Four men are accused of cheating electronic craps tables at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas between November and December 2021. The Enforcement Division of the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) responded to an investigation by The Cosmopolitan, which says it lost nearly $227,000 to the scheme, including $180,000 in a single session.
Agents served arrest warrants to four men:
- Antcharaporn Kamonlert
- Hau Ngo
- Max Rappoport
- Oscar Rodriguez
Besides cheating, the men are charged with conspiracy and unlawful acts regarding computers. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for June 1.
Alleged Use of Dice Sliding at Electronic Tables
According to the NGCB press release, the men allegedly used a technique called dice sliding. Based on the videos obtained, NGCB said one man “would place a wager, signal to the group, and then illegally slide dice across the craps table to control the outcome of the game.”
What Is Dice Sliding?
Craps is a game of chance. Players can reduce or eliminate the chance by dice sliding, which is exactly what it sounds like. Instead of rolling the dice and hitting the back wall, players will set the dice in the desired position and slide one or both across the table. The dice don’t roll but stay in the same position. If done correctly, dice sliding improves the odds or even guarantees a win.
For example, the bet placed is any sevens. The player then sets a two and a five facing upward and slides them. The result is a seven, and the payout is 4:1. While it seems simple, dice sliding takes a lot of practice. Individuals that attempt it usually have a craps table at home to work on their technique.
What Are Electronic Dice Tables?
The four alleged cheaters played on an Aruze Roll to Win electronic craps table. These tables are a hybrid between traditional and digital craps. Players add money and bet on a digital screen, and the table is also digital. Players use real dice and roll them across the table. The game detects the dice result and awards any prizes. While digital, the game still has a pit boss and surveillance.
Aruze’s tables have been around Vegas for a couple of years and aim to make the game more modern. The tables seek to attract a younger generation of players, who are now the majority of visitors at Las Vegas casinos.
Craps cheaters may be targeting these tables. Traditional craps have a felt top, which helps to prevent dice sliding. Because the electronic tables are digital and have displays, they are smooth. This makes it easier to slide dice.
If Found Guilty, the Men Could Enter the “Black Book”
Nevada takes cheating very seriously. The state even has a “black book,” officially known as the Gaming Control Board Excluded Person List. Anyone on the list is permanently banned from casinos in the state.
It’s unclear whether those charged in this scheme will end up on the list if convicted. The list consists of 35 names, with the most recent additions in 2022. Typically, only the most egregious or repeat offenders earn the lifetime ban.
That said, some of the most recent additions to the list were another group of craps cheaters. Among them was an ex-Bellagio craps dealer. Mark William Branco was found guilty of participating in a scheme that stole over $1 million from the casino.
Nevada legislators also recently tried and failed to pass a bill to create a similar exclusion list for online gambling sites.
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