Cheating is frowned upon in any circumstance, but perhaps nowhere more so than in casinos. There are many tactics that cheaters may try to utilise to tip the odds in their favour, like card counting, tampering with gaming equipment, or manipulating dice. However, anyone caught in such dishonest activities must face severe repercussions, including the possibility of criminal prosecution, severe fines, or even incarceration.
In a recent development in Nevada, the state’s gambling regulatory body has set its sights on a quartet suspected of having engaged in a scam involving dice sliding, leading to almost $230,000 in ill-gotten gains. The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) announced on Thursday that its Enforcement Division, a law enforcement branch of the agency, has been diligently investigating these allegations.
“All of Nevada’s citizens are victims whenever someone cheats the gaming industry in our state,” elucidated Kirk Hendrick, the Chairman of the NGCB. He emphasized that the regulatory body leaves no stone unturned in their investigations of any suspected fraudulent activities. Hendrick went on to add that if any transgressions are unearthed, the culprits would face legal action that is as stringent as the law allows.
In their most recent press release, the NGCB detailed how they had been made aware of the alleged scam by the self-disclosure of The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas. The popular casino had approached the NGCB with suspicions of a dice sliding conspiracy that had caused a depletion of $180,000 in their earnings. According to reports, these individuals employed this deceptive tactic to unfairly win a total of $226,948 from The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas.
Gambling Regulatory Authority Continues to Stay Alert
The NGCB was first alerted to this problem by The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas back in December 2021. The individuals, who are now considered suspects, are believed to have carried out this scheme between November 23, 2021 and December 1, 2021. The dice sliding scam reportedly involved the game of craps and involved an individual placing a bet before signalling to their accomplices. The person would then keep the dice stationary rather than rolling it, a violation of the gaming rules deemed to be outright cheating as it manipulates the game outcome.
The NGCB’s Enforcement Division, after concluding an intensive criminal investigation, made the decision to issue four arrest warrants. The individuals named are Hau Ngo, Max Rappoport, Oscar Rodriguez, and Antcharaporn Kamonlert, the Board has disclosed. The Board stated that the charges detailed in the arrest warrants include “Cheating, Unlawful Acts Regarding Computers, and Conspiracy.”
“The Enforcement Division remains relentless in its probes and undercover operations to ensure the gaming industry is devoid of criminal influences, in our ongoing mission to preserve the integrity of regulated gaming in Nevada.“
Kristi Torgerson, Head of the Board’s Enforcement Division
The Head of the Enforcement Division at the NGCB, Kristi Torgerson, praised licensees for their transparency in reporting suspicious activities. He assured that the Board will persist in its vigilance of the market, relying on aggressive investigations to maintain the integrity of Nevada’s gambling industry.
