Beginning Sunday, January 8, it's Vegas Week on the Travel Channel. Cheats & Scams 2 features Sal Piacente, an expert on casino scams. This airs in the advent of the (January 24) release of Poker Cheats Exposed, produced by Pocket Aces, LLC. The 2-1/2 hour DVD program features Piacente revealing the methods/devices used by professional card sharks to fleece unwitting poker players and offers advice to guard against them.

According to Card Shark Media, an estimated 60 million people in the U.S. play poker in casinos or at home or watch poker on television. “Poker is so hot right now, especially with the young crowd. They're real vulnerable (to card sharks),” Piacente comments. “Casinos and card clubs don't have a vested interest in poker like they do other games. No matter who wins, they collect the rake. It's up to the players to protect themselves and that's where I come in.” For over two decades, Piacente has been a consultant to over 40 major casinos and law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S.A., Canada, the Caribbean, and even as far south as Argentina.

To gain a prospective from the dark side of the table, PCE unveils the arsenal of a 45-year poker cheat who has never been caught. This shadowy cardsharp, called “Charlie,” exposes his moves, but not his identity. “I learned to play on the square before I learned to cheat and I'm a good player. I use discretion- (I) only move when necessary because I don't want to make the guy that brought me in look bad.”

Virtuous con man? The jury's still out on that one.