Crown Casino  2013

In 2013, the Crown Casino scam became the largest scam to win $32 million. The scammers successfully executed actions similar to those of the characters in the movie "Ocean's Eleven". They collaborated with a security expert who hacked into the casino's security system and analyzed surveillance camera data, which was then shared with the accomplices. As a result, the players only placed winning bets. The casino's security service conducted an internal investigation, which ultimately exposed the attackers. This investigation was prompted by a suspicious streak of winnings from one of the players, who was also earning money by playing in a casino with a minimum deposit of 1 euro.

Phuong Quoc Chuong

Phuong Quoc Chuong, a well-known swindler, was equally famous for his meticulously planned scams. It took him over a year to develop the elaborate scheme, which involved recruiting multiple individuals. Phuong visited various casinos, enticing dealers to participate in his scheme in exchange for money. Ultimately, he managed to enlist the help of 30 people. The dealers' role was to create the illusion of shuffling cards, while one player relayed card information to another through a hidden microphone. The communication was disguised by smoking cigarettes, as it did not raise suspicion. The accomplice would signal the information by folding his fingers in a specific way. Despite their efforts, the scammers were eventually apprehended.

“Invisible” marks

One of the most well-known tricks involved a group of scammers using an infrared spot. This method required the involvement of the croupier and the casino administrator. The cards were marked with infrared ink that was only visible with special lenses, allowing the markings to be read from a distance of up to 4 meters. The group of swindlers successfully used this method for over 2 years without raising any suspicion.

Giardin Tim’s Deception

At the end of 2014, a new fraudulent scheme came to light, known as Giardin Tim's nuclear chips. Giardian, the deputy head of the U.S. HRC, had a history of fraud. In an Iowa casino, he attempted to alter the denomination of chips from $1 to $500 using stickers. He was caught in the act and initially claimed he had purchased the chips from a stranger in a closet. However, he later changed his story, saying he had found the chips by accident. An investigation analyzed the stickers and found that they matched Tim's genetic code. It was discovered that the rear admiral spent an average of about fifteen hours a week gambling.

Deception to Taft Keith

Before Bill Gates and Steve Jobs introduced the personal computer, Taft Keith, a Baptist church attendee, successfully constructed a computer that aided in winning points. In 1972, the concept of such devices was unimaginable, and there were no regulations prohibiting their usage. During gameplay, Keith utilized his toes to input card information into the computer's memory. By analyzing the data, the computer would then display information about the remaining cards through flashing lights on the glasses' frame. This technology remained undisclosed for a significant period, allowing numerous individuals to exploit its advantages.

Fraud by Richard Markus

The con artist Richard Marcus gained notoriety for his tried and true trick. While playing at a Las Vegas casino, he would pretend to be intoxicated. Seating himself at a table, he would slyly place a stack of two chips in a way that made it impossible to see the value of the bottom one. Naturally, the unsuspecting dealer, only seeing the top chip with a $5 value, would not realize the significant value of the hidden chip.

When Richard lost, he would simply slide the chips back, a clear violation of the casino's rules. However, no one wanted to confront a seemingly drunk customer over a few chips. When he won, Richard would celebrate loudly, drawing attention to himself, leaving the dealer bewildered when they saw the true value of the hidden chip. This scam would have gone unnoticed if Marcus hadn't decided to write about it in his memoirs.

Hacker scam

With the advancement of technology, the methods of carrying out scams in casinos have also progressed. One notable example is the hacker attack on a slot machine by Denis Nikrash. The main challenge was that the slot machines lacked an internet connection, which is typically crucial for a hacker. However, this did not deter Denis. He began by acquiring his own slot machine for practice. Subsequently, he enhanced the internal modules of the processors, enabling him to consistently win, but solely within the confines of his own device.

To install modified processors in casino slot machines, Denis procured a specialized key from the underground market. He then assembled a small team of accomplices whose sole responsibility was to shield the fraudster from surveillance cameras. The entire operation to replace the processors was completed in under a minute, allowing them to commence collecting the jackpot from this particular slot machine. Unfortunately for Denis, it was his accomplices who ultimately betrayed him to the FBI.

Radio control scam

In 1973, the radio-controlled ball scam became known to the world. The croupier, his son-in-law and sister took part in it. The task of the son-in-law was to represent the player, and the sister had to sit at the next table. The main swindler was the croupier, whose hobby was connected with the manufacture of radio components. He managed to fabricate and place a radio transmitter in a small ball that was custom-made.

The work of the croupier was no different from the usual, and his son-in-law had to make large bets. At this time, the sister, who was sitting at the next table, turned on a radio transmitter disguised as a pack of cigarettes, which made the ball fall into one of the six holes. In general, the scammers were able to win more than five million francs in a week. The security service would not have been able to bring the scammers to clean water, if not for an accident.

The owner of the establishment liked the croupier’s sister, and paying attention to her, the owner noticed several oddities. After all, she always played alone and always lost without any emotions. In addition, she always had a pack of cigarettes in her hands, but no one saw the girl go out to smoke. Thus, this scam was exposed.

Rosselli Brothers Affair

In history, there is also the infamous scam carried out by the Rosselli brothers. Over a span of five years, they managed to bankrupt casinos in Puerto Rico and Nevada without making any investments themselves. The core of their scheme involved exploiting the personal information of players. The scammers enlisted the help of a hacker who obtained confidential credit system data for them. With this information, the brothers established bank accounts and transferred up to $50,000, enabling them to obtain a line of credit at any casino in the state. Every step of their plan was meticulously calculated, allowing the scam to persist from 1995 to 2000.

Cheating without a game

And finally, a scam carried out by a group of 14 people who did not even have to go to the casino to steal an impressive amount of money there. It was only necessary to acquire a plastic card and meet certain conditions, which allowed the attackers to earn about one million dollars. They used ATMs in the largest casinos in California and Nevada. Thanks to a hole in the security system, scammers could perform several unrecorded transactions within one minute. And since the limits on the cards were not exceeded, the FBI for a long time could not find out what was the matter.