The recent arrest of a woman in Mississippi has put a spotlight on a specific form of blackjack cheating that is known as past posting. Shantel Monique Welch has been accused by the Mississippi Gaming Commission of cheating by making blackjack side bets when she already knew the outcome of the hand. According to Jay McDaniel of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, Welch was playing the game of 21+3 at the Scarlet Pearl Casino in D’Iberville. This variation of blackjack involves a bonus wager that pays out for the player when specific conditions are met by the player’s hand after the cards are dealt. McDaniel alleges that Welch was placing bonus wagers after she knew the outcome of her hands. This is called past posting. An investigation by the Mississippi Gaming Commission revealed the cheating. Video cameras which monitor the gaming action at the blackjack tables are believed to show Welch engaging in past posting. If found guilty of this offense, Welch could be required to serve jail time in addition to paying the casino restitution.

Past Posting Blackjack

January 25, 2026 · Counting Edge Editorial

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Past posting involves placing a bet after the outcome of a blackjack hand has been determined. It is most often done with side bets because it is easier for the blackjack player to add chips to the stack without the dealer being aware. In most cases, a player will attempt to add additional chips to the original blackjack side bet wager. This is not as difficult as it may sound.

Dealers are distracted while they are settling the hands of other players and may not be paying attention. Pit bosses are supervising an entire blackjack pit and cannot monitor the payout at every table. Dealers have to be trusted to make the proper payout and recognize when past posting has occurred. Past posting was originally popular in horseracing. In the early days of racing before the advent of the electronic toteboard, past posting was more easily accomplished. Bettors who placed their bets with off-track bookies could sometimes make a wager after the race had been concluded.

Today, it is very hard to past post when playing blackjack because of the multiple security cameras which are used in the casino. Players like Welch will sooner or later be caught. Throughout the years there have been many examples of this form of cheating. In addition to the legal penalties incurred, players caught are also typically banned from playing blackjack in the casino. Because casinos share information, the ban can also be enforced by other casinos in the state where the players are caught.

Online Blackjack Past Posting

Online casinos are particularly immune to past posting. When playing blackjack online, it is impossible for a player to alter their starting wager. Once the bet has been placed, it is registered by the online software. This protects both the casino and the player in the event that a hand is disputed.

Most online casinos have the ability to retain a detailed log of blackjack hands that have been played. These logs are kept for a period of time in case players raise a question about the play of their hands. In some online casinos, the hand can actually be called up and shown to the player in exactly the same way that it was played out in real time.

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How Casinos Detect and Prevent Past Posting

Casinos treat past posting as a serious offense because it changes the wager after the outcome is known. In live casinos, prevention is mostly procedural: dealers are trained to keep betting areas “closed” once cards are out, watch side-bet circles closely, and call the floor if they suspect chips were moved. Surveillance cameras back this up, which is why many past-posting cases come down to video review.

If you ever get involved in a dispute at a table (even as an innocent bystander), the best move is to stay calm and let the dealer and floor handle it. Casinos can review the game state and video, and arguing on the floor rarely improves the outcome for anyone.

Frequently asked questions

What is past posting in blackjack?

Past posting is placing or increasing a wager after the outcome of the hand is already known. It’s most commonly associated with side bets because chips can be added more discreetly than on a main wager.

Is past posting illegal?

Yes. Past posting is considered cheating because it changes the bet after the result is effectively determined. It can lead to arrest, criminal charges, restitution, and a casino ban.

Why are side bets often involved in past posting cases?

Side bets typically sit in smaller betting circles and can be easier to manipulate if a dealer or floor supervisor isn’t watching that specific wager closely during payouts.

Can you past post in online blackjack?

In standard online blackjack, it’s generally not possible. Once you place a wager, the software locks it in, which is one reason online play is largely immune to this type of cheating.

How do casinos catch past posting?

Most cases come down to staff observation combined with surveillance review. Modern casinos have extensive camera coverage, and questionable hands can be checked after the fact.

Is card counting the same thing as past posting?

No. Past posting is cheating because it involves altering a wager after the outcome is known. Card counting (using observation and memory to track the deck) is not the same as cheating, even though casinos may still back players off if they believe someone is gaining an edge.