When you play live casino games, you rarely see a complete picture. During some streams you can see the action on other tables, but in general, everything is focused on that one table and the game you are currently playing. At high-stakes online casinos you never see how busy it is behind the scenes.

Richard Marcus is a former scammer turned security consultant, and he argues that the most problems start with one person having too much to handle. Any system that allows a single individual to control everything without strict control will eventually be exploited. In land-based casinos, that control relied on supervisors, surveillance rooms, and procedure manuals. In live dealer studios, the same principle is implemented mostly through technology.

There is a huge difference between the systems which are created and managed by multiple people in strict hierarchy, where everyone works their part of the job, and systems that are not created and monitored properly. This article will show you how to recognize them easily.

From Sealed Pack to Shuffle to Table

Deck Security

In a professional live dealer studio, the most important moments often happen before a dealer ever sits down at a table. The process of securing the cards begins long before a broadcast starts, and the early stages of the process are where serious operators separate themselves from casual ones.

Cards arrive at licensed studios in sealed packs supplied directly by approved manufacturers. These packs are not opened at the table. They are logged, stored, and handled under controlled conditions that limit who can touch them and when. In well-run studios, access to card storage is restricted, recorded, and subject to dual control, meaning no single person can manipulate the deck. This alone eliminates a wide range of historical risks that depended on unsupervised access.

Once cards are scheduled for use, the opening of sealed packs is itself a monitored procedure. Studios typically perform this step under surveillance, with multiple cameras recording the moment seals are broken and cards are verified.

One of the most important structural changes compared to land-based casinos is the separation of roles. Dedicated staff handle card preparation, while shuffle managers oversee the transition from sealed deck to active shoe. This division reflects a core lesson Marcus has emphasized repeatedly. When fewer hands touch critical elements, and when those hands are not the same ones resolving bets, opportunities for manipulation shrink dramatically.

Before cards ever reach a live table, they are typically loaded into RFID-enabled shoes or automated shuffling devices. This step is again visible on camera in professional studios. Players can see when a shoe is loaded, when a shuffle is completed, and when a new sequence begins.

Regulators have increasingly formalized these practices. Licensing bodies require documented card-handling procedures, recorded handovers, and clear audit trails. While exact standards vary by jurisdiction, the principle remains consistent. Card movement must be observable, logged, and reviewable after its done.