casino fraud bail bonds
kind bail bonds las vegas specialize in casino fraud bail bonds. we have helped countless tourists both from the united states and international countries like japan, canada, philippines, china, mexico, brazil, and korea. we have worked with all las vegas courts in matters of passport surrender, identification issues and placing special conditions on defendants in order for them to return home prior to their court dates. tourists and locals alike spend billions of dollars each year in gambling. gambling revenue is the blood in the veins of las vegas. we are world renown for our casinos and our gambling. as a result, nevada lawmakers have written very harsh and punitive laws to penalize cheating at the casinos. las vegas prosecutors and law enforcement take cheating at the casinos very seriously and the punishment on some levels is messages to casino cheaters… do not try this in las vegas. kind bail bonds las vegas works hard for you when you or a loved one finds themselves with a defrauding the casino charge. we extend our services to reach out to the international facilitation of release.
there are many different cheating methods that are well known to las vegas casinos. these include switching cards or chips, employing an accomplice dealer to deal cards favorably, placing chips on a roulette table when betting is not allowed, or the use of hidden cameras or computer devices to cheat at table games or slot machines. chapter 465 of the nevada revised statutes defines five separate types of casino cheating offenses, outlined below, and sets harsh punishments for all of these crimes.
cheating at gambling
the general prohibition against casino cheating is nrs 465.083, which states, “it is unlawful for any person, whether the person is an owner or employee of or a player in an establishment, to cheat at any gambling game.” this is a vaguely written statute. but nrs 465.015 provides some clarification by defining what it means to “cheat”.
according to nrs 465.015, to “cheat” means “to alter the elements of chance, the method of selection, or criteria” which determine:
- the result of a game
- the amount or frequency of payment in a game
- the value of a wagering instrument
- the value of a wagering credit
to simplify this definition, cheating is doing anything outside the rules of the game that changes the odds of winning in the player’s favor. this can cover any of the numerous known casino cheats.
gambing fraud
nrs 465.070 lists several different examples of acts which constitute gambling fraud. specifically, there are eight listed acts which constitute gambling fraud.
the first listed act constituting gaming fraud is “alter[ing] or misrepresent[ing] the outcome of a game or other event on which wagers have been made after the outcome is made sure but before it is revealed to the players”.
the second type of gaming fraud is placing a bet, increasing a bet, or decreasing a bet based on inside information that other players don’t know. these first two types of gaming fraud usually require the help of an accomplice casino employee.
the third type of gaming fraud listed in nrs 465.070 involves claiming winnings on a bet the player did not, in fact, legitimately wager on, or attempting to collect an amount greater than that which the player actually won.
the fourth type of gambling fraud is knowingly enticing or inducing another person to go to a casino to cheat at gambling as defined in chapter 465 of the nevada revised statutes. so if one person encourages another person to cheat at a casino, the first person has committed gambling fraud under this statute.
the fifth type of gambling fraud is placing a bet after the player knows the outcome of the game. this includes “past-posting” and “pressing bets.” past-posting involves placing a bet in roulette after the ball has dropped and betting is no longer allowed. pressing a bet can involve increasing one’s bet in a table or card game after the outcome is known or when the odds of winning have increased.
the sixth listed type of casino fraud is reducing the amount wagered or canceling the bet after acquiring knowledge that the player has made a losing bet or his odds of winning have decreased. this is referred to as “pinching” a bet.
the seventh listed type of gaming fraud involves manipulating a gaming device such as a slot machine in a manner not consistent with the device’s intended use. this can include “varying the pull of the handle of a slot machine, with the knowledge that the manipulation affects the outcome of the game.” essentially, if you discover a trick that allows you to win in a slot machine and you exploit that trick, you are guilty of gaming fraud under this subsection of the statute.
the eighth and final type of gaming fraud listed in nrs 465.070 involves fraud related to sports betting. in particular, it is gaming fraud to bribe someone to influence the outcome of a sporting event or to place or alter a bet based on inside information that someone has been bribed and the result of a sporting event has been influenced.
use of a cheating device
nrs 465.075 prohibits the use of cheating devices. a cheating device is any outside device that gives the player an advantage in any casino game. this includes any device that projects an outcome, keeps track of cards, analyzes probabilities, or gives strategies in any casino game.
use of counterfeit chips
nrs 465.080 prohibits acts related to counterfeit chips, gaming tokens, wagering credits or other wagering instruments used in casino gaming. pursuant to this statute, it is illegal not only to use counterfeit chips and other gaming tokens but to manufacture or possess these items while in a casino.
nrs 465.085 prohibits manufacturing, selling, or distributing equipment designed to cheat at gambling. this includes cards, chips, dice, or any devices intended to be used for cheating. it is also unlawful under this statute to teach someone how to cheat at gambling or show that person how to use a cheating device, with the knowledge or intent that the information or use so conveyed may be employed to cheat a gambling establishment.
attempts to cheat and conspiracy to cheat
an attempt to commit any of the acts outlined above, or entering into a conspiracy to commit any of these acts, is punishable as a felony offense with the same penalty as the completed crime. ordinarily, attempting but failing to commit a crime, or entering into an agreement with others to commit a crime, but not actually committing the crime itself, is a lesser offense. not so with casino cheating. the punishment is exactly the same.
punishment for cheating crimes
each of the above offenses is a category b felony. a first offense is punishable by a prison sentence of 1 to 6 years as well as a $10,000 fine. a second offense has the same potential sentence, but the judge cannot grant the defendant probation. in other words, for a first conviction, the defendant may receive a suspended sentence and probation. however, for a second offense, the court must sentence the defendant to serve a time in prison. under nevada’s sentencing rules, for a second conviction for casino cheating, a defendant would have to serve a minimum of one year in prison before becoming eligible for parole.
the methods for cheating in a casino are often specific to individual games and include the following:
past posting: after a bet is won, a player replaces smaller-denomination chips with large-denomination chips.
hand mucking: palming desirable cards, then switching them for less desirable cards that the gambler holds.
card marking: various methods exist to mark cards during play.
marked decks: usually involving the collusion of casino employees, it may be possible for a marked deck to be introduced into play. there are many different ways to mark decks of cards, some of them very difficult to detect. casinos often replace their cards at table games and either sell or give away the used decks. these decks are usually cut or altered before they are sold or given away. this to prevent cheaters from buying used decks and then using the cards to cheat at table games.
slot machines: methods exist for altering the outcome of slot machine games.
collusion: in poker games, the practice of two partners signaling to each other the values of their cards can be very difficult to detect. also, in table games, players can collude with the dealer.
using auxiliary devices: in nevada, new jersey, and other jurisdictions, using any device which helps to forecast the odds or aid in a legitimate strategy such as card counting is regarded as cheating.
top hats: in roulette, players place a bet after the ball has landed. the chips are disguised using a third party’s chip – the “top hat”.