Over the summer, a man from North Carolina was accused оf trying tо scam a Las Vegas casino by using a fake check tо get $865,000 іn chips, which he quickly lost while gambling. Dharma Nadendla went tо the Aria Resort & Casino’s cashier’s counter and handed over a check he claimed was worth $380,000 from a credit union. The casino staff gave him $865,000 іn chips based оn this check. Nadendla gambled away $500,000 and $365,000 оn table games, according tо Las Vegas Police. Despite these massive losses, he attempted tо get more chips by calling the cashier’s cage from his hotel room.
Casino Employee Helps Police Nab Suspect
An observant employee at the Aria became suspicious and took a closer look at the check. They noticed some inconsistencies in the check numbers and decided to call the credit union in North Carolina. The credit union confirmed the check was fake and worth only $174.80. To catch Nadendla, the employee asked him to come back to the casino floor to get more chips. As he approached the hotel elevator, Las Vegas police officers, informed by the casino staff, arrested him. Nadendla is facing theft and burglary charges. His case is still working its way through the court system.
Frequent Casino Scams
Attempted scams like this happen more frequently than you might think. Here are some recent examples:
- Two Eastern European men were charged with organized fraud at the Enghien-les-Bains casino in Paris. Authorities accused them of using an invisible cheating system to win tens of thousands of euros. One wore a tiny earpiece removed only with a magnet, while the partner watched through a camera hidden in the player’s phone and gave instructions.
- Last month, Spirit Mountain Casino’s CEO, Camille Mercier, announced that ads promoting online betting through a downloadable app are scams. She urged customers not to download any app claiming to be from Spirit Mountain Casino and report fraudulent ads.
- A dealer and a player were found guilty of cheating at the Encore Boston Harbor Casino in Everett, Massachusetts, and sentenced in October. The baccarat dealer, Jianming Li, memorized card sequences and shared them with player Jun Na Zhang. Over two nights, Zhang won $15,000 illegally using this method.
- Gratis Woolen Jr. faces multiple charges in Las Vegas for allegedly using fake casino chips worth several thousand dollars. He was arrested last April when an employee at The Cosmopolitan noticed that some of the chips had a Golden Gate sticker on them.
Role of World Game Protection
Vigilant employees are the first line of defense against casino scams. An entire organization is dedicated to casino surveillance and protecting the games people play. In 2005, casino veteran Willy Allison started World Game Protection, Inc. to create the gaming industry’s first conference and expo focused solely on casino surveillance and game protection. The first annual World Game Protection Conference (WGPC) took place in 2006.
Focus Areas of WGPC
The WGPC expanded its educational content to address awareness and protection strategies for overall casino operational risk. The conference program focuses on three key areas: game protection, asset protection, and people protection. At the WGPC Expo, the latest technology from top manufacturers of casino game protection, surveillance, and security products is showcased.
Upcoming WGPC Event
The 2025 World Game Protection Conference and Expo will take place in Las Vegas from March 11-13 at the Rio Las Vegas.
Combined Efforts to Thwart Casino Scams
Casinos often face scams and fraud attempts, but alert employees and law enforcement work hard to stop them. Organizations like World Game Protection, Inc. play a crucial role by offering training and showcasing new surveillance technologies to help detect and prevent cheating. These combined efforts help keep casinos safe and maintain trust with their customers, showing the importance of vigilance and collaboration.
Check other casino news
Leave a Reply