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Blackjack Dealer Who Stole $10,000
When people hear about cheating or stealing at the game of blackjack the story usually involves a player. That wasn’t the case recently in South Dakota. A blackjack dealer offered a plea of guilty on charges that he stole $10,000 from the Dakota Sioux Casino in Watertown. The theft occurred between December 2015 and January 2016.
According to an article published in the Aberdeen News, blackjack dealer Jeremy Brown confessed to felony charges of conspiracy. Brown was not alone in his efforts to scam the casino. He was assisted by a pit boss and a player. The three men devised what they believed was a fool-proof plan to rob the casino of thousands of dollars. (another source)
A Blackjack Scam
In order to pull off their blackjack scam, Brown and his two confederates devised a crafty plan. Working with a blackjack player named Jordan Rondell, dealers Brown and Fern Gill would pay off bets Rondell made on losing hands. The pit boss who supervised the blackjack tables, Lito Bolocon, was also in on the scam according to the allegations of local prosecutors. Bolocon is accused of looking the other way while the dealers paid off the losing hands.
Rondell, Gill, and Bolocon have all pleaded not guilty to the charges levied against them. They are accused of financially benefiting from the money paid out on the losing hands. All remain free on bail while they await a federal trial in July. All are presumed innocent until convicted by a jury of their peers.
For his participation in the scam, Jeremy Brown will pay restitution in the amount of $2,000. His plea agreement included the dismissal of other theft charges that could have resulted in jail time. It has not been revealed if Brown will testify against his companions.
The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe operates the Dakota Sioux Casino which is located on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation.
Cheating By Blackjack Dealers
Brown is not the first dealer to be accused of cheating at blackjack. Ever since the game made its appearance in the United States, both players and dealers have been looking for a way to beat the game by cheating. In cases that involve dealers cheating, a player is typically involved. The two work together to accomplish their aims.
John Patrick, a legendary gambler who has authored books on blackjack, craps, and other gambling games, once recounted a story of how a dealer was feeding him signals during a game of blackjack. If the dealer had a 10 in the hole, she would peek at her hole card twice. If she had a low card such as a 4, 5, or 6, she would peek at the card once. Patrick soon recognized what was happening and wisely left the table.
One can only presume that the dealer was hoping Patrick would recognize the signals, win a large amount of money, and pay her off in the form of a large tip.
There have also been cases where a dealer is sloppy and reveals their hole card. In this case, the dealer is not purposely cheating. A player sitting behind the dealer at another table can often catch the hole card and then signal a player who is sitting at the dealer’s table.
Blackjack Cheating Can Land You in Jail
If you are thinking about participating in some type of scam like the one cooked up by Jeremy Brown and his friends, the odds are overwhelming that you will be caught and prosecuted. In the old days, cheating at the game of blackjack could get you shot in the Old West. In the early days of Las Vegas you could be physically beaten and ran out of town. Today, the casinos will simply press charges against you and place you in jail.
If you know how to use basic strategy and perhaps count cards, there is no reason to risk cheating at blackjack. Your skill can make you a winner in the long run. Give it a try by creating an account with one of the online casinos recommended by Counting Edge. Most of them will even give you a sign-up bonus that you can use to play blackjack online for money right away.