Several men who were part of a major casino cheating scheme in the US were sentenced to federal prison on Monday. The group consisted of at least 14 individuals, including the son of Seattle, Washington Mayor Greg Nickels, who worked as a pit boss in a local tribal casino.

The group netted over $7 million from casinos across the country by bribing dealers and pit bosses to throw blackjack games in the players’ favor. Dealers were paid to use a “false shuffle”, where stacked decks were used to give the crooks winning hands.

So far, several members of the group have been sentenced. The punishment for the cheaters ranges from one to three months in a federal prison camp. The men are also expected to pay back millions in ill-gotten winnings, along with massive fines.

This sort of large-scale casino cheating not only affects the casinos being targeted, but also other players who use those casinos. Land-based casino gambling is prone to this sort of attack simply because the dealers are people, and people are not perfect.

Fortunately, online blackjack games are virtually immune to this kind of manipulation. The dealers in online blackjack games are computers, and the software that powers these games is put through rigorous tests by independent companies to make sure they are fair, random, and secure. Game activity is monitored regularly and any suspicious activity is investigated thoroughly.

Safety and security are just a few of the advantages to playing blackjack on the internet. Players can enjoy these games from the comfort of their own home, or even while on the road by using special Instant Play casinos. Some sites also offer Mobile Casinos, which let players enjoy real-money blackjack games on their mobile phones or PDAs.

To experience the best that online blackjack has to offer, start with our exclusive casino reviews to help you find the perfect place to play. Check out our Tournaments section to find the best online blackjack tournaments on the net, where players from all over the world come together to test their skills. Or, just head straight to 32Red Casino, where more than 40 different blackjack variations await!