Three-card monte scam explained

Three-card Monte is a confidence game in which the victim, or "mark", is tricked into betting a sum of money, on the assumption that they can find the "money card" among three face-down playing cards. It is the same as the shell game except that cards are used instead of shells.
In its full form, three-card Monte is an example of a classic "short con" in which a shill pretends to conspire with the mark to cheat the dealer, while in fact conspiring with the dealer to cheat the mark. The Mark has no chance whatsoever of winning, at any point in the game. In fact, anyone who is observed winning anything in the game can be presumed to be a shill.
This variant is called "Hungarian Monte", where they use black plastic or rubberized discs, where one of them has a white background.
When the mark arrives at the three-card Monte game, it is likely that a number of other players will be seen winning and losing money at the game. The people engaged in playing the game are often shills, confederates of the dealer who pretend to play so as to give the illusion of a straight gambling game.
As the mark watches the game, they are likely to notice that they can follow the white dot more easily than the shills seem to be able to, which sets them up to believe that they can win the game.
Eventually, if the mark enters the game, they will be cheated through any number of methods. An example of a simple scheme involves a dealer and two shills:
The dealer and shills act as if they do not know each other. The mark will come upon a game being conducted in a seemingly clandestine manner, perhaps with somebody "looking out" for police. The dealer will be engaged in his role, with the first shill betting money. The first shill may be winning, leading the mark to observe that easy money may be had, or losing, leading the mark to observe that they could beat the game and win money where the first shill is losing it.
While the mark is watching, the second shill, acting as a casual passerby like the mark, will casually engage a mark in conversation regarding the game, commenting on either how easily the first shill is winning or how they are losing money because they cannot win at what appears to the mark to be a simple game. This conversation is engineered to implicitly encourage the mark to play, and it is possible the second shill could resort to outright encouragement.
If the mark does not enter the game, the dealer may claim to see police and will fold up the operation and restart it elsewhere, or will wait for another mark to appear on the scene.
If the mark enters the game, they may be "had" (cheated) by a number of techniques. A common belief is that the operator may let the mark win a couple of bets to suck them in, but this is virtually never true. In a true Monte scam, the mark will never win a single bet, as it is not necessary. There are too many ways for a well-run mob to attract the marks, suck them in, and convince them to put money down.
When the dealer and the shills have taken the mark, a lookout, the dealer, or a shill acting as an observer will claim to have spotted the police. The dealer will quickly pack up the game and disperse along with the shills.
In this video, the operator normally deals from the bottom of the stack when holding several discs. However, when anticipating that a mark will bet, he deals from the top, by opening up his index finger. The mark will not be able to spot this, and loses track of the disc with the white dot.

[@zesolodar]

my friend is plain cloth officer , he dosent look like a cop at all. and he saw someone playing 3 card and there was a large group around him getting scammed. he acted like a stupid player and lost a few hands. after about the 5th game instead of pulling out money he pulled out handcuffs made the guy pay back every single dollar he took then took him to jail.

[@erwinoetelmans8000]

Not only you will get robbed with the full monte scam, the other helpers of the scam, will pick pocket you if they get the oppertunity! So if you see this scam, run away as quick as possible!!!

[@sirbentleyschannel]

I watched one of my friends in NY lose ALL OF HIS MONEY on this game! I kept telling him "it's a scam." He's from Japan, so it was all new to him. He had no money to pay for his rent or food after this.

[@pikminpuck8015]

Gacha is in his blood.

[@daquane]

Nobody explained it better then everybody hate Chris mama on that episode lmao

[@rastiger4182]

The lady together with the man , very clever

[@DoctorCreepy]

I fell for this game once in Philly but with playing cards. They had a guy who would stand next to you constantly annoying you so you had trouble paying attention. in my defense I was only 15 and I never payed again.

[@danielna7157]

Just a theory to actually win: stay afar from the dealer and watch his games to see who wins and identify the shill. once you figure it out, approach the game and follow the "money" card. Then take a 50/50 shot at the other 2 cards. The scam often goes in such a way that the shill will raise the bet if you select a correct card, so since you know who it is, if they raise, you can often guarantee that you've selected the winning card. So simply keep pushing the bet until it goes to a point where the shill can't challenge. In theory, couldn't it work? If you can read the shill as you would in poker, then there might even be a better chance since they could raise on a wrong card. All while that is happening, carry as little valuables and put what u have in one pocket and keep your hand always on the items whilst inside the pocket. This would guarantee that you wouldn't get pickpocketed and even the dealer will have to cap the bids at a certain point so if you can guestimate that max cap and almost jump right to it, the shill can't exactly bet any higher since the dealer won't be able to pay out. then in theory, you should be able to win

[@bcordone]

Then a lookout shouts "COPS!" and everyone packs up and leaves. You can never win. (They might let you "win" the first few times to sucker you in and start betting high, when the real scam starts, but that's not a guarantee and sometimes they'll scam you on the first go) If you're on to it they'll abort the game and try again later in hopes they find a mark they can swindle.

[@carlosblanco4779]

Lol you wanna martingale a below 50/50 shot VS multiple people you know are collaborating to scam you? Still an interesting plan

[@blackguycrying5660]

What if you flip all 3 of them over and expose that nothing is under all of them

[@abnormality7508]

What you need to do is say it is not in these 2 as then they will have to either put the card in the final one and you win or reveal it’s a scam

[@RajbirSingh-rd7qg]

Where can i get those circles? What are they called? Size of discs too?

[@100musicplaylists3]

There is a way to easily scam the Pea Men. First Approach with your wallet open and place your money whilst subtly exposing a large pile of some worthless cheap currency in your wallet. This will tempt them into letting you win your first Bet/s in order to extract the whole lot from you. Place your money, win, then thank them for their time and walk away. Be sure you don't get followed.

[@prajnadattameher6210]

awsm confidence even after he caught you recording u wer still der

[@sandersalen2474]

look at 5:38 and put on 0.25 play speed

[@Tonyplat98]

yeah they're definitelly together... it's usually 5 or 6 of them and sometimes they have a woman there as well... I bet you that lady to the dealers left is with them as well cause she won one time...

[@emitizmo7456]

I spotted that too. It was time to show winner yet he picked the wrong one so the main guy switched it.

[@Grumszy]

Film them then call police... Its a con you can't win.. People winning are stooges.

[@SajidHussain-lj5mr]

Where’s the Old Bill ?

[@rv1111]

What if I don't go on choose my instincts, Realise it's the opposite, And choose the most odd one which no one suspects to be the right card

[@mysticmarkthemagician5852]

One of them will push you out of the way.

[@sbl9467]

If I ever have a chance to guess this trick, I'm going to pick the card/cup that I obviously do not think will win. Its usually the one you least expect it

[@chinggis_khagan]

There are different variations on the scam. Sometimes they will use slight-of-hand when revealing the cards, so whichever you pick, it's always somehow the wrong one. You can never win, and even if you somehow outsmart them, one of them will just follow you to an alley and get your winnings back that way

[@Nickle314]

No marks. They are all in on the scam

[@summercapital1842]

Why dont call a police to bet😂😂😂

[@cricketbat09]

Who would become involved with such a scam? They are so obviously up to no good.

[@BrUSomania]

If I ever see this in Oslo, I am going to walk up to the marks and show them this video.

[@oslvideo]

Check out Vaterland, Brugata, Rådhuset, and Karl Johan around Kirkeristen

[@ravin5798]

Learn the game, learn the trick, get out there and play. And remember. Only play if you get to flip the card. Here's some more info. When you're going to place your bet and choose. Make it a surprise. Don't let them know you will be placing a bet. And if you ever place and bet and they start to shuffle the cards again.... Call him out and withdraw your bet. He shouldn't be doing that. After "if" you're able to win 1. Leave and go about your day (watch for anyone at the game following you) If he still somehow pulls a stunt against what I've told you. Yell and get angry to give back your money. Always play with caution and never bet more than you're willing to lose over the experiment.

[@fathercarras28]

Where is this?

[@GavTatu]

so, i'm thinking...... what if you chose the card you DON'T think is the one ? wouldn't you stand a one in two chance of being right ?

[@oslvideo]

They would never give away money no matter which you choose. They are not on the street to give money, but to take money.

[@GavTatu]

but wouldn't that be bad for business... if you won, in plain sight, and with a crowd, and they didn't pay up ?

[@oslvideo]

They break up the game regularly anyway, and walk away. E.g., when the police arrives or if someone is to nosey. So if someone actually did guess the right disc, they could create a diversion and walk away.

[@GavTatu]

maybe. dunno, i've never encountered any.

[@oslvideo]

If you did bet on the right disc, another option is that someone from the crew overbids you and bets even more on another disc. Or create a diversion, cancelling the game. It is important to keep in mind that these people don't run a business, they run a scam. They don't expect to meet their customers ever again.

[@almay9962]

I would flip over all the cards to make sure there is an ace

[@slivzzz]

This is not exactly a scam because you can win, if you are very good, if they ll show exactly where they put it I don t unferstand what would be the point for him. Some of them don t even put the winner card in the game

[@oslvideo]

Street scammers will never let anyone from the public win. They will create a diversion or use some other way to not pay the amount if you pick the right card.

[@SajidHussain-lj5mr]

Deport em

[@shmick4203]

Heads on them like a Robbers Dog!

[@Baymax-xs6jw]

never engaged!

[@OTOss8]

There's something about all these people that looks veerrrryyyy familiar. I can't quite place my finger on it though... hmmm...

[@sujaysukumar123]

Good job!! Let them make a buck too

[@alexandrumacedon291]

The scam is with the ball when they put the ball in their hand, and whatever you pick is wrong. In this case, this is not a scam, since the winning disc is there. You can actually win, but you wont because if you pic the right one, someone who is with them will bet more.

[@tommyg148]

Just watch the entire video in slow motion watch the disc manipulation you'll realize you can't beat a sleezball hustling..I mean working.

[@EsotericMedic]

It’s the Gypsies

[@xl000]

What happens if you play and you can spot the right card ?

[@oslvideo]

They will create a diversion and end the game, or another will bid higher than you or something else. They never pay money to someone who is not in on it.

[@flammaferus2998]

@@oslvideo I wonder why the local tough guys don't punch them in the face?

[@mykonos466]

did this once with cards and put 10$ for it. I chose the one I thought was least likely and it was the ace and i got 20$ in return. I already knew about it

[@weesebowski8651]

Never the black, never the black! - Mo Money

[@Denis00Doge]

Scam = Report I hate scams

[@MdSalman-uf1rk]

How to do

[@nobuddy2012]

You would think that people would get wise to three card monty after 100 years. But no, people are still too vain to know the game is rigged, and they know better.

[@sbwyo1966]

No Buddy It's obvious why this is still such a money maker for the scumbags who run the games. Just look at the comments on here where people say Hey, I can follow the card! People don't get that the whole object IS for people to be able to follow the card!..... to suck them in and get them over confident. This game will never die. If we move to colonies in outer space, there will be scammers doing it on other planets. People are hopeless.

[@Christopher_T_Paul]

These guys were not that good, the moves were spotted easily most of the time. With 2 people, you could easily win.

[@conormacce639]

Your comment Is what a person would say who fell for the scam.. If you follow it correctly and notice the top deal and guess the right one, another person (who is in on it) places a higher bet which overrules yours and wins the money. The scam is made so an innocent person will never win.

[@shawgeo9125]

There pick pockets

[@wolfman9913]

whats the problem?? i guessed it EVERYTIME!!!

[@deyvi5251]

Lol this guy sucked that’s why but don’t be fooled. You ever encounter any of these scammers, run away. You will lose even if you win. They’ll rob you if you’re alone and you win or they will change your real money for their counterfeit money. Trust me

[@giggyj6343]

@@deyvi5251 rob you in the middle of the city in broad daylight?

[@deyvi5251]

Giggy J lmfao you should visit Newark NJ. They don’t give a fuck out there. I got robbed in front of ppl twice and nobody bats an eye

[@eduardosuarez7682]

They are RUMANIANS RUMANIA

[@SuperBurNN]

they are not Romanian, they are gipsies, they only live in Romania, but they don't have nothing in common with romanian people. think twice.

[@Electrotecha]

they are ROMANIANS and they got ur money. now; go work some moore.

[@gabyanton4699]

FOR ALL THE IDIOTS OUT THERE:- some Gypsies may come from ROMANIA, but they are still Gypsies...they have nothing to do with REAL Romanians!!...and they are not Romanians just because they have (maybe) romanian ID...like whoever foreigner who got new citizenship doesn't represent THAT country just because he got the papers!!! Educate yourself you Stupid Ignorants!!

[@gabyanton4699]

Mayko 69 They are romanians like all the muslims that came to england are english, just because they speak english...

[@leizetikZarata]

GYPSIES OF ROMANIA @@SuperBurNN

[@Mustafa-oo8qt]

This is not a scam. He has skill. He didn't take out the white card. This is a legit gamble.

[@kwiztas]

With fake players? lol yeah right.

[@ezpzfakie]

nice name mustafa.always defending your people in europe smh

[@shawj5473]

Smash on site.

[@panoskarrass]

Man in purple pants is fake

[@rogerpedrosa1854]

I lost 100 bucks playing 5 games 20 bucks . I got scammed.😰

[@serrtac61]

u know what funny is...if u know the trick and bait them for acting u dont know hahaha

[@haralambiebisea7796]

dont play....

[@V1K1NGofDOOM]

Exposed ;)

[@12587drago]

5:38 Look how he switched cards at 0.25 speed :D

[@unda25]

proud to be Romanian like this do English and NATO with Syria and iraq

[@florinberechet6630]

+El Fugitivo Probably you forget to say you are a gipsy. I'm romanian and i feel ashamed about this and frustrated to be judged same like a gipsy. Ps comun people can be blaimed about wars and guvernament politics.

[@davidwonderland6584]

That's illegal!

[@MariusZogorean94]

No shit :)))

[@davidwonderland6584]

Marius Moldovan Yes, it is. I guess people money for selling used rich in drugs abuse of his... I know I believe that magic and give people money like that. What is secret his... Pathetic! 😈

[@darber7794]

Marius Moldovan salut

[@michelguevara151]

the best way to deal with scammers is a baseball bat. just saying.

[@oo-ex1dz]

Ly my romanians

[@abderrafiisehairi2667]

النصابة فين ما مشيتي

[@AndroidZeus-ly6qq]

Pula ppl from Rumania

[@edinbjeloglavic497]

Stari fazon nove budale

[@anilmm2943]

There is nothing wrong in these as they r a sort of skill and of course there is no gun play