http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...n_2884933.html
It was like a scene out of "Ocean's Eleven" -- well, if George Clooney and Brad Pitt had hacked the security system and used the casino's own surveillance system against it.
That's exactly what at least one man had been doing for weeks in a high-tech scam at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia.
The Herald Sun exclusively reports that a gambler used the casino's security cameras to spy for him as he played. Over the period of time, the high roller walked away with a staggering $32 million AUS (about $33.2 million).
Though only one man -- who has yet to be identified -- has been implicated in the crime, others may have been involved.
Describing the Crown casino scam to Melbourne-based radio station 3AW 693 News Talk, Herald Sun crime reporter Mark Buttler explained: "Someone has been able to get into the security system remotely and, we're told, advise the player about what other cards the other players are holding, and he's cleaned up to the tune of 32 million."
Casino security consultant Barron Stringfellow imagined the gambler and an accomplice used a wireless transmission to carry out the ploy.
"[T]hrough a wireless transmission to his ear during his eight hands of play, he was told exactly what plays would be beneficial to make," Stringfellow told ABC News radio.
Though Crown has been markedly quiet about the heist, a spokeswoman for the casino confirmed to Australia's News Limited that an investigation into reports of a "sophisticated betting scam" is underway.
At least one casino employee has been fired as a result.
Local police are aware of the incident, but Crown has not filed a formal complaint, the Sun reports.
The $32 million scam is the biggest to hit the casino since it opened in 1994. As the Age notes, Crown was defrauded out of $1.8 million in 1998 by one of the casino's baccarat dealers.
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2013/s3716215.htm
TIM PALMER: Crown Casino has called in the police and Victoria's gaming regulator to investigate a betting scam which is believed to have netted a high rolling cards player tens of millions of dollars.
Crown Casino says a staff member whose job was to look after VIP gamblers has been sacked over the scam and a gambler has been banned from the premises.
It's believed the betting scam involved the use of the casino's own surveillance system.
Simon Lauder reports.
SIMON LAUDER: Crown Casino says a sophisticated betting scam was recently reported by the casino's surveillance department.
According to Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper the scam netted the high roller $32 million, but Crown isn't commenting on the amount. Nor is it confirming the scam involved unauthorised access to the casino's camera network.
Crown Casino's video surveillance system includes cameras that can pan, tilt and zoom in on gaming tables. There's extra surveillance in the premium gaming rooms where high rollers put millions of dollars on the line. In those areas access is restricted and staff continuously monitor the surveillance system.
Victoria police has confirmed it is involved in Crown Casino's investigation, despite not receiving a formal complaint.
LINDA HANCOCK: There is no compulsion to report any of these incidences in a public and transparent way. You've got vast amounts of money being gambled on a 24-hour basis and most of what goes on there is extremely secret.
SIMON LAUDER: Professor Linda Hancock is a Deakin University researcher who has written a book about Crown Casino.
LINDA HANCOCK: These cameras, surveillance cameras that are right throughout Crown and more intensified in the premium areas, there's someone in monitoring rooms looking at them in real time. So they must have picked up that there was a winning streak here that looked suspicious and zoomed in on it and then been able to look at what was going on in real time in the room.
SIMON LAUDER: Crown says a withdrawal of licence notice has been issued, meaning the patron involved is now banned from the casino, and a VIP service staff member has been sacked - they're the people who look after high rollers.
LINDA HANCOCK: It could work extremely easily if there was corruption in the staff ranks. How it could happen is that they assign someone to look after all the needs of the premium player. And as I say, sometimes they can be quite demanding. Sometimes they drink, sometimes they don't. They may have particular food they like.
This person was accommodated in one of the luxurious villas up on the very high floors of Crown Casino. There's a Versace villa. These villas are extremely luxurious. They cost $30,000 a night if you want to rent one yourself.
So the whole thing is wired and I guess if there is corruption in the ranks or collusion between the minder and the player they must have struck a deal.
SIMON LAUDER: Crown Casino says it believes it can recover a significant portion of the money involved in the scam.
TIM PALMER: Simon Lauder reporting.
Reply With Quote
