Gambling and Scamming on Ocean Liners

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This video is a short documentary on the elaborate schemes and scams used by professional hustlers aboard ocean liners to separate naive passengers from their money. These scoundrels went by many names such as card sharps, card sharks, and boatmen. Like their modern counterparts, they had all sorts of methods ranging from simple card counting to sophisticated, multi-day scams involving multiple people, trust building over countless games of poker, and expensive first-class tickets.
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Sources:
1. “The Only Way to Cross,” by John Maxtone-Graham. 1972.
2. “Titanic Hero: The Autobiography of Captain Rostron of the Carpathia,” by Arthur Rostron. 2011. Originally published as Home from the Sea in 1931.

[@maximusjackassicus3042]

Here's a piece of advice, when you're gambling with strangers ALWAYS leave the game after three wins. If you get greedy you'll lose but it you're smart you walk away with money.

[@Jay-vr9ir]

When I was a student working as a cleaner , at a golf course , there were to members that use to to team up against the grounds keeper and cleaned , the grounds keeper out during card games . The two members would meet up in the parking lot and split the winnings after the game . I wanted to warn the grounds keeper , but I thought it best to not say a word.

[@SportyMabamba]

@@Jay-vr9ir I hope he was letting them win because he was banging their wives 🤔

[@BHuang92]

Interesting fact that many wealthy individuals traveled on the ocean liners on October 1929 , that is until they came back.......

[@jamesfracasse8178]

which is why those remaining ocean liners were no longer considered the millionaire's special anymore and instead offered cheap passages to any destination's.

[@NOrlando952]

Rostron is amazing. The man just keeps getting better.

[@phillyguy8541]

There is a reference to card sharps in "A Night To Remember." Lightoller recognizes one and tells the steward to warn the passengers playing with him. He even mentions some of the alias's he used.

[@wintersbattleofbands1144]

It's "card sharks," although "sharps" has a certain ring of accuracy to it.

[@Kaidhicksii]

I remember that scene. XD

[@TheGreatBigMove]

Be honest: would you have fallen for any of the elaborate schemes of the ocean-going cardsharps?

[@shelty3178]

Hi

[@merafirewing6591]

Cardshark?

[@denizalgazi]

No because I'm so used to seeing all these con artists all around the globe. Though the gypsies are the easiest to spot.

[@DerpyPossum]

Given how utterly pathetic i am irl? *Undoubtedly.*

[@SQUAREHEADSAM1912]

@@DerpyPossum same

[@michaelmacleod7051]

Fantastic video, really good to see more of the social aspects onboard the liners

[@TheGreatBigMove]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Uncle_Fred]

@@TheGreatBigMove More social aspects please!

[@nightw4tchman]

Never gamble, your wins are always short lived.

[@djscottdog1]

On average im 500 up

[@jec1ny]

When I was a kid back in the land of long ago, my dad took us on a vacation to the Jersey shore. One afternoon we took a drive up to Atlantic City where they had a bunch of casinos and were building more. And I remember him pointing to one and saying "you see that flashy building with all the lights? It was not built by people taking money out of it." Dad enjoyed a friendly card game now and then. But AFAIK he never played for money.

[@1JamesMayToGoPlease]

Pretty interesting, and well-presented. Thank you.

[@TheGreatBigMove]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@brycetomecek5065]

Your videos are getting better and more interesting.

[@moosifer3321]

Yet another feather in Capt. Rostrum`s Cap! Great video covering an unknown aspect of the `Golden Years` of the Liners.

[@djscottdog1]

Be aware of people keen to be friends.

[@andycraddock7677]

As with all your videos Sir….fascinating and well done. If memory serves, there is a scene in the film adaptation of “A Night to Remember” where two waiters (or perhaps a First-Class waiter and a steward- I cannot recall) discuss an ongoing card game, probably in the Mens’ First Class Smoking Room, warily eyeing a male passenger they suspect of being a card sharp/swindler. I believe the man’s actions were suspect, the crew members recognized him, and one of the Titanic’s officers was even alerted to the possible ongoing rascality. Please correct me if my memory or facts are faulty as to the scene. In the “modern” era of cruise ships (let’s say 1975-present) I don’t see that much has changed, except now it’s legal with onboard casinos, many well-known to have the stingiest slots on earth. Slot machines are always a bad option if you partake in gambling, but I’ve read many reports that the ship operated variety have payouts far below Vegas, Atlantic City or other legal gaming destinations, where at least in theory the state regulations require payouts of perhaps 95% or better (They’re still legally advertising that you’re likely to lose , albeit more slowly.) And if you are swindled, scammed or hustled onboard a modern cruise ship, who ya gonna call or report it to? The LE agency under whose flag the vessel is registered, the LE enforcement agency in the nation of departure, the LE agency of the county operating the ship (and by “operating” I mean the ship’s officers.) All of the above may be different countries with very different laws. The open oceans seem to remain one of the grey areas of the world when it comes to criminal law. The FBI has jurisdiction over Americans for serious crimes committed at sea, but less serious (I.e.: No one died, ya just got taken to the proverbial cleaners), to whom does one seek redress? Likely nowhere. A report may be filed. Don’t ever expect to see your money again. The one pressure-point that might help kick-start an investigation is that the major, legacy lines (I.e.: Cunard) I believe do wish to maintain good reputations and that fact might help. Otherwise, consider yourself extraordinarily fortunate to actually be aboard the QM2, and stay away from all cards. I’d really like to see you do an in-depth video on crime aboard cruise ships. From all I’ve ever read crime (including very serious crimes such as sexual assault) is rampant aboard the ships and it’s the #1 dirty little secret of the industry. Thanks again for today’s excellent study on the subject.

[@Kaidhicksii]

No, your memory about that scene is correct. Apparently Lightoller was the one who sounded the alarm on the guy. XD

[@DiabolikalRA]

with so much effort put into conning someone, one almost feels like they are deserving of the outcome 🤣

[@Jacob1986]

Can you talk more about food and food preparation aboard ships?

[@Austinpride560]

I know Titanic's food it served

[@kristinarain9098]

Having spent as much time as I have being homeless in LA, I cannot and will not hold any good will or feelings of sympathy to Thieves and the act of theft. Thieves are the *WORST* and most vile human beings I've had the misfortune of being in immediate physical proximity with. There's nothing more despicable and nothing I abhor more than stealing from people especially when some people are trying to help and open their doors to others only to be treated to such an act as back stabbing theft. Anyone who hurts the kind hearts of others in such a way should be drowned or slowly burnt alive. I've lost so much, so many things that can't be replaced. Things that were jacked not because of any dollar value but because *I* cherished the memory attached to it. Because I loved and cherished the person who took the time to think of me and then went as far as to have given mee something only to have some black hearted piece of intestinal parasitic rot just jack it from me because I *cherished* it and wanted to see me really hurting from the loss. I hate thieves. I wouldn't bat an eye, or feel an inkling of sadness to see one skinned and slowly fed to fire ants Fuck thieves.

[@busterbeagle2167]

Card sharks were around waaaaay before cards

[@DiabolikalRA]

nowadays the ship casino is whom steals your money 🤣

[@HarveyJohnWillmott]

Lol

[@RattyFlyer]

Keep up the good work. My son and I enjoy watching your videos together before he goes to bed.

[@TheGreatBigMove]

I'm glad to hear it!

[@RattyFlyer]

@@TheGreatBigMove :)

[@Centurion04]

Not sociopaths, psychopaths. Sociopaths don't really understand that what they do is wrong. Psychopaths understand and just don't care.

[@finsfan90]

No matter what year or era, people are always people. Sometimes we over romanticize the past and forget about human nature.

[@natebullis353]

What happened to this man? I was so addicted to his videos and he just vanished…

[@The_Dudester]

This story would have been a great addition to The Poseidon Adventure (1972). Card sharp swindles man and gets karma through an explosion, or the like.

[@TheGreatBigMove]

I would go so far as to say that this topic could be the subject of an entire movie!

[@The_Dudester]

@@TheGreatBigMove Want to collaborate on a script?

[@wintersbattleofbands1144]

The phrase is "card sharks," son.

[@leopardknowledge.1430]

This channel needs a discord server

[@Drake_Dimes]

Get ahead and then refuse the last game on the train back. Keep your earnings then make the card sharks go broke.

[@anthonyjackson280]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="788">13:08</a> ". . . did what they could to fly under the radar. . ." - they didn't until after WW2...

[@mrsaturngamingandstories]

Very nice video I support this

[@bradfry5403]

I'm not sure that you need to learn much more about editing video I have always thought you do a really good job of it. I guess if the victim decided not to get the train after the trip the plan would have failed.

[@jonathandevries2828]

is it card sharp or card shark?

[@TheGreatBigMove]

The terms are interchangeable, but I would say card sharp is more common. I used both in this video.

[@loubetti]

Fantastic video, great job. It could have been written by John Maxtone-Graham! ;)

[@TheGreatBigMove]

Thanks, Louis. This topic was always one of my favorite parts of his magnum opus. I've wanted to make a video on it from the beginning, but never did find many more references to it in other books.

[@ShiftingDrifter]

There were several movies about this of the period! Check out The Lady Eve (1941) directed by Preston Sturges and starring Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda. (Comedy)

[@DerpyPossum]

Thanks for the novel ideas, mate ;)

[@AaronShenghao]

At least they are not scamming grandma or old people…

[@DerpyPossum]

Wouldn’t be out of the question to assume that they were, imo.

[@Mrs.Doubtfire007]

What happened to the Patreon? The link takes me something that looks broken & in another language, maybe Spanish.

[@scharnhorstkaisarbeethoven]

Now I see rms aquitania as the ship gambler Instead of the ship beautiful

[@aidanbarnes1625]

I bet someone could make a movie about a group of ship going con-artists trying to make lots of money.

[@TheGreatBigMove]

Absolutely! I think this topic could make a great movie.

[@kvltizt]

Oceans 11 😏

[@aidanbarnes1625]

@@kvltizt I have seen oceans 11 and it definitely follows such a story. Minus the ship part.

[@denizalgazi]

👍

[@wintersbattleofbands1144]

That's an expensive grift, traveling First Class in hopes of landing a sucker.

[@feastguy101]

The returns were probably huge. Even the 2000$ scenario in the video would have payed for some 3 or 4 crossings.

[@Kaidhicksii]

Congrats on the new house! I must say that betting on how many miles the ship traveled per day sounded like a ton of fun, win, lose or draw. If a Titanic II is ever built, that is one activity that could be held on board. As for these con artists, all I really need to say is the following. If I was foolish enough to get suckered into playing cards with them (not that I know how to begin with), and found out what had happened immediately after, then assuming I was still well off with a good job and lots of money coming in, money which would rapidly replace what I had lost, I would let the guys keep their "winnings," while of course advising them not to try that with me again. This is why our mamas tell us not to gamble guys. Don't do it. XD

[@I_am_a_cat_]

What's going on behind the tugs at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="307">5:07</a>? Are their names being concealed..? Or is that just a weird video affect?

[@DerpyPossum]

The tugs’ names, which would’ve revealed that they were stationed out of New York, were scratched out of the footage so the 1912 press can use that footage of Olympic as footage of Titanic. Apparently, it’s still fooling folks today.

[@I_am_a_cat_]

@@DerpyPossum ah, I see. Thank you for the explanation!

[@mariuszszymczak3644]

Will be waiting 1st... No pressure 😅

[@mrs6968]

what a trip

[@wispa1a]

A,K,J,9. 1 card from top set a queen or 10 would work.

[@laratheplanespotter]

The onboard casinos on cruise ships are the scam of today IMO. And the photographers.

[@Nakosuke-75]

Ong this is totally me on a lonesome friday night

[@TheOneAndOnlyWeeber69]

The Great big move is using skillshare and he will teach us how to scam

[@ShortArmOfGod]

Card........sharps?

[@asylumlover]

ONCE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!! LONG LIVE THE MEMORY OF THE GLORIOUS CAPTAIN SIR ARTHUR HENRY ROSTRON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHIP SHIP HURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@augustosolari7721]

How not to include this fantastic piece of popular culture. Have you been to the Smoking Room? I heard that Mr Riviera Is playing to very high stakes... How high? VERY HIGH! ☠️💀

[@myopiniongoodyouropinionbad]

$2000 adjusted for inflation 100 years ago is roughly $34,000 today and $13,000 is $222,000. If you are throwing around that kinda money with strangers be it on your own head. $2k is still a good return on investment for the hustlers .

[@HyperVegitoDBZ]

They weren't sociopaths. They were simply... poor. Poverty is the origin of all crime and scams, by using sociopath logic most modern companies are run by sociopaths which is obvious nonsense. Making money on idiots is normal, always has been, is and always will be.

[@Eshanas]

"sociopath logic most modern companies are run by sociopaths which is obvious nonsense" Not at all. There have been studies and books to back that measure. Psychopathy in the workplace is a ongoing issue and when they do weasel into high management they do inflict incredible damage. Corporate Psychopaths: Organizational Destroyers, Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work, Leaders without ethics in global business: corporate psychopaths just for reading alone....

[@Noman1000]

You think corporations aren't ran by sociopaths?

[@HyperVegitoDBZ]

@@Noman1000 no, they are run by very capable people, anyone who achieved something in life knows how much effort it takes to create a big company.

[@HyperVegitoDBZ]

@@Eshanas According to this logic anyone who has been an underling for 10 years once he becomes the leader, becomes a psychopath. Jeez, what you people won't blame to find alibi for your shitty lives

[@Noman1000]

@@HyperVegitoDBZ is it impossible to be both?