It sounds like the plot of one of those flashy casino heist movies -- a team of thieves, armed with high tech equipment concocts a scheme to steal vast sums of money from big shot gamblers.
It really did happen, although law enforcement officials are still unwilling to talk about it. Gaming agents in New Jersey arrested four suspects, including a Las Vegas man known internationally as an expert in how to thwart casino thieves.
In late June, the elegant Borgata in Atlantic City launched the largest poker event in the town's history, a $5,000 per-person buy in tournament with 337 players vied for $1.7 million. But someone else was after the money as well; a team of high tech cheats with a scheme worthy of Oceans 11.
Well-placed sources told the I-Team that New Jersey gaming agents staged a quiet raid on the Borgata and arrested four people. By one account, they stormed a hotel room and found it packed with electronic equipment. According to one source, gaming control initially believed the suspects had tapped into a live video feed generated by the hole card cameras that allow TV audiences to see a player's down cards in games of Texas Hold 'em, information that presumably could be relayed to a confederate playing in the tournament.
However, a spokesman for Boyd Gaming, which is a partner in Borgata with MGM, told the I-Team "the scheme did target high-end poker players, but off the floor," adding that "the security systems of the Borgata were never compromised, nor was the tournament. Customers were targeted but not the games."
The biggest surprise for gaming agents might have been who was involved. Among those arrested as part of the scheme was Las Vegas gaming consultant Steve Forte, regarded as a world class expert in countering cheaters. Forte's web site says he's been a consultant to MGM, Caesars, Station Casinos, as well as to the U.S. Attorney, FBI, Metro Police and the Clark County district attorney. His books and videos on how to counter gambling cheats are best sellers.
New Jersey authorities would not acknowledge that arrests were been made. However, Nevada Gaming Control told the I-Team they had been informed by New Jersey about the arrests, that four persons had been taken into custody including Steve Forte, and that a sensitive investigation was ongoing.
Back in Las Vegas, Forte has told friends that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, intimating that he was in the room with the alleged cheaters because he wanted to observe their methods and was not part of the scheme. Forte declined the I-Team's interview request but confirmed in an e-mail that he had been arrested. He says he maintains his innocence and will fight the charges at all costs.
The obvious question is could it happen at the much more lucrative World Series of Poker? Tournament commissioner Jeffrey Pollack says he's heard nothing about the New Jersey scandal but that he is confident that cheaters wouldn't stand a chance there.
WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack said, "I can't reveal our specific security measures, otherwise they wouldn't be very secure. But needless to say, Harrah's has the ultimate commitment to both responsible gaming and security, and we have a state of the art surveillance system in place at all times here."
Casino sources say they believe the FBI is now involved in the investigation, possibly to find out if the same high tech scheme has been used before.
The I-Team contacted several of the poker players involved in the tournament. None of them saw anything unusual, nor did they see any arrests. That fits with other information the I-Team has about how the scheme was intended to steal from the poker players when they were away from the tables. No one is saying how the plot was supposed to work. Even the arrest information is being kept confidential.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Get Your Money
NETELLER Resolves Investigation with U.S. Government
From CardPlayer.compublished: about 3 hours ago July 18, 2007NETELLER Resolves Investigation with U.S. GovernmentU.S. Customers will Be Able to Request a Money Withdraw by End of MonthNETELLER today announced that it entered an agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (USAO) that will resolve the investigation that caused headaches for so many customers located in the U.S. As a result, the company says its U.S. customers who collectively had $60 million seized by the USAO’s office in January as part of the investigation will be able to sign into their accounts and request withdraws no later than July 30. The exact date when customers can make their requests for their money has not yet been announced. The company says further information will be released when available to its customers through email and its website.Here’s what Ron Martin, the president and CEO of NETELLER, had to say about the resolution:“This agreement resolves the USAO’s investigation relating to the company’s former U.S. business activities. We believe that this settlement is in the best interests of NETELLER and its shareholders. Our customers, employees and shareholders have all patiently waited for this resolution. We anticipate within the next few weeks that we will have fully implemented the plan for the return of funds to our U.S. customers and are hopeful that, by that time, we will have restored the Company’s shares to trading on AIM. We can now begin to refocus our efforts on building and strengthening the NETELLER business in the growing markets of the European and Asia Pacific regions.”As part of the settlement, NETELLER agreed to pay the U.S. $136 million. That includes the approximately $60 million that was seized during the first days of the investigation.In January, the USAO charged the two founders of NETELLER, as well as the company, of violating various gambling-related laws. The founders, John Lefebvre and Steven Lawrence, both pleaded guilty earlier this month. They face up to five years in prison and fines in the millions of dollars, although since both agreed to participate in the investigation, it’s doubtful they will receive the maximum sentence. Sentencing for both men, who are Canadian, is in October. As part of what’s called a Deferred Prosecution Agreement that NETELLER entered with the USAO, it will continue to cooperate with both U.S. investigators as the investigation continues, and a forensic accounting firm that will make sure NETELLER continues to follow U.S. law. The firm will also help NETELLER set up procedures and controls to prevent what it deems illegal transactions between American gambling consumers and offshore online poker rooms and casinos.
From CardPlayer.compublished: about 3 hours ago July 18, 2007NETELLER Resolves Investigation with U.S. GovernmentU.S. Customers will Be Able to Request a Money Withdraw by End of MonthNETELLER today announced that it entered an agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (USAO) that will resolve the investigation that caused headaches for so many customers located in the U.S. As a result, the company says its U.S. customers who collectively had $60 million seized by the USAO’s office in January as part of the investigation will be able to sign into their accounts and request withdraws no later than July 30. The exact date when customers can make their requests for their money has not yet been announced. The company says further information will be released when available to its customers through email and its website.Here’s what Ron Martin, the president and CEO of NETELLER, had to say about the resolution:“This agreement resolves the USAO’s investigation relating to the company’s former U.S. business activities. We believe that this settlement is in the best interests of NETELLER and its shareholders. Our customers, employees and shareholders have all patiently waited for this resolution. We anticipate within the next few weeks that we will have fully implemented the plan for the return of funds to our U.S. customers and are hopeful that, by that time, we will have restored the Company’s shares to trading on AIM. We can now begin to refocus our efforts on building and strengthening the NETELLER business in the growing markets of the European and Asia Pacific regions.”As part of the settlement, NETELLER agreed to pay the U.S. $136 million. That includes the approximately $60 million that was seized during the first days of the investigation.In January, the USAO charged the two founders of NETELLER, as well as the company, of violating various gambling-related laws. The founders, John Lefebvre and Steven Lawrence, both pleaded guilty earlier this month. They face up to five years in prison and fines in the millions of dollars, although since both agreed to participate in the investigation, it’s doubtful they will receive the maximum sentence. Sentencing for both men, who are Canadian, is in October. As part of what’s called a Deferred Prosecution Agreement that NETELLER entered with the USAO, it will continue to cooperate with both U.S. investigators as the investigation continues, and a forensic accounting firm that will make sure NETELLER continues to follow U.S. law. The firm will also help NETELLER set up procedures and controls to prevent what it deems illegal transactions between American gambling consumers and offshore online poker rooms and casinos.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Bigger Sex Cards
Clark County residents and tourists soon might be greeted by billboards, leaflets or newspaper advertisements promoting Nevada's legal brothels
Monday, July 9, 2007
Driving to Vegas
Thats my plan to get out in the desert and play some poker and win some money. I will try to build up my online bankroll first.
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