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Crime

Casino Robbed of Millions After ‘Ocean’s 11′-Like Scheme

Mar. 15, 2013 2:49pm Liz Klimas

An Australian casino is trying to recover $33 million (US) after an “Ocean’s 11″-like scam was discovered.

The Herald Sun reported that a foreign guest staying at the Crown casino in Melbourne cheated in eight hands of cards during a short time frame. The scheme was discovered a few weeks ago, according to sources, and the guest was removed from the extravagant space he was staying in the middle of the night.

Crown Casino in Australia Discovers Scam that Cheated $32 Million in Winnings

Crown casino in Melbourne, Australia, has seen its biggest cheating scam in its 19-year history. (Photo: Donaldytong/Wikimedia)

The scam was conducted with the help of an employee at the Crown, who has been fired. The Crown thinks this employee was using the facilities camera system to advise the high-roller on bets. The Australian has more from a security consultant on how this could have been done:

Casino security consultant Baron Stringfellow said it would be simple to intercept some casino surveillance systems.

“It’s very easy to intercept the signal from many casinos that don’t take precautions,” he told ABC radio.

“The problem with casinos is that they think they’re unbeatable but we see over and over again that they’re not.”

Mr Stringfellow said the person who was fed the security camera images would have had a wireless microphone that transmitted to a tiny wireless earpiece worn by the high roller.

“It’s virtually invisible if you cover it with a bit of your own hair.”

The casino is continuing to conduct an investigation into the incident and it believes it will be able to retrieve most of the fraudulently won money.

Watch this report about the operation:

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Related:

Featured image via Shutterstock.com

(H/T: Business Insider)

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Comments (27)

flatbroke
Posted on March 16, 2013 at 9:50pm
As much as i beleive that stealing is wrong, because you did not earn the money. I am not going to be crying about this because, these casinos rob every person who plays, by misleading them into believing that 94% of everything you put in, you will get back, BS, the casino is a scam, the only way to win at slots is, set a dollar amount to throw away, say 20 bucks, at the put the slots quit paying its time too leave, one more pay isnt going to make any difference.

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banjarmon
Posted on March 16, 2013 at 12:20pm
Casinos, Go in and give them ALL your money…If your lucky they might give a little back and make you think you Won!!!

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lel2007
Posted on March 16, 2013 at 10:00am
The Ocean’s 11 story involved stealing from the cash room, not cheating at the card table.

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- comforteagle
  Posted on March 17, 2013 at 12:36am
  Yeah, the title got my hopes up… now im sad
  
  Report this comment
Nabuquduriuzhur
Posted on March 16, 2013 at 6:59am
It wouldn’t hurt my feelings if every casino in the world closed its doors. Because their games and practices are dishonest, how does one feel sorry for them when someone returns the favor by stealing from them?

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- mdmike1
  Posted on March 16, 2013 at 11:58am
  Dishonest? how?
  
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Eastinfection
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 4:11pm
(David Caruso removes sunglasses)

looks like this time..

two jacks beat a full house..

(replaces shades- cue The Who)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoPWALM2riQ

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- brickmoon
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 6:04pm
  They won’t get fooled again.
  
  Report this comment
- TotallyNotATroll
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 8:25pm
  This is only like Oceans 11 if you haven’t seen the movie or didn’t understand it.
  
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Southernsoul
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 4:09pm
Well then, along the lines of proposed gun legislation, I think the casino should sue Hollywood. It was obviously their idea.

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Sargeking
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 3:56pm
It’s okay for the casino’s to cheat the customers in more ways than one. Playing Black Jack with multiple decks and setting the dollar slot machines with a million to one pulls to payout a thin dime are just two ways they scam the gamblers. The best chance for the gambler is to play sport’s bets and leave the casino games barren.

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- Eastinfection
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 4:21pm
  Every State is different.
  
  Per Nevada State law, each individual slot machine can’t make a profit higher than 12%.
  
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- Sargeking
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 4:44pm
  BESTINFECTION: I may just be spiff balling here but I believe this casino in the article is in Australia. Advise me. Is that the State of Australia? If so, where is it “Down Under”?
  
  Report this comment
- Sargeking
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 4:46pm
  EASTSIDECONTENDER: I also understand no casino in Nevada ever skimmed profits. Is that your slant?
  
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- Eastinfection
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 4:49pm
  lol SARGE.
  
  I know that. I was citing Nevada’s law as an example because it’s one i know specifically because i researched it before going there.
  I also know Aruba and the Bahamas have laws allowing them to get around 20cents on the dollar. Never gambled in Australia, though.
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 5:30pm
  As far as Nevada Casinos skimming profits… of course it’s happened but it’s pretty rare nowadays. The Nevada Gaming Conditions puts most bureaucratic organizations to shame with the sheer volume of their participation and tenacity. Vegas makes free money hand-over-fist. Fraud is grounds for losing your license. Very few are willing to risk that. I’m sure it happens.. but i believe it’s the exception rather than the rule.
  Vegas is a great place to gamble because of it. Some places, that aren’t subject to the same scrutiny, are not.
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 5:44pm
  Conditions= Commission. oops. wrong click on spell check.
  
  Report this comment
thegreatcarnac
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 3:12pm
Anytime anyone can beat a casino in any way……I do the happy dance.

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- darkknight91
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:23pm
  Same here. I have no love for casinos using 8 decks for blackjack and shuffling with 2 left. I’d rob them blind if I could get away with it.
  
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woodyee
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 3:11pm
“The casino is continuing to conduct an investigation into the incident and it believes it will be able to retrieve most of the fraudulently won money.”

I’d question who the frauds really are, except that casino gamblers WILLINGLY cough up their cash.

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AMERICA4EVER
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 2:58pm
Casinos cheat all the time.

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- lel2007
  Posted on March 16, 2013 at 10:12am
  Casinos don’t have to cheat, the games have the odds in the casino’s favor. It’s the ever optimistic gambler believing he can beat the odds that keeps casinos open. Even when the mob ran Las Vegas casinos they didn’t need to cheat at the games, they cheated in the counting room.
  
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Beachmastermax
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 2:54pm
Why would anyone let their hand be photographed?

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- Eastinfection
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 4:26pm
  lol BEACH….
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZxX3-rJoNI
  
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- Nicholson William R
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 5:06pm
  Hey Beach , They have cameras embedded in the ceiling tiles of the casino in just about every nook and cranny above any table where games are played. The article points out specifically that an inside man was employed probably in a security area of the casino , to watch the casinos own cameras and report to the player via radio. The table player only had to listen to his accomplice and make the appropriate table plays based on the info relayed. Very simple really ………. I hope the inside man had good insurance policy so his family is well taken care of , after , his unexpected demise ! If he betrayed his employer and was in Las Vegas he’d probably be skinny enough now that all you’d see is bones ………. sun dried and sun bleached ………. bones ……….
  
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- Beachmastermax
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 5:35pm
  Cameras in the cieling take pictures of the side of the card with little information. The important side should be kept firmly against the felt.
  
  Report this comment
- Beachmastermax
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 6:35pm
  My childhood house keeper was the God Mother for Tony “The Ant” Spilatro’s son. My bonifidies,.
  
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