Five people have been arrested for an alleged attempt to defraud a Canadian casino. According to Ontarian authorities, the people in question were playing a table game at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto.

While officials did not release details about the cheating attempt, they explained that one of the arrestees was a casino dealer who was in cahoots with the players. However, an anonymous person discovered the scheme and contacted the Ontario Provincial Police Investigation and Enforcement Bureau (IEB).

The IEB, which is attached to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) was called to investigate the matter on March 18. The investigation eventually led to the arrests of the five people in question. The arrestees included Anagha Varghese, 21, Himanshu Tanwar, 25, Parkh Raheja, 25, Tajveer Kour, 21 and Yakshu Nehra, 23.

The five people were charged with multiple charges, including counts of cheat at play, breach of trust, fraud and theft. They were later released from custody and their cases were handed to prosecutors at the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto.

Other Recent Cheating Attempts

Unfortunately, this is not the only time employees and patrons have tried to cheat casino properties. In a recent case in the United States, two employees of Rivers Casino were arrested for alleged participation in a complex cheating conspiracy at a Roulette table.

According to authorities, these included Robin Schnepp, a dealer at the casino, and supervisor Anthony Laush. The two men, according to officials, have aided players win on multiple occasions, resulting in significant winnings.

The cheating occurred with Interblock Roulette where the dealer manually spins the ball in the opposite direction of the wheel. When this manual spinning occurs, the sensors allegedly fail to detect the spinning, allowing players to continue placing bets even after the ball has already landed on a number.

Surveillance footage showed Schnepp spin the ball incorrectly multiple times, after which players would increase their bets after the ball had landed.

Last year, a Brazilian poker professional tried to cheat but was caught and suspended. The issue is that the player was dealt an extra stack of chips at the beginning of the LAPT Mystery KO tournament but did not notify an official, preferring to take advantage of the mistake.

However, another poker player saw him taking out extra chips from his bag and reported the matter, resulting in a suspension.

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A third individual has been implicated in what authorities are dubbing a “complex cheating conspiracy” at Rivers Casino, Pittsburg. The unfolding saga involves accusations of fraudulent activities at a Roulette table, resulting in substantial losses for the establishment.

Investigation Uncovers Alleged Cheating Scheme at Rivers Casino

The latest development follows earlier reports that surfaced last week, detailing the involvement of two Rivers Casino employees, Robin Schnepp and Anthony Laush, in facilitating cheating maneuvers on multiple occasions, leading to significant monetary gains for certain players.

State police, who have been diligently investigating the matter, disclosed that the casino incurred losses exceeding $10,000 due to the alleged cheating tactics employed. The investigation was prompted by an anonymous letter received by Rivers Casino earlier this year, shedding light on suspicious activities surrounding the Interblock Roulette game.

According to authorities, surveillance footage captured instances where Schnepp purportedly manipulated the roulette ball, causing it to deviate from the prescribed spinning method. This discrepancy in the ball’s trajectory triggered errors in the game’s sensors, enabling players to continue placing bets even after the outcome had been determined.

It is alleged that both Schnepp and Laush collaborated in validating these erroneous spins, ultimately resulting in fraudulent winnings totaling thousands of dollars for the involved players.

Jack Daniel Mars III Joins Accused Casino Employees in Facing Charges

In a surprising twist, one of the implicated players, identified as Jack Daniel Mars III, now finds himself facing charges alongside the accused casino employees, reported WPXI. State police are actively seeking to identify another individual allegedly complicit in the deceitful scheme, urging anyone with pertinent information to come forward and assist with the investigation.

The ramifications of this elaborate scheme extend beyond mere financial losses for the casino. Authorities express concerns regarding the potential involvement of additional players and emphasize the need for a thorough review of existing security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

In response to these troubling revelations, Rivers Casino has pledged full cooperation with law enforcement agencies and has initiated comprehensive reforms to enhance the integrity of its gaming systems. 

Furthermore, both Schnepp and Laush, who have been released on bail, are scheduled to appear for preliminary hearings on April 2, marking a crucial phase in the ongoing legal proceedings.

This occurrence represents yet another instance of suspected illicit behavior among casino employees. In December, there was an incident where a manager at Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh allegedly absconded with $20,000 from the cashiers’ cage, prompting concerns regarding the trustworthiness of the staff.

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The Thai Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has confiscated two luxurious villas from operators of UFA, an illegal online gambling network for high rollers. As reported by The Thaiger, a Thai news outlet, the two properties are worth over 2 billion baht in total (roughly $56.5 million).

For reference, the villas are located in Phuket’s coastal area, overlooking Nai Harn Bay. Their combined area is around 3.75 acres. Both properties were called Thousand Hills Phuket.

The confiscation of the two properties was led by Director General Police Major Suriya Singhakamol. When the DSI officers arrived, the only people at the villas were housekeepers and ground staff. Suriya’s people notified the staff of the seizure and proceeded to place notices around the two properties.

According to the DSI, the two villas are owned by a syndicate that has connections to UFA, the aforementioned illegal gambling network. While all forms of online gambling are strictly prohibited in the country, illegal operators have been filling the niche.

Suriya learned that the properties are learned to a man who was identified as Phakphum, also known as Didi. He was arrested earlier this month and is believed to have been a revenue manager for the UFA network.

At first, Phakphum denied having been involved in the operation of UFA. However, he eventually admitted to his ties to the gambling operation and, as a result, was charged with violations of Thailand’s AML Act.

In addition to serving as the revenue manager of UFA, Phakphum was also related to the operation of factories that operated “mule accounts.” Phakpfum’s facilities were predominantly operated by migrants who used over 80 mule accounts for gambling websites.

According to The Thaiger’s report, 30 of these accounts were registered under the names of Thai players. Each of these accounts handled billions of baht in turnover and processed 3% of the income from the 83 gambling sites Phakphum managed.

The Crackdown Continues

The UFA network is believed to encompass dozens of websites. Its founder, Phuchit, is yet to be arrested as of the time of this writing. Suriya and the DSI are actively pursuing the mastermind, his sister, Phonpansa, as well as 13 other people with ties to UFA and its operations.

Suriya asked people connected to the illegal gambling operation to surrender themselves, lest they risk additional money laundering charges. The major believes that the seizure of the two villas is an important first step in the crackdown on UFA.

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The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) unveiled the launch of the fourth trainer and stable staff survey. The objective is to identify the yard-based issues and help the Industry People Board form a strategy for tackling them.

The survey, commissioned by the Industry People Board, is delivered in partnership with the BHA, the National Trainers Federation (NTF) and the National Association of Racing Staff (NARS). It will see trainers and stable staff contacted by Public Perspectives, an independent research organization. Public Perspectives will provide the survey to trainers and staff across Britain in the following days.

This is notably the fourth time such a survey has been launched, following surveys carried out in 2016, 2018 and 2021.

The Racing Foundation Continues to Invest in the Sector

The BHA added that the study will not only underscore the important issues but will also help the body measure the progress of major initiatives funded by the Racing Foundation. For reference, these initiatives sought to support the recruitment of stable staff, develop the skills of the workforce within the racing sector and encourage greater staff retention.

The BHA also said that the survey is in line with the Racing Foundation’s continued investment in initiatives that seek to drive improvements in the industry’s staff-related matters. Since the first survey in 2016, the foundation has invested over £12 million (approximately $15 million) to address staffing issues.

This latest study will run from November to early January.

The Study Will Help the Industry People Board Form a Strategy

Tansy Challis, the Racing Foundation’s chief executive officer, commented on the matter, saying that her team is happy to once again support the survey. She said that the 2016 survey helped the industry set a baseline from which to measure progress and identify issues.

Unfortunately, the 2021 surveys highlighted ongoing problems within the sector.

We are, therefore, encouraged by the formation of the Industry People Board and its aim to develop a People Strategy.

Tansy Challis, CEO, Racing Foundation

Challis concluded that the data from this year’s study will help the Industry People Board improve its strategy. She hopes that all trainers and stable staff will complete the survey.

Meanwhile, the Industry People Board’s chairman, Neil Hayward, said that the newly-formed body is ambitious on securing a reliable workforce and a working environment the industry can be proud of. While there is much to do, the survey will help his team to make informed decisions and evaluate the impact of current and future initiatives.

We appreciate the time and effort taken by those who respond to the survey. The better the response rate the more detailed a picture we have about what is happening to, and what matters to, the industry’s workforce.

Neil Hayward, chair, Industry People Board

In September, British horseracing authorities launched a probe into the public’s feelings about the controversial affordability checks.

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The Spanish National Police, in collaboration with the Spanish Tax Agency, Europol, and INTERPOL, have dismantled an extensive organized crime network implicated in match-fixing of sporting events and leveraging technology to manipulate bookmakers’ odds.

International Table Tennis Bets Uncover Vast Sports Match-Fixing Network

This operation, which has been ongoing since 2020, initially came to light when Spanish law enforcement agencies detected a series of suspicious online bets being placed on international table tennis tournaments. As their investigation unfolded, they uncovered a sophisticated criminal network primarily consisting of individuals from Romania and Bulgaria.

The core of their illicit activities involved corrupting athletes to manipulate match outcomes outside of Spain. Once these arrangements were settled, the group’s operatives within Spain inundated online bookmakers with a deluge of bets.

What set this syndicate apart was its ability to outpace bookmakers in obtaining match information. Using advanced technology, they gained access to live video feeds directly from stadiums, arenas, and pitches worldwide. This edge allowed them to place bets with unrivaled certainty, maximizing their profits. In contrast, bookmakers relied on slower satellite feeds and relays for the same events.

The criminal network’s tentacles extended to various global sporting events, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Nations League, German Bundesliga, ATP, and ITF tennis tournaments. Despite reaping substantial rewards, the syndicate managed to evade detection by adopting multiple identities and accounts.

Among those apprehended was an individual affiliated with a prominent bookmaker who colluded with the syndicate to validate their online bets, further implicating the industry in this web of deceit.

INTERPOL’s Crucial Role in Unraveling Global Match-Fixing Network

INTERPOL played a pivotal role in this operation through its Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, mobilizing the INTERPOL Match-Fixing Task Force (IMFTF) and employing its extensive global policing resources. 

Jürgen Stock, INTERPOL’s secretary general, commented on the operation, saying: “Organized crime groups will exploit the tiniest of gaps given the opportunity. In this case, we’re talking about a 20- or 30-second advantage that led to significant gains.” 

Stock emphasized the importance of such operations and reaffirmed INTERPOL’s commitment to supporting law enforcement agencies worldwide.

IMFTF specialists joined Spanish authorities during house raids, facilitating the extraction and analysis of data from seized devices and cross-referencing information across INTERPOL’s databases.

This collaborative effort led to the blocking of 47 bank accounts and 28 payment gateways across multiple countries. Seized items included mobile phones, satellite dishes, signal receivers, cash, counterfeit banknotes, credit and debit cards, identification documents, and prepaid SIM cards. In other news, 17 arrests have been made in Spain in connection with match-fixing allegations involving a soccer club president and players conspiring to manipulate betting results.

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