There is no question that casinos have incredible security. In fact, they have some of the most notoriously high security out of any venue in the world. But this doesn’t stop some criminals from taking a shot at a robbery. The vast majority of these attempts fail, and end with the criminals in jail, or worse. But sometimes, out of incredible effort, dumb luck, or a combination of the two, the robberies are successful.
Casino Crime
Insane True Casino Crime Stories
Fill a room full of flashing lights, loud noises and loads of cash, and what are you most likely going to attract? Criminal masterminds! Casino heists are common in the industry, and while many perpetrators have snatched the cash and chips never to be seen again, the same cannot be said for the following casino crime participants.
At EjWagner-CrimeHistorian.com we have taken a special interest in crime which occurs in the land-based casino and gambling environments, and not only do we report on gambling crime history, but we also provide the last casino crime news.
Casino Crime News 2009: ‘Mr Casino’
Even though Richard Taylor’s crimes eventually caught up with him, he could definitely be categorised as a criminal mastermind, and he was so successful at scamming casinos that he earned himself the nickname Mr Casino. Taylor focused on high roller play at the craps table and set up an elaborate network of players and dealers that would allow small rule breaches to occur seemingly unnoticed. After a while, these small rule breaches added up to $700,000 worth of losses from just two casinos and Taylor was eventually caught and sentenced to several decades in prison.
Casino Crime 1992: The Stardust Heist
Bill Brennan was just your average cashier at The Stardust Casino and there was honestly nothing remarkable about him – or so his employers thought. While Brennan was most certainly no criminal mastermind, his ability to remain calm under pressure certainly aided in his plan. In September, 1992, Brennan placed $500,000 worth of casino cash into his backpack and calmly walked out of the casino on his lunchbreak. What truly makes this true crime casino story Hollywood-worthy is the fact that Brennan has never been found, and it would appear that he simply vanished.
Casino Crime News 2010: Berlin Poker Heist
March 2010 saw some of the biggest names in the world of professional poker descend upon Berlin to play for a €1 million prize. As the tournament kicked off, armed men in balaclava’s stormed the venue in order to get their hands on the money, and panic erupted. Hundreds of spectators and tournament participants were trampled while attempting to flee the scene and the robbers got away with almost €200,000 without harming a single patron. However, several people were injured during the panicked stampede, and to make matters worse, the entire robbery was streamed live online as part of the media coverage of the event.
Casino Crime 2006: The Trash-Bag Cashier
Much like Bill Brennan, Elizabeth Williams is another example of a humble, bog-standard casino employee attempting to stick it to the man – except she was caught in the act. Apparently Williams didn’t give the whole robbery much thought as she emptied $50,000 from gambling machines into black trash-bags directly in front of the casino’s security cameras. She may have even gotten away with it if her employers hadn’t noticed that Williams calmly walked out of the casino with 3 trash bags, but only 2 of them ended up in the dumpster, prompting them to check the security cameras.
Latest Casino Crime News
If true casino and gambling crime fascinates you, then you’ve come to the right place. Not only do we focus on casino heists from days past at EjWagner-CrimeHistorian.com but we also provide our readers in Canada and New Zealand with the latest casino crime news and casino cheaters.
Priest Imprisoned for Gambling Away $1m
A Catholic priest from Ontario, Canada has been jailed for two years for defrauding nearly CA$1 million (US$760,000) from desperate refugees to fund a self-destructive gambling habit, according to recent news reports.
Casino-Related Crimes That Should Be Hollywood Movies
The chance of walking into a casino as Joe or Jane Average and walkout Mr or Ms Millionaire is what keeps us going back. It’s a crazy world, filled with the possibility that you will suddenly getting your hands on vast amounts of money.
Gambler Steals $400,000 to Pay Debts
In Canada, Mitchell Sumka, a former financial advisor was recently sentenced to 27 months in prison for stealing money from his customer’s accounts to pay off gambling debts. The accused stole money from customer accounts held at TD Bank in the province of Manitoba, and went about doing so in some rather creative ways.
Melbourne Casino Accused Of Crime Links
A former Victoria gaming minister is among those calling for investigations into Crown Melbourne. Tony Robinson made the call after the casino was accused of links with Chinse organised crime.
Dealer Fined and Sent To Prison for Chip Theft
Working in a casino as a dealer takes a certain amount of discipline, and the temptation of pocketing a few chips must always be huge. Most dealers manage not to get their hands dirty, and then there are those that do. Then, there are those that do, and get caught.
Crime in Casinos: The Surprising Truth
When we think of crimes that are committed at a casino, we most often think of intricate heists that involve getting past the heavy security and making away with millions in cash or diamonds. The truth, however, is far more mundane, and shows that most crime that does take place in casinos is almost always opportunistic, and for the most part, involves the guests directly rather than the casino itself.
The Criminal Gang Peaky Blinders is Based On
Who were the actual Peaky Blinders?
On the BBC show, Cillian Murphy plays boss Tommy Shelby and shows how he violently takes on the streets of Birmingham, England, all the while outfitted in the most tailored, fashionable clothes of the period. In reality, members of this gang were actually known for their signature dressy look, including silk scarves to class up their extralegal enterprises, and they did, in fact, wreak havoc on the West Midlands region in a very similar fashion to that of their onscreen counterparts.
4 Casino Scams That Actually Worked
4 Casino Scams That Actually Worked
While the typical casino player always conducts themselves in an honest fashion, throughout history there have been those who have perpetrated casino scams which actually worked. The majority of these scammers used modern technology to their advantage and obliterated the house edge in the process, virtually guaranteeing a win. Here’s how they did it.
Lottery Scams
Lottery Scams
The lottery is one of those things everyone wishes they could win and that is why lotto scams are prevalent and unfortunately have caught many people. There are different types of lottery scams, but they all promise the same thing; a huge cash pay out. There is always a catch though, the person will need to pay a processing fee or make some sort of small payment.