Casino and Poker Room Cheating Scandals

Casinos and poker rooms handle significant amounts of money, making them attractive targets for cheaters. Despite stringent security measures, some incidents have caught everyone by surprise. Here are some recent cheating scandals:

1. Counterfeit Chips at Borgata Winter Open

• In 2014, poker player Christian Lusardi introduced counterfeit chips into a Borgata Winter Open tournament.

• He used fake chips to increase his stack, making him the chip leader.

• Tournament officials discovered the fake chips during the event, causing a halt.

• Lusardi attempted to dispose of the counterfeit chips by flushing them down the toilet.

• Investigators found $2.7 million worth of fake chips, leading to Lusardi's arrest and a five-year prison sentence.

2. Inside Scheme at Bellagio

• In 2016, an elaborate scam at Bellagio involved a craps dealer and two accomplices.

• Accomplices placed high-value bets on particular roll combinations, creating confusion.

• The scheme continued for over two years, costing the casino over $1 million.

• Casino staff eventually noticed the unusual pattern and reported it.

• The trio was charged with crimes and sentenced to prison, with restitution to the casino.

3. Video Poker Bug Exploited Across Casinos

• John Kane discovered a bug in Game King video poker machines, allowing him to manipulate bets.

• Kane and his friend Andre Nestor exploited the bug across various casinos, winning over $500,000.

• The bug allowed them to change the credit denomination after a big win.

• The case against them was weak, as they hadn't tampered with the machines.

• Charges were dropped, and casinos couldn't recover their losses.

4. Mike Postle Poker Cheating Scandal

• In 2018-2019, a poker scandal involving Mike Postle erupted at the Stones Gambling Hall.

• Postle consistently won games streamed live on YouTube, raising suspicions.

• Accusations of cheating and having access to RFID data surfaced.

• Legal battles followed, but evidence was circumstantial, leading to charges being dropped.

• Postle filed a defamation lawsuit against those accusing him but eventually settled.

5. Casino Security Expert Alters Slot Machine Code

• Ronald Dale Harris, a Nevada Gaming Control Board employee, altered slot machine code in the 1990s.

• He changed the code to make slots pay huge wins after specific coin insertions.

• Harris shared this secret with accomplices, who won large sums from Las Vegas casinos.

• He was sentenced to seven years in prison after being caught due to an accomplice's confession.

• Harris is barred from entering any Las Vegas casinos.

These scandals serve as cautionary tales, reminding us that even with robust security measures, cheaters can find creative ways to exploit vulnerabilities in the gaming industry. The battle between cheaters and security personnel remains ongoing.