Phil Ivey — Edge Sorting Saga

What is edge sorting in baccarat?

Edge sorting exploits tiny imperfections in card-back patterns from manufacturing. The two long edges of a card back have slightly different patterns. By requesting the dealer to rotate certain cards (claiming superstition), the player can sort high cards to one orientation and low cards to another. This gives the player a small but consistent edge by knowing the orientation of certain cards before they're dealt.

How much did Phil Ivey win edge sorting?

Approximately $20 million total. At Crockfords (London): £7.7 million ($12M USD at the time) in 2012. At Borgata (Atlantic City): $9.6 million in baccarat sessions over 2012. Both casinos refused to pay or sued to recover winnings. Crockfords froze the cash; Borgata sued Ivey for civil damages and won a $10.13M judgment.

Is edge sorting legal?

It's been ruled illegal/cheating by major courts. The UK Supreme Court (2017, Ivey v Genting Casinos) ruled edge sorting was cheating despite no rule directly prohibiting it. US courts (Borgata v Ivey, 2016) ruled it violated the implied contract of casino play. The legal precedent is now established: edge sorting is cheating. The cards themselves aren't marked — but the technique exploits manufacturing inconsistencies that the casino didn't intend to expose.

Is Phil Ivey still allowed to play in casinos?

Banned from many — but not all. Crockfords and Borgata banned him after the edge sorting cases. Las Vegas casinos have varied responses; some welcome his poker action, others restrict him to certain games. He continues to play poker (where edge sorting doesn't apply) at major tournaments globally including Triton high-roller events.

Did Phil Ivey win his poker money legitimately?

Yes — his poker career is uncontroversially legitimate. 10 WSOP bracelets, multiple WPT and high-roller titles, lifetime live tournament earnings exceeding $30M, plus estimated $20M+ in cash games. Widely considered one of the top 5 poker players of all time. The edge sorting controversy was about baccarat, a casino game (not poker), and didn't affect his poker reputation among other professionals.