him: he lost much more than he won at the card tables. Later, Marcus recalled these days with the words:
“At some point, I wanted only one thing – to win 400 bucks and get as far away from Vegas as possible.”
Having overcome the internal crisis, Richard got a job as a croupier at the Four Queens casino. There he dealt baccarat and blackjack cards. It was then that Marcus saw how much money was passing through the gaming tables every day, a discovery that shocked him.
Later, he met Joe Klasson, one of the most famous cheaters of the 70s. Outside the casino, they quickly hit it off, and Joe offered Richard a “part-time job.” Their scheme was quite simple: Richard would replace chips at the right time or sometimes manipulate cards.
Markus liked this kind of fraud because it brought him more money than ordinary dealers at the table. Soon, he finally quit his job at the casino and joined Klasson’s team. There, Richard not only robbed gambling establishments, but also mastered the skill of deception, learned winning techniques, and trained sleight of hand together with experienced professionals.
While working for the Klasson team, Marcus came up with the idea to start his own career as a cheater. However, this required not only experience and technique, but also a completely unique approach to casino games.
Thinking about it, he began to carefully study all the details: from blackjack tables to chips and cards. Eventually, he got so good at them that he could play with his eyes closed. One day, while sitting in a bar, his eyes rested on a dancer with the stage name Savannah. It was then that he had a brilliant idea: what if, instead of complicated machinations, he simply changed the chips?
The method known as paste-posting – when cheap chips are replaced with expensive ones in games like roulette, blackjack, craps, or baccarat – existed before. But Marcus has perfected this technique to the point of absolute mastery.
The genius of his scheme was extremely simple: in the dim lighting of the casino, chips of similar colors looked almost identical. This allowed him to replace them quickly and unnoticed when a win was announced. For example, when he lost, he would show a $5 chip, and when he won, he would pull out a pre-hidden $5000 chip. The main thing is to quickly and accurately make a replacement, even if the croupier is looking at you.
The method was named “Savannah” in honor of the same dancer. Richard started to hone his technique at roulette, because the table is large and bets can be placed far away from the croupier. Another advantage was that he could lean over the table, partially blocking the view of the surveillance cameras.
It was difficult to work alone, so Marcus assembled his team. It usually consisted of three people: two experienced players and an attractive girl. One would place a bet, the other would distract the croupier, and the third would observe the situation in the hall. If there was a danger, he gave a signal to stop the game.
Thus, the Savannah method has become a real business card of Marcus, allowing him to achieve incredible results in the casino world.
When Marcus started working with his team, his cases gradually gained momentum. He didn’t limit himself to Las Vegas casinos – together with his partners, he visited casinos in Europe, South America, and Asia.
For more than 12 years of work in different parts of the world, Marcus managed to accumulate a million-dollar fortune by the early 90s. Rumors about the elusive cheater spread among many casinos, but not a single security guard or detective managed to catch him red-handed.
Marcus’ name as the founder of the Savannah method was still a secret, but talks about him were heard in the security offices of various casinos. The owners of the establishments strengthened security measures and installed modern video surveillance systems, but it did not help. Marcus remained elusive.
However, he himself felt that it was becoming increasingly difficult to work quietly. Over time, it became obvious that he was being watched: the attention to him increased, but there was no evidence to incriminate him.
Here’s what Marcus himself had to say about those paranoid times:
“I noticed that the same car had been following me for three days in a row. My nerves were on edge, so I decided to deal with these guys.
When I stopped at a stop sign, I got out of the car and headed towards the pursuers. Knocking on the window, I said angrily: “Listen, I’m going to the Albertson’s store three blocks away, and then I’m coming home. So please, get off my back and don’t get in my face again!”
At the time, I thought they were either private detectives or agents of the Nevada Gaming Commission. But later I found out that it was the FBI….
The last straw was the incident at the Golden Nugget casino. After receiving another $10,000 win, Marcus headed to the cashier, but halfway there, he was stopped by a smiling man in an expensive suit, accompanied by casino security guards. It was the owner of the establishment. He shook hands with Marcus, called him by name, and explained that he couldn’t pay out the winnings, otherwise he would have to call the police.
At that moment, Richard Marcus realized that it was time to give up the Savannah method once and for all.
When Richard Marcus decided to put an end to his fraudulent past, it turned out that the flame of excitement in his soul did not fade away. You can’t fool nature.
So, after retirement, he decided to use his knowledge for the benefit of the gaming industry. Richard began to tell the world the stories of his “dark past” in casinos.
Since the 90s, he has published three books: the autobiographical American Roulette, The Greatest Casino Scams with samples of fraud, and Dirty Poker, where he described in detail all the tricks in the world of poker.
Becoming known as a master of deception, Marcus decided to change sides. He began to consult casinos, helping to expose cunning fraudsters trying to cheat for large sums.
Over time, he was invited to appear on television shows where he willingly shared his experience and talked about new trends, particularly in the world of online gambling. A few years ago, Marcus created his own YouTube channel where he posts videos and lectures on various fraud schemes.
This is his main income now. Well, it’s definitely better than the prison sentence he once faced, isn’t it?
How much money Richard earned thanks to his Savannah method is not known for sure. He does not specify the amount in his books. However, experts and professional players believe that it can exceed $25 million.
His story, which ended on a positive note, is instructive: you can live outside the law for years, risking falling into the hands of justice. But at some point, fate sends signals. The main thing is to notice them and stop in time. Because there are few lucky people in the world, and most end up behind bars.