Casino heists and scams have long captured the imagination of the public, and have been featured in numerous films and books. Some of these heists and scams have become legendary, as legandary as playamo; while others are more obscure. Here are some of the most famous and infamous casino heists and scams:
- The MIT Blackjack Team
This group of students and graduates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology used their knowledge of probability and card counting techniques to win millions of dollars from casinos in the 1980s and 1990s. The team’s exploits were chronicled in the book “Bringing Down the House” and the movie “21.”
- The Stardust Casino Heist:
In 1992, a team of thieves stole $500,000 from the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas. The thieves had inside information from an employee, and were able to enter the casino’s cashier area and make off with the money.
- The Crown Casino Scandal
In 2013, a group of high-rolling gamblers and casino staff at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia were caught in a scheme involving rigged gambling machines. The scheme involved the use of a hidden button on the machines that allowed the players to win large sums of money.
- The Bellagio Robbery
In 2010, a man robbed the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas of $1.5 million in chips. The man fled the scene on a motorcycle, but was later caught and sentenced to prison.
- The Ritz Casino Heist
In 2018, a gang of thieves stole £4.5 million in chips from the Ritz Casino in London. The thieves used sledgehammers to break into the casino, and were able to escape with the chips.
- The Roselli Brothers Scam
In the 1990s, two brothers named Frank and Anthony Roselli used a scheme called “past posting” to win money at casinos in Las Vegas. The scheme involved placing bets after the outcome of a game had already been determined, allowing the brothers to win large sums of money.
- The Tran Organization Scam
In 2011, a group of individuals known as the Tran Organization used a scheme called “false shuffle” to win millions of dollars at casinos in the United States and Canada. The scheme involved the use of a crooked dealer who would shuffle the cards in such a way as to allow the Tran Organization to predict the order of the cards.
- The Biker Bandit
In 2014, a man known as the Biker Bandit robbed the Circus Circus Casino in Las Vegas of $1.5 million in chips. The man wore a motorcycle helmet and carried a gun, and was able to escape on a motorcycle.
- The Ocean’s Eleven Heist
Although fictional, the heist depicted in the movie “Ocean’s Eleven” has become one of the most famous casino heists in popular culture. The heist involves a team of criminals who plan to rob three casinos in Las Vegas simultaneously.
- The Cheating Scandal at the 2004 World Series of Poker
In 2004, a group of players at the World Series of Poker were caught using a scheme called “chip dumping” to cheat. The scheme involved players intentionally losing chips to each other in order to help one player advance further in the tournament.
These are just a few examples of the many casino heists and scams that have taken place over the years. While some of these schemes have been successful, the vast majority of casino heists and scams are ultimately unsuccessful and result in arrest and imprisonment for those involved.