A former blackjack dealer at MGM National Harbor has been indicted for allegedly working with players to steal more than $43,000 from the casino. The charges were announced on June 6 by Prince George’s County State’s Attorney, Aisha Braveboy.

Surveillance Uncovers Ex-Dealer’s $43K Conspiracy with Players

Jamie Smith, 31, is accused of conspiring with three players to cheat the casino while she was employed there back in October 2023, reported WTOP News. Surveillance footage showed that Smith let these players see her cards before they made their betting choices and allowed them to change their bets after the cards were dealt and did not collect on losing ones, enabling the thefts.

An internal investigation by MGM triggered by a review of surveillance tapes uncovered the scheme. Approximately $43,250 in losses were incurred by the casino. 

Additionally, this incident also has broader implications, as MGM, along with other Maryland casinos, contributes to the state’s Education Trust Fund, which supports public education.

Maryland’s State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said economic crimes such as this have far-reaching consequences. She noted that when individuals steal from casinos it takes away funds meant for public schools thereby robbing children of their education opportunities. However, she highlighted that this case is unique during her tenure, as most incidents at the casino typically involve more direct forms of theft or violence.

Ex-Dealer Charged with Embezzlement and Theft, Faces Up to 10 Years in Prison

Assistant State’s Attorney Joel Patterson echoed Braveboy’s sentiments saying this crime was nonetheless serious because it amounted to theft as Smith was entrusted with handling money belonging to the casino while carrying out her duties. 

Smith has been indeed charged with theft, conspiracy to commit theft and embezzlement. She faces up to ten years in jail if convicted. The charges reflect not just the theft of funds, but also the breach of trust placed in her as a casino employee. 

MGM National Harbor released a statement following Smith’s indictment saying they have zero tolerance for any illegal activity involving their employees or customers.

The company commended the swift detection and reporting of Smith’s alleged crimes while emphasizing its commitment to maintaining the highest levels of integrity when dealing with law enforcement agencies during investigations into such matters.In other recent news, law enforcement in Prince George’s County, Maryland, is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred at the MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino. The victim, an adult male, was found with gunshot wounds in the casino’s parking garage and died of his injuries at the scene.

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ARC Gaming and Technologies, formerly known as Lucky Bucks, has filed a RICO lawsuit against its former executives, accusing them of orchestrating a massive fraud scheme that allegedly siphoned off around $200 million from the company before its bankruptcy. 

Lawsuit Unveils Alleged Systematic Looting of Lucky Bucks by Former Executives

The lawsuit, which was announced on January 2, alleges that the accused individuals engaged in a systematic looting of Lucky Bucks, diverting funds through various illicit means. Lucky Bucks, a major player in Georgia’s coin-operated amusement machine industry, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2023, citing increased competition and regulatory pressures.

ARC Gaming and Technologies claims that the defendants, including founder Anil Damani, Tony Kassam, and Imran Ali, orchestrated a complex scheme involving fraudulent transactions, misappropriation of trade secrets, and breaching fiduciary duties. 

The lawsuit also alleges that the former executives utilized shell companies and competing businesses under their control to divert contracts and assets away from Lucky Bucks.

The company accuses Damani and his associates of borrowing hundreds of millions of dollars from lenders, only to distribute the majority of the funds among themselves. The complaint further details instances of selling customer contracts back to Lucky Bucks at inflated rates and the removal of serial numbers from machines before selling them in various states.

ARC Gaming Seeks Redemption After Restructuring Triumph

The lawsuit was initiated after a comprehensive investigation by industry professionals hired by new shareholders in September 2023 to review Lucky Bucks’ operations. Forensic investigators and litigation case analysis, combined with employee interviews, contributed to the formal complaint being filed.

Despite Lucky Bucks successfully emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2023, ARC Gaming and Technologies is determined to hold the former executives accountable for their alleged criminal activities. The company aims to recover the stolen funds and assets, including $200 million in what they describe as “fraudulent and illegal dividends.”

Anil Damani, the founder and former owner, denies all allegations, stating that the claims are baseless and frivolous. Damani’s attorneys assert that he is a successful businessman and a pillar of the community, expressing confidence in defeating the claims in court.

As legal proceedings unfold, ARC Gaming and Technologies remains focused on its future, having completed a successful restructuring process and positioned itself as a strong contender in the Georgia coin-operated amusement machine industry. The company is set to announce new appointments for key executive positions, ensuring a dedicated management team committed to responsible governance and growth.

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A coalition of Victorian councils is urging the state government to overhaul a tax minimization scheme for poker machine venues, asserting that the current system allows venues to exaggerate their community benefits. 

The councils are particularly concerned about venues pledging additional payments to communities as part of their bids for more poker machines, arguing that these initiatives do not counterbalance the detrimental effects of gambling harm, reported The Guardian.

Their grievances revolve around a tax break scheme that grants Victorian clubs financial benefits if they allocate 8.33% of gambling revenue to community initiatives. However, investigations reveal that a substantial portion of this money is directed toward the clubs’ own operating costs and upgrades, masquerading as a “community benefit.”

Ranka Rasic, the mayor of Brimbank council, expressed frustration and disappointment, emphasizing the acute gambling harm experienced by her constituents. Rasic insists that the state government needs to confront its dependence on gambling venues for income to resolve the persisting issue.

In October, it was revealed that Australians have set a concerning record, with losses from poker machines reaching AUD 14.5 billion ($9.25 billion) in the last financial year, a significant increase from the previous year. 

Victoria’s Councils Unite for Poker Machine Reform

Last month, all councils in Victoria collectively urged the government to promptly review the scheme to ensure that losses from gambling are genuinely reinvested into the community. In May, councils advocated for redefining “community benefit” to ensure that gambling profits are shared with legitimate philanthropic organizations or charities, rather than being channeled into the clubs’ self-serving upgrades.

The push for reform is spearheaded by a subset of mayors, primarily concerned about the disproportionate harm inflicted by poker machines on socioeconomically disadvantaged communities where losses are significantly higher.

The Greater Dandenong city council, located on Melbourne’s south-eastern fringe, stands out as one of the most culturally diverse and disadvantaged in Australia. With an average loss of $801 per adult to gambling annually, the council is at the forefront of the call for reform. This rate is almost nine times higher than the losses in Boroondara, one of the state’s more privileged areas.

An ongoing parliamentary inquiry has highlighted concerns raised by local governments about applicants failing to deliver on promises to fund community activities.

The councils’ call for reform underscores the need to address the exploitative practices of poker machine-operating clubs, ensuring that tax breaks genuinely benefit the community rather than serving as a cover for self-serving agendas. The state government’s response to these demands remains awaited, with gaming minister Melissa Horne yet to provide comment on the matter.

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Australia’s government reported that BetStop, the country’s new national self-exclusion register, is proving to be a resounding success. According to official data, over 10,000 people have used the register to exclude themselves from gambling so far.

The register was launched in August 2023 and is a result of Australia’s efforts to lower the concerning problem gambling rates in the country. Many of the self-excluded people are under 40, with many of them opting to exclude themselves from gambling for a lifetime.

In addition, 1,200 people were nominated as support persons. Referred to the program by self-excluded players, support persons are people who can help gamblers get through the self-exclusion period.

BetStop Now Boasts 10,000 Registrants

BetStop is a scheme that excludes participants from all forms of gambling in Australia and prevents them from receiving marketing material. Users can select an exclusion period of between 3 months and a lifetime and get their gambling habits under control.

BetStop is free with most registrations taking no longer than 5 minutes. Australian operators are required to raise awareness of BetStop’s services among their clients.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is currently responsible for making sure that operators do not market their products to self-excluded people and do not allow them to wager through new accounts.

Further reinforcing the program, the government now requires operators to properly verify a customer’s identity at registration and make sure that they are not a self-excluded person or a minor.

BetStop Is Making a Difference

Australia’s Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland, praised BetStop’s popularity, saying that the registration numbers mean that the program is “making a big difference.”

That’s why we launched BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register – in August this year as the final measure of the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering.

Michelle Rowland

Rowland advised people struggling with their gambling or the gambling of a loved one to visit the BetStop site and learn more about the program.

Amanda Rishworth, Australia’s Minister for Social Services, also commented on the matter, highlighting the government’s efforts to mitigate gambling harm.

It’s great that BetStop is already having such a positive impact, along with our other measures such as new evidence-based taglines that Australians would have seen on rotation on their screens and radios.

Amanda Rishworth

Rishworth also praised the mandatory pre-verification measures, saying that they are already preventing people from finding workarounds. The Minister for Social Services concluded that harm minimization “is not a set-and-forget exercise.” Because of that, the government is working closely on implementing the measures outlined in the National Consumer Protection Framework.

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Money laundering is a criminal activity that involves individuals depositing funds, usually gained from illegal activities, through different businesses and then withdrawing them. Such crimes can often be complex and difficult to solve but not impossible. A recently released report suggests that one person, believed to be involved in drug trafficking, laundered proceeds through casinos across Winnipeg, Canada.

As announced by CTV News, a year-long investigation into the criminal activity resulted in the arrest of a person who was allegedly involved in the trafficking of illegal drugs, including cocaine and fentanyl. A 30-year-old man from Winnipeg with the initials M.R.H. was arrested on September 19, 2023, and charged for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering.

Once he was arrested, the Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) executed a search warrant on his home. Reportedly, police found a large number of drugs, including 882 fentanyl tablets, 498 grams of crack cocaine, 26 gabapentin pills as well as 241 Percocet tablets. Additionally, law enforcement uncovered 348 tablets with unknown substances along with cash.

Ill-Gained Funds Were Laundered through Casinos

The arrest comes after a long operation by the Manitoba RCMP. Last year, law enforcement was contacted by the gambling regulator in the province, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, which flagged suspicious activities recorded across casinos in Winnipeg. This prompted the Mounties to launch a large-scale investigation against the illicit activity that involved drug trafficking and money laundering. The operation was called Project Doom.

The investigation uncovered that drugs were distributed to remote First Nation communities, including St. Theresa Point, Island Lake, Garden Hill and Red Sucker Lake, among others. Additionally, drug trafficking occurred in neighboring North Spirit Lake in Ontario.

According to the investigation, the suspect who was arrested was allegedly involved in drug trafficking. Through the illicit activity, the individual was able to accumulate large sums of cash which were then laundered through casinos by cashing in and out gambling chips. The Mounties did not confirm the total sum involved in the criminal activity, but it is believed that it was substantial.

After the suspect was arrested, he was released on CA$50,000 bail ($36,500) with special conditions, including a prohibition from visiting gambling venues. It’s important to note that the charges against M.R.H. are yet to be proven in court, which means that he remains innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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The Colorado Division of Gaming (DOG) has launched a new statewide self-exclusion scheme, providing locals with a way to control their gambling habits. In line with Colorado’s responsible gambling rules, the program allows locals to be excluded from all regulated gambling in the state.

As a result, excluded persons will be unable to access online sports betting and will not be allowed to enter casinos and sportsbooks in Colorado.

Coloradoans who wish to exclude themselves from gambling can do so for a period of one year, three years or five years. Consumers can sign up for the program by applying online, submitting an application form via email or mail, or applying in person.

Excluded individuals will not be automatically removed from the exclusion list even after the exclusion period ends. Individuals who wish to be removed from the list will have to file a request.

DOG Called the Scheme an “Exciting Advancement”

The launch of the new self-exclusion scheme is in line with Limited Gaming Rule 29 and Sports Betting Rule 9, which introduced new responsible gaming duties and requirements for casino and sports betting operators in the state.

The rules also established the DOG as the custodian of the self-exclusion list. Prior to the launch of the current program, self-exclusion in the Centennial State was managed by the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado (PGCC).

DOG director Christopher Schroder commented on the launch of the new self-exclusion scheme, highlighting the division’s commitment to promoting responsible gambling across Colorado. He called the launch of the program an “exciting advancement” for the state.

Schroder also thanked the PGCC for everything it has done so far, praising the organization as a reliable ally.

We appreciate all of the work that the PGCC has done to get the Self-Exclusion program to this point. They are an excellent partner in this important work.

Christopher Schroder, director, Colorado Division of Gaming

The regulator hopes to establish a modern tech-driven website that would make self-exclusion easier and more intuitive for customers in Colorado. The DOG is planning to work on this site over the next year.

In the meantime, the division said that the self-exclusion list has now been disseminated to gambling industry bodies across Colorado, allowing them to turn down self-excluded individuals.

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An investment advisor previously employed by Wells Fargo, based in Union County, New Jersey, has been handed a three-year and six-month prison sentence for orchestrating a sophisticated financial fraud scheme, resulting in a total loss of $626,478 for five clients. 

Exploitative Financial Advisor Preys on Vulnerable Clients

The 39-year-old defendant manipulated the trust of his victims, taking advantage of their vulnerabilities, with some being elderly, disabled, or grappling with memory loss. He convinced his clients to transfer money from their brokerage accounts to personal accounts, under the guise of making investments on their behalf. 

However, instead of utilizing the funds for their intended purpose, he funneled the money through a convoluted network of entities linked to friends and family members, ultimately redirecting the funds back to himself.

Federal prosecutors revealed that the defendant had also built excessively personal relationships with his clients, further abusing his position as an investment advisor. This manipulation extended to three siblings, aged 83, 86, and 93, all living together. Despite sharing holidays and personal moments with them, the Wells Fargo advisor continued his fraudulent activities unabated.

The scheme began to unravel when the siblings grew suspicious of the lack of investment returns and confronted the defendant. In response, he sent them falsified documents purporting to show their funds in a separate brokerage firm. This deception was quickly debunked by the alleged brokerage firm, confirming the fraudulent nature of the claims.

Justice Served as Wells Fargo Collaborates in Investigation and Reimburses Victims

During the investigation, Wells Fargo cooperated closely with the authorities, highlighting its commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards for its employees. In addition to cooperating with the investigation, Wells Fargo fully reimbursed the victims, mitigating some of the financial harm caused by the rogue advisor’s actions.

The trial concluded with a guilty plea to one count of wire fraud and securities fraud. The plea deal helped the defendant avoid a potential maximum sentence of two decades behind bars. The sentencing was presided over by US District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo, who imposed not only the prison term but also a three-year supervised release period.

Gambling addiction often drives people to commit fraudulent activities. Another recent case saw a former accountant in Australia admitting to over 100 charges for using clients’ funds to support his gambling addiction. He allegedly defrauded the Australian Tax Office and clients of more than AU$1.4 million ($937,000) over five years. He moved money between clients’ accounts and a personal “fraud account,” using these funds for online gambling, including betting on races.

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Blake Carl Fitzgerald faces prison after running an illegal gambling scheme. The 40-year-old allegedly used livestreaming services to wager remotely on behalf of other people.

The Minnesota man ran his illegal scheme on TikTok and Discord, Bring Me the News, a local news outlet, claims. According to a criminal complaint, Fitzgerald ran the scheme between October and December 2022.

Fitzgerald allegedly received $65,103 through CashApp and Venmo from his customers. He proceeded to use the money to play slot games at Lake Casino & Resort and Treasure Island Casino, livestreaming his performance on TikTok. According to the complaint, Fitzgerald would call out a subscriber’s name during the stream, asking them to say which machine they’d like him to play.

As agreed with his subscribers, Fitzgerald would keep more than half of the winnings and would send his subscribers the rest. If he ran out of time to play, he would return his subscribers’ money.

Fitzgerald took a subscription fee of $5.99 from his followers. He kept in touch with them via a Discord server.

Minnesota, meanwhile, continues to fight for the legalization of sports betting.

Fitzgerald Faces Prison Time

Fitzgerald’s scheme eventually fell apart when the Minnesota Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division received an anonymous complaint. After that, the regulatory body launched an investigation and identified Fitzgerald. The authorities also learned that the man had an accomplice who helped him run the scheme.

However, the name of the suspect has not been revealed as of yet since they are yet to be formally charged. In the meantime, Fitzgerald is being charged with three counts of running an illegal gambling operation.

As a result, the mastermind behind the illegal TikTok gambling scheme risks prison time of up to three years, as well as thousands of dollars in fines, Bring Me the News concluded.

In other news, the police in California continue their war on illegal casinos. In July, local authorities cracked down on an illegal casino, arresting three people and seizing a number of gambling machines and guns.

The arrestees in that case currently face charges over their illegal possession of guns.

Iowa athletes, meanwhile, face charges over illegal participation in betting. A total of eight people, including active players, former players and a student assistant, were found guilty of using third-party accounts to wager.

Elsewhere, match-fixing allegations led to the arrests of 17 people. These arrests took place in Spain after a thorough investigation.

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Last year, Matthew Beasley, a Las Vegas lawyer and sports bettor, came under fire for alleged participation in a $460-500 million Ponzi scheme. Beasley, who refused to cooperate with the police at first, is believed to have been a part of a group that took money from more than 600 investors to live in luxury. A new lawsuit alleges that the bank he used might have been involved as well.

The Scheme Involves Millions of Investors’ Money

Beasley and other scheme participants embellished investors’ money to buy private jets, boats, cars and luxurious properties, according to the lawsuit. Furthermore, earlier findings showed that the lawyer used a part of the money to pay back his gambling debts. He allegedly owed sportsbooks a whopping $4 million

When the police went to arrest the man, he resisted and threatened to commit suicide with a gun. When asked to put the weapon down, Beasley pointed it at the policemen, causing them to shoot him non-fatally.

The scheme Beasley participated in was believed to be led by J&J Entities owner Jeffrey Judd, who, according to Beasley, had the names of everyone involved in the fraud.

Beasley was indicted for five counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering for the scheme. His lawyer’s license was eventually revoked.

Well Fargo Cannot Have Missed the Scheme

As it turns out, Wells Fargo Bank, the bank which Beasley used, should have been aware of what was happening. As a result, the financial service now faces a lawsuit as well.

A court-appointed receiver, Geoff Winkler, was tasked with bringing the litigation against Well Fargo, as requested by a federal judge. The judge has reasons to believe that the bank should have immediately identified the fraudulent scheme.

According to the new lawsuit, Well Fargo should have seen the suspicious activity since the money related to the Ponzi scheme passed through Beasley’s account, according to earlier findings. According to the lawsuit, “a Ponzi scheme of this magnitude cannot run surreptitiously through an IOLTA and various related-party accounts.”

Furthermore, Well Fargo employees might have actively assisted Beasley, the lawsuit argues. As it turns out, some Well Fargo employees, including a manager at a Nevada-based branch, reported the suspicious activity. Concerningly, Well Fargo failed to take adequate action, even asking branch employees to execute the suspicious transactions.

This will not be the first time Well Fargo has been accused of having collections with the scheme. Around the same time Beasley was arrested, a lawsuit sought to find the banking firm’s relationship with the fraudsters.

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The now-former worker of William Hill was investigated by the Nevada Gaming Fee and the operator’s inside groups which grew to become conscious of the scheme final yr.

William Hill US which was purchased by Caesars Leisure for $4 billion in 2021, has greater than 100 race and sportsbook venues in Nevada. The worker who has been arrested and appeared in courtroom, Shravan Singh, and his conspirator Paige Steiner, now faces a litany of costs, though Steiner was launched with out bail.

Extra Co-Conspirators Doubtlessly Concerned

In keeping with 8 Information Now, which has accomplished the unique reporting, there are extra co-conspirators who haven’t been named simply but, as a result of they haven’t been arrested. Basically, Steiner faces 290 costs over fraudulent makes use of of vouchers for money. The vouchers are printed immediately on the machines by an individual who can then money within the vouchers.

The scheme was perpetrated on a minimum of 166 separate dates, carried out by Singh in individual, and totalled 3,000 transactions. William Hill terminated Singh’s contract on January 19, after it grew to become conscious of the scheme and had sufficient proof to behave in opposition to him.

Upon nearer scrutiny, William Hill established that the variety of stolen funds was in reality way more important, with $280,000 of cash having been stolen from the corporate. Basically, Singh was a part of a coordinated effort inside William Hill, the place supervisors or customer support brokers would collaborate to change the amount of cash registered at particular person William Hill kiosks. 8 Information Now argues that it has details about former workers of the corporate perpetrating related schemes.

As soon as the cash was added to the kiosks, the culprits would go to the units and withdraw vouchers for money. Nevertheless, every kiosk is provided with plenty of safety measures. One is that the units take footage of people that withdraw cash and hold detailed information of what cash is being put out and in. Due to this meticulous file preserving, the concerned workers – presently two named publicly with extra awaiting potential arrest – have been recognized.

Singh Reportedly Used His Place to Cowl His Tracks

Investigators by the Nevada Gaming Management Board stated that Singh was answerable for “day-to-date reporting” of kiosk money changes for sums higher than $500. Singh was able the place he might sluggish or simply not report suspicious transactions and file altering, which made it tougher for William Hill to initially understand that there was one thing untoward happening.

However upon having a more in-depth look, William Hill observed a development – some workers would make a whole lot of changes whereas others will solely have just a few to their title. It was those who have been adjusting the machines at an unprecedented price that caught the investigators’ consideration.

The investigators stated that Singha and his co-conspirator(s) have been unable to elucidate why that they had made so many withdrawals of vouchers and why they have been seen at particular kiosks repeatedly. The detectives additionally appeared into the suspects who have been serving to with money withdrawals as properly: “Not one of the suspects had any wagering historical past, which might counsel that they had received hundreds of {dollars}. Due to this fact, I concluded the one objective every suspect was noticed on the numerous kiosks was to help Singh in embezzling cash from William Hill.”

The names of different culprits might quickly floor if investigators deem it needed for them to seem earlier than the courtroom. Singh will now need to reply for what the courtroom alleges is embezzlement, forgery, conspiracy to commit embezzlement, and extra.

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