The post Pennsylvania Blackjack Dealer Caught Dealing 192 Fake Hands, Paying Out $22k to Players appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
]]>A blackjack dealer is in hot water after getting caught dealing fake hands. Pennsylvania State Police outlined how Jamie L. Smith dealt 192 fake hands, which paid out $21,869 to several players between October 26 and November 2 this year at the Rivers Casino Pittsburgh.
Gaming enforcement agents and police officers viewed surveillance footage of the 33-year-old overpaying winnings and not taking stakes from lost hands.
arrested the dealer when she turned up for a shift on November 8
The behavior escalated from seven fake hands on the first day to 71 hands by November 2, with her shifts totaling 31 hours during the period in question. Police arrested the dealer when she turned up for work on November 8.
The blackjack dealer now faces charges of conspiracy, knowingly manipulating a game of chance, and theft by unlawful taking.
A preliminary hearing is set for November 20, and Smith is out on an unsecured bond. It is currently unclear if Smith was conspiring with anyone else to dupe the casino out of money.
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]]>The post Poker Pro Rampage Claims He Was Scammed Out of $138,969 in Bet Winnings appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
]]>Ethan Yau, otherwise known as Rampage, is an American poker pro with total live earnings of nearly $3m. He’s not just interested in poker though, the gambler likes to have a flutter on sports betting too, but his recent decision to use an unofficial bookmaker has supposedly cost him more than $100,000.
naming Neema Khazaie of Sherman Oaks, California as the perpetrator
He took to X on Tuesday this week to share details of the alleged scam, naming Neema Khazaie of Sherman Oaks, California as the perpetrator.
Yau explained that he lost more than $600,000 sports betting over the course of the year, making most of his bets through Khazaie, an agent for a bookmaker. When he did ultimately secure some profit, mainly through a bet on Donald Trump winning the Presidential election, he encountered difficulty trying to withdraw any funds.
According to Rampage, the bookie now owes him $138,969.89 in total, $80,000 of which is his deposit.
Despite losing a significant amount over the course of the year, Rampage claimed that the bookmaker immediately limited his account once he had a slight upswing. “Not only are they not paying my account balance but they’re claiming “sharp” action AFTER I’M DOWN 600K and GO ON A 30K UPSWING,” he wrote.
He then provided evidence of his interactions with Khazaie in the form of text messages in which the agent claimed that he would receive some of his money soon, cash that has yet to materialize:
As seen in the messages, Rampage requests 50K at first from the agent before eventually asking for just 10K. Ultimately, the agent says that he will deliver 30K – 40K in the next few days, but he has supposedly still not received any money. The poker pro asked for anyone who “knows this family” to “help progress this situation along.”
Rampage’s posts have received both support and criticism.
In the latter column, X user Tafo said that “the minor benefits in whatever discount you’re getting yourself into can’t possibly be worth the risk.” Meanwhile, Ken chastised Rampage for not using a trustworthy “agent/advisor/lawyer,” adding that “scams are easily avoided” when the right actions are taken.
Why tf would you post with a bookie lol?”
Many urged Rampage to use online sportsbooks rather than betting through unofficial bookmakers. “Bruh why aren’t you using an online sportsbook?” Tam Thai asked. Another user said: “Why tf would you post with a bookie lol? That’s insane. The network you have, your track record of paying debts, and you end up with the only bookie in America who makes you post.”
In the more supportive category, Jason Edwards said: “Wow, sorry brother. Keep your head up, hopefully some good luck/ karma on its way…”
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]]>The post Woman Ran Romance Scam on 100 Men, Spent Money at Online Casinos appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
]]>A 27-year-old woman ran a prolific romance scam to trick around 100 men out of 100 million yen ($656,000), according to Japanese police.
After swindling her victims for cash, Ida spent most of the money gambling in online casinos.
Shizuku Ida, 27, reportedly used dating apps and social media to target men, building up a relationship of trust before exploiting them for financial gain. After swindling her victims for cash, Ida spent most of the money gambling in online casinos.
Eventually, after cheating a man from Yamagata Prefecture out of 346,000 yen ($2,270), the scam came to light, culminating in her arrest.
According to the Tokyo Reporter, Ida confessed the scam to police shortly after being arrested, telling officers: “I lied to make the other person trust me and used the money at internet casinos and to play with hosts.”
Ida, who was unemployed, told her victims that she worked in a hostess bar, an establishment in Japan catering to young men who can pay for conversation with women.
after striking up a conversation, she claimed to have suffered multiple hardships
Idea targeted the men through dating apps and social media. After striking up a conversation, she claimed to have suffered multiple hardships, including having money stolen, being forced to pay off her parents’ debts, and needing money for childcare, even telling one victim she wanted to die.
“I work as a hostess, and the money I get paid is put into my locker,” she told one man. “As well, I put my child in a childcare center affiliated with the club, so I have to pay the manager for it. But when I went to give it to him, I looked in the locker and it was all gone.
“Until last month, I was paying off the debts my parents left behind, so I couldn’t save any money. That’s why I really don’t have any money.”
A relative of Ida’s went on to reveal that she had left her child with her parents before severing all ties with her family.
Ida never met any of the men in person, conversing only through social media and through occasional telephone conversations.
Japanese authorities have warned citizens of the increased prevalence of online romance scams, which have exploded since the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, there were 45 such crimes reported in 2018, but this increased to a staggering 1,017 in 2023.
middle-aged men who are comfortable financially are the most vulnerable targets
Kimiaki Nishida, a social psychology expoert at Rissho University, stated that middle-aged men who are comfortable financially are the most vulnerable targets.
“It is easier to tell lies online than when meeting in person,” said Nishida. “Users of these apps and sites need to be aware that there are not only people looking for serious relationships who are using them.”
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]]>The post Korea Police Bust 1000s of Teens Who Illegally Gambled $2.64m? appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
]]>South Korea’s National Police Agency has caught 4,715 individuals aged under 19 breaking the country’s gambling laws.?
strategic crackdown on the online vertical
According to a South Korea business daily, the police caught thousands of the youngsters illegally gambling. They caught the offenders during a strategic crackdown on the online vertical over a period from September 2023 to October 2024.
Mail Business on Sunday revealed that the total amount the young market wagered hit ?3.7bn ($2.64m), with individuals averaging ?780,000 ($559) in bets over the crackdown’s time frame.
Reports state a boy, 16, played baccarat online with as much as ?190m ($136,160).?
The most common age group for breaking South Korea’s gambling laws was 17-year-olds, with 1,763 individuals making up 38% of those caught by police. Next were 16-year-olds (26%), while 18-year-olds caught stands at 19%, with 206 14-year-olds contributing 4% to the total number of lawbreakers.????
Online casino at 82% was the most popular vertical among the young perpetrators, followed by sports betting at 11%. According to media reports, police have introduced 1,733 of those arrested to “professional counseling agencies.”
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]]>The post New Zealand Woman Stole $200k From Employer to Fund Gambling Addiction appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
]]>A New Zealand woman stole over NZ$360,941 ($215,953) from her employer to fund her gambling addiction will be spared jail.
Robertson has repaid the money in full, as well as interest and legal fees after the civil case.
The Hutt Valley District Court heard Sally Anne Robertson, 59, stole the funds which were taken from a civil engineering company she worked for. Robertson has repaid the money in full, as well as interest and legal fees after the civil case.
After hearing that Robertson was under stress and was seeking treatment for her gambling addiction, Judge Tania Warburton opted against a prison sentence for Robertson, sentencing her instead of five months of community detention for the thefts.
Robertson siphoned the money from SBA Civil Ltd, the company she worked for over 12 months, at which she held the sole administrative role and was one of only two people at the entire organization who had access to the business’ bank account.
Robertson changed the payment details on invoices billed to suppliers 37 times so that incoming payments were diverted to her own accounts. The money was then spent to fund her gambling addiction, the court heard.
She was caught when one supplier questioned one of the payments, which caused the alarm to be raised over the thefts.
Robertson pleaded guilty to a charge of theft by a person in a special relationship, breaking down in tears with her husband after she was sentenced.
Her lawyer, James Mahuta-Coyle, stated that Robertson was under severe family pressure, first having to care for her elderly mother, and then for her father and sister.
“She found herself, unfortunately, in the grip of addiction that led to the offending,” Mahuta-Coyle said, for which she has sought and is currently receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, in a victim statement, the main shareholder of the engineering company from which the funds were stolen declared that the theft had caused he and his own family considerable stress.
“Your offending was bad, but I want to stress that you are not a bad person,” Judge Warburton stated during sentencing. As part of her community detention, Robertson can continue to live at home and go to work, but must remain indoors every night between 7pm and 7am.
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]]>The post Portuguese Regulator Files Criminal Complaints Against Influencers and Operators appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
]]>The Portuguese Online Gambling and Betting Association (APAJO) has filed criminal complaints against influencers and operators as it seeks to clamp down on illegal gambling.
APAJO made criminal complaints against influencers Bruno Savate, Cláudia Nayara, GODMOTA, Numeiro, and ritinhayoutuber over promoting unlicensed gambling sites, which are illegal in Portugal.
APAJO stated it would continue to file reports as activities were uncovered.
In addition, operators BC.Game, Betify, Monro, Stake, Starda, Vem Bet, Weiss, and Wolfi were all also reported for criminal offenses. APAJO stated it would continue to file reports as activities were uncovered.
The comments follow the release of APAJO’s annual gambling study in Portugal, which found growing problems with players gambling on unlicensed sites. According to the report, 41% of gamblers in Portugal used unregulated sites when gambling, and less than half of the players who bet on unlicensed sites are unaware that they are using an illegal operator.
“It is, therefore, very critical that the Portuguese media are clear and accurate with the information provided about the sector, in order to prevent thousands of people from being continually exposed to the risks of betting on unlicensed sites,” said Ricardo Domingues, president of the APAJO board of directors.
young people are more likely to bet on unregulated sites compared to the general population
Additional figures published in the report showed that young people are more likely to bet on unregulated sites compared to the general population, with 52.1% of players aged between 18 and 34 choosing to do so, which has perhaps inspired the move to file criminal complaints against influencers.
Portuguese gambling law makes it a crime to operate any gambling site without a license. The law also penalizes those who promote unlicensed sites, including on social media. As a result, there is a real prosecution risk for all of the influencers named by APAJO.
the names mentioned come from a wide variety of backgrounds
This isn’t the first time that APAJO has pointed its finger at influencers, and the names mentioned come from a wide variety of backgrounds, rather than all being gambling streamers.
With the report from APAJO estimating that €100m ($108m) per year is lost to tax revenue from unlicensed betting sites and countries having limited ability to tackle operators based offshore, the legal case could quickly ramp up against the influencers.
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]]>The post Brazilian Soccer International Under Investigation for Match Fixing appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
]]>A Brazilian international soccer player is at the center of a match-fixing investigation after he allegedly intentionally received two yellow cards during a game in November 2023. Bruno Henrique earned two caps for the national team during his career, and the 33-year-old now plays for Flamengo in his home country.
opened betting accounts on game day and bet on the Belo Horizonte native to receive a yellow card
Brazilian Federal Police investigators believe he intentionally received the yellow cards so others, including some family members, could win their wagers. They reportedly opened betting accounts on game day and bet on the Belo Horizonte native to receive a yellow card.
Law enforcement searched a dozen premises on Tuesday during the probe, including Flamengo’s training center and the player’s home.
While Henrique faces up to six years in prison if found guilty, the club is standing by him, issuing a statement of support for the winger and saying it will fully cooperate with the investigation.
Henrique will continue training with his club and is expected to play on Wednesday against Cruzeiro and in the team’s Copa do Brasil clash on Sunday against Atlético Mineiro.
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]]>The post Police Issue Warrant for Man Who Stole $60k From Oklahoma Casino Guest appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
]]>Police are searching for a suspect who stole $60,000 in cash from an Oklahoma casino guest in September.
Dvoderick Robinson allegedly broke into a vehicle in the Choctaw Casino parking lot, with surveillance footage clearly showing the 45-year-old putting a package into his pocket after smashing the vehicle’s window. He came back again wearing gloves and retrieved another item.
a plastic bag containing $60,000 in cash
The victim reported the incident to security staff at the casino, explaining that his wallet which contained up to $300 in cash and a bank card was gone, as well as a plastic bag containing $60,000 in cash.
Law enforcement wants to charge Robinson with grand larceny and burglary when they catch him.
This is not the only serious crime to happen recently in the casino’s parking lot. A man died in June following a violent altercation in which he suffered stab wounds.
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]]>The post $13m Stolen From 1MDB Malaysian Government Fund Used for Gambling in Las Vegas appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
]]>Malaysian businessmen used $13m siphoned from a government development fund to gamble on high-stakes games in Las Vegas, a court in Singapore heard on Monday.
International fugitive Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, allegedly transferred the money to Las Vegas Sands (LVS) properties with an associate, Erik Can Kim Loong, to play high-stakes games at casinos including baccarat.
called the “largest kleptocracy case to date” by the US Department of Justice
The money is part of over $4.5bn which was stolen from the Malaysia Development Berhard (1MDB) fund. The case has been called the “largest kleptocracy case to date” by the US Department of Justice, and involved hundreds of individuals in government, banking, business and entertainment.
Low has long been accused of masterminding the scheme, which saw the money used to buy luxury items, fund lavish lifestyles, and even finance Hollywood films.
Low already had a reputation as a high-stakes gambler, with a marketing executive for The Venetian revealing in 2022 that Low had gambled over $87m on baccarat at the casino.
A case was then brought by 1MDB against several companies accused of handling around $248m of the stolen funds, including Red Granite Pictures Inc. and Red Granite Capital Ltd.?
Both companies are controlled by Riza Aziz, the stepson of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, who was imprisoned for 12 years in 2018 after being accused of siphoning $700m from the fund.
According to testimony from UK-based financial fraud investigator Richard Templeman, Red Granite Capital then allegedly transferred $41m to a shell company named Alsen Chance, which was set up solely to aid the embezzlement scheme. From here, $13m was transferred to LVS, with Low receiving $11m for gambling purposes at the casino, and Tan getting $2m.
Low is wanted by international authorities and is believed to be hiding in China. His current state is a far cry from his flamboyant and extravagant lifestyle which not only saw him gamble millions in high-stakes casino games, but also rub shoulders with the Hollywood elite.
Low is alleged to have given a $325,000 Ferrari to Kim Kardashian as a wedding present, and also gave numerous works of art, including Picassos and Basquiats, to Leonardo DiCaprio. The actor later returned the gifts.
Perhaps most fittingly, Low was also a major investor in the production of the Martin Scorses film The Wolf of Wall Street, which deals with the rise and fall of a flamboyant high-level financial fraudster.
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]]>The post Murderer Remains at Large After Shooting Fellow Gambler at Illegal Casino in L.A. Restaurant appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
]]>A dispute at an illegal casino in a Los Angeles restaurant spilled over on Saturday night, leaving one man dead. The incident at the Salvimex Restaurant in Gardena involved two frequent gamblers at the property.
died at the scene after suffering at least one gunshot wound to his chest
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department explained that the men were playing at different tables when the current suspect approached the victim and shot him. The 35-year-old died at the scene after suffering at least one gunshot wound to his chest. Police have not yet released his name.
The shooter, who is estimated to be between 35 and 40 years old, left the restaurant in a vehicle in an unknown direction and remains at large.
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]]>The post Crypto Casino Metawin Suffers $4m Cyberattack appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
]]>Crypto Casino Metawin has suffered a major cyberattack which resulted in $4m drained from the company’s Ethereum and Solana hot wallets.
The attack, which took place on November 3, exploited Metawin’s frictionless withdrawal system. After gaining access to the wallets, the hacker quickly made off with $4m in Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL).
the funds have since been moved to the KuCoin exchange and a nested service on HitBTC
According to blockchain investigator ZachXBT, the funds have since been moved to the KuCoin exchange and a nested service on HitBTC, with 115 wallets linked to the attack so far.
Responding to the attack, Metawin CEO Richard “Skel” Skelhorn stated: “We temporarily paused withdrawals to assess and secure our systems. Now, withdrawals have been re-enabled for 95% of users, with final checks underway for the remaining accounts.”
“We’re in the process of topping up wallet balances now. We’ll also be implementing additional security controls for new users, while also exploring ways to maintain a flexible and seamless experience for our trusted community.”
We’re not gonna dwell on it. It’s in the hands of the feds now”
Skelhorn went on to confirm that the authorities had been contacted, saying to ZachXBT: “We’re not gonna dwell on it. It’s in the hands of the feds now…we will make some internal adjustments to keep the players happy but the bad actors at bay.”
As for the source of the funds to top up the wallets, Skelhorn claimed he used his own personal fortune to help finance the replenishment. “I just emptied my piggy bank… We keep building.”
The attack is the latest in a series of hacks which have affected many crypto users over recent months. In October, Radiant Capital suffered a major exploit for $55m, while a wallet believed to be controlled by the US government was also drained of $20m.
$88m lost in crypto hacks in the month of October alone
The losses made up the bulk of a reported $88m lost in crypto hacks in the month of October alone, while November started off in much the same manner when attackers made off with over $13m from centralized exchange M2 last week.
The repeated attacks have nonetheless failed to stem the flow of the ongoing bull market in crypto, or indeed its increasing adoption in the gambling world. Crypto casinos are continuing to proliferate, while in the United Kingdom, crypto companies are quickly replacing gambling sponsors for Premier League soccer clubs.
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]]>The post Gambling Commission Slams UN Allegation That Isle of Man Is Prey to Organized Crime appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
]]>The Isle of Man’s Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) has taken strong exception to a United Nations report that names the British Crown protectorate’s gambling regulations as “susceptible to exploitation” by organized crime networks.
Acting GSC CEO Mark Rutherford strongly refuted the UN’s Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s report that organized crime syndicates have set up Asia-targeted operations in popular iGaming jurisdictions like the Isle of Man, Cura?ao, and Malta.
According to the Isle of Man Today, Rutherford said he was disappointed by the UN’s claims of the protectorate’s “lax regulatory controls” and that the Commission “conducts its regulation in line with international standards.”
the Commission “did not agree” with the UN’s accusation of inadequate controls
Rutherford referenced GSC’s high technical scoring in an anti-money laundering, combating financing of terrorism evaluation by Europe’s top monitoring body and that the Commission “did not agree” with the UN’s accusation of inadequate controls.
“The GSC has entry controls in place for businesses seeking licences and an ongoing supervision regime,” he added.
Earlier this year, the GSC revoked the license of Asia market-focused, Jade Tree Ltd-affiliated King Gaming following a raid and subsequent police investigation into fraud and money-laundering.
Despite the UN report highlighting the flood of cybercrime and illegal online gambling operations blighting Southeast Asia in relation to its accusation about the Isle of Man, Rutherford said the King Gaming case was a one off.
“We’ve had about 250 licences in our time, and we’ve had one of them turn into this.”
Rutherford stuck by the Isle of Man’s ongoing popularity as a jurisdiction, stating despite the UN report, the protectorate has a “zero-tolerance attitude towards financial crime.”
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