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Fifteen people have been arrested in a major casino scam that netted more than $2 million from cheating at baccarat in Ontario.
Among those arrested were several employees of Casino Rama near Orillia.
It's alleged that casino dealers were recruited to predetermine the outcome of card games, but police wouldn't reveal details of how the scam was carried out.
Investigators are calling the sting the largest in memory, said OPP spokesperson Sgt. Bob Paterson.
Baccarat, popular with many gamblers, is a hard game to play and one that's difficult to cheat in, said Paul Burns, vice-president of the Canadian Gaming Association.
Burns said it's troubling, albeit not surprising, that inside help would be enlisted.
'Employees, by and large, that work in the gaming industry are honest folks. But ultimately you need checks and balances in the casinos and that's why there's surveillance. That's why dealers deal cards but they don't count money and they don't count chips,' he said.
'I'm sure the tactics of how they recruited these people would be interesting in its own right.'
The charges follow a 44-month investigation into an alleged international casino cheat team.
The investigation involved the OPP, Windsor police, the FBI and police from several American states.
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U.S. authorities said the scheme targeted 18 gaming parlours in Canada, California, Nevada, Mississippi, Louisiana, Washington state, Indiana and Connecticut.
The scheme netted $3.3 million (U.S.) from the American casinos, according to U.S. indictments unsealed yesterday.
However, interim U.S. Attorney Karen Hewitt in San Diego said the actual losses could be much higher.
'We are not aware of any other cases of this magnitude,' said Kathy Leodler, acting head of the San Diego FBI field office.
The OPP initiated its investigation after receiving information from the California justice department.
The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, which operates Cache Creek Casino in Yolo County, along with the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, filed suit last Thursday. Anthony Roberts, tribal chairman of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation of Yolo County, last week sent a letter to Dodd and Gray opposing the amendment. The tribe owns and operates Cache Creek Casino. What indian tribe owns cache creek casino &.
'Only one casino was affected (in Canada), and it was Rama,' Paterson said.
Seven of those arrested were scheduled for bail hearings today in Orillia and eight others will make their first court appearance in the city, 115 kilometres north of Toronto, on June 26.
All are charged with fraud over $5,000 and cheating at play, while some face additional charges.
The operation bears the mark of organized crime in the sense that those involved knew each other, Paterson said. 'It took some co-operation and planning.'
Casino Rama had no comment on the arrests yesterday.
'Because it's an ongoing OPP matter, we don't comment,' spokesperson Jenna Hunter said.
'Integrity and security are priorities at Casino Rama and at all (Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation) locations,' she added.
Police have outstanding arrest warrants for seven more people, from Windsor, Barrie, San Diego and Las Vegas.
'They obviously have been tracking these guys and I suspect there's some organization created to do this and they've watched them to ensure they catch them all,' Burns said.
The international aspect of the case reflects the tendency of cheats to move to different venues, he said.
'They probably move from casino to casino. Cheats do that. From what I know and have been told and heard, they generally move around.'
At the same time, law enforcement agencies work together to combat gaming fraud, he said.
'They share information, descriptions of people and how they operate. There's a lot of information sharing.'
'The OPP and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission have people who are specialists in tracking cheats and identifying cheats. And they train the casino surveillance people on what to watch for. They track cheaters because there are known cheaters who operate around,' Burns said.
'If the casino knows who they are and suspect cheating, sometimes they just ask them to leave.
``They usually oblige and then move on. On the other hand, if they catch them in the act, they'll throw the book at them.'
The arrests are troubling but provide evidence that surveillance works, he said.
'The fact people were arrested says the checks and balances and the regulatory environment worked. I think people can take confidence that the games are fair.
`` The fact people were arrested says the checks and balances and the regulatory environment worked,' Burns added.
WITH FILES FROM the Star's wire services
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