Summary
- The couple took over $10,000 with the scheme.
- Dealer distraction tactics were used in the cheating incident.
- The accused were able to complete the scam multiple times before getting caught.
While it certainly doesn’t happen all the time, it is not uncommon for cheating to occur at a casino. There are gamblers who think they can work the system and cheat at table games, but in the end, it leads to an arrest. Take the example of the most recent incident of cheating from the Rivers Casino Pittsburgh.
Shaun Benward and Denielle Derohan now face charges after they were caught scamming the casino with a cheating scheme. The couple used distraction tactics at the roulette wheel to earn upwards of $10,000 before they were caught.
Distract and Bet at the Roulette Table
According to investigators, the two worked together at the roulette table to cheat the system. Benward would buy-in to play and then distract the dealer. As the wheel was spinning, Deorhan would watch and see where the ball landed.
She would then tell Benward where the ball landed secretly, so he could wager accordingly. Benward gave the dealer his bet and then won the round. The couple was able to complete the action a few times within a 24-hour period before they were caught by the casino.
Apparently, this is not the first time that Benward has been in trouble in Pennsylvania for cheating. He was actually added to the exclusion list back in 2015 by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board after conducting illegal activities at several casinos in the state.
Catching Criminals in the Act
Casinos are used to players trying to beat the system with various cheating scams and tactics. It’s one reason that surveillance cameras are in place. With top-notch security, officials can catch criminals in the act, stopping them on the casino gaming floor or later on after identifying the activity via gaming footage.
All types of schemes have been tried in the past, from pushing late bets at the table to card counting. Some methods, like card counting, are considered legal, but the casino can remove a player from the premises if they so choose. However, actions like that of the Mississippi couple are against the law and result in charges.
If caught cheating, charges can range from jail time to fines, or exclusion from the casino operator. It all depends on the casino location and regulations in that particular state such as Pennsylvania. For the Mississippi couple, it is unclear as to what charges they are facing. More information should be released in the future as they attend court hearings.
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