The downfall of an ingenious card sharp

How a 56-year-old Italian poker cheat almost brought down the house.

I can't help admiring the efforts of Stefano Ampollini, a 56-year-old Italian who won €70,000 cheating at cards. His method was so ingenious, his preparations so meticulous. He bought infra-red contact lenses online from China for €2,000. He persuaded two casino staff at Les Princes casino in Cannes to help him.

The casino staff marked up packs of cards with invisible ink so that when Ampollini sat down to play stud poker he knew exactly what he was up against he could read the back of the croupier's cards. He also had an accomplice opposite him, another Italian, who "sniffed or snorted", according to The Daily Telegraph, to help Ampollini choose the right cards, though one wonders whether this was really necessary.

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