The Most Famous Casino Scams in History

Casinos have always attracted players seeking fortune… but also the most ingenious scammers. From rigged roulette wheels to fake chips and high-tech cheating devices, some frauds have left a lasting mark on gambling history. Let’s dive into the most famous casino scams, which managed to outsmart even the most secure establishments, sometimes costing them millions.

1. The Ritz Casino Scam in London (2004) – Laser Technology and Mobile Phone

A group of Russian and Hungarian players used a laser scanner hidden in a mobile phone to analyse the speed of the roulette wheel at the Ritz Casino in London. Thanks to this technology, they could accurately predict where the ball would land. In a single night, they won more than £1.3 million. They were arrested but later released, as British law at the time had no provisions against such high-tech cheating.

• 📅 When? 2004
• 👥 Who? A group of Russian and Hungarian gamblers
• 🎰 What? Use of a laser scanner and software to predict roulette outcomes
• 📍 Where? The Ritz Casino, London
• 💰 How much? £1.3 million in one night

2. Phil Ivey’s Edge Sorting Scam (2012) – Baccarat

Famous poker player Phil Ivey and his partner Cheung Yin Sun exploited a flaw in the cards used at casinos such as Borgata in Atlantic City and Crockfords in London. Using a technique called edge sorting, they identified tiny imperfections on the backs of the cards, allowing them to determine their values. They won over $20 million, but the casinos refused to pay and successfully sued them in court.

• 📅 When? 2012
• 👥 Who? Phil Ivey and Cheung Yin Sun
• 🎰 What? Edge Sorting technique to identify card values
• 📍 Where? Crockfords Casino (London) and Borgata (Atlantic City)
• 💰 How much? $20 million (casinos refused to pay and won the lawsuit)

3. The MIT Blackjack Team Scam (1980-1990) – Card Counting

A group of MIT and Harvard students developed an advanced card counting strategy to beat blackjack tables in several casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. With a sophisticated team structure, they won millions of dollars before being banned from many establishments. Their story inspired the movie "21".

• 📅 When? 1980s-1990s
• 👥 Who? MIT and Harvard students
• 🎰 What? Team-based card counting
• 📍 Where? Casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City
• 💰 How much? Several million dollars

4. The Stardust Casino Heist (1970-1990) – Internal Theft

An employee of the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas managed to siphon approximately $15 million over twenty years without being detected. He manipulated financial reports and directly stole slot machine and sportsbook revenues. When he eventually disappeared, he was never found.

• 📅 When? 1970-1990
• 👥 Who? A Stardust Casino employee (name unknown)
• 🎰 What? Skimming money by falsifying casino financial records
• 📍 Where? Stardust Casino, Las Vegas
• 💰 How much? $15 million (disappeared and was never found)

5. Louis "The Coin" Colavecchio – Fake Casino Chips

Louis "The Coin" Colavecchio was a master forger who created casino chips so perfect they were almost impossible to distinguish from the originals. He used identical moulds and metal alloys, allowing him to cash out huge winnings unnoticed. He scammed several Las Vegas casinos before being caught by the FBI. After his release from prison, he even helped authorities improve casino security.

• 📅 When? 1990s
• 👥 Who? Louis "The Coin" Colavecchio
• 🎰 What? Counterfeit casino chips
• 📍 Where? Various casinos in Las Vegas
• 💰 How much? Exact amount unknown, but hundreds of thousands of dollars

6. The “Greek Roulette Scammers” (1970s) – Magnetic Ball Manipulation

A group of fraudsters known as "The Greeks" used electromagnetic devices hidden in their shoes to control the roulette ball. One of them operated the ball remotely via a small button in their pocket, ensuring it landed in their chosen number range. They successfully scammed multiple casinos before being caught.

• 📅 When? 1970s
• 👥 Who? A group of scammers called "The Greeks"
• 🎰 What? Using electromagnets to control the roulette ball
• 📍 Where? Casinos in Europe and the USA
• 💰 How much? Unknown, but casinos suffered significant losses

7. The Bellagio Dealer Scam (2013) – Phantom Payouts

A dealer at the Bellagio casino in Las Vegas teamed up with a player to commit fraud at Pai Gow Poker. The dealer faked payouts, handing money to his accomplice without any real winnings. The scam lasted several months before being discovered.

• 📅 When? 2013
• 👥 Who? A Bellagio dealer and his accomplice
• 🎰 What? Fake payouts at Pai Gow Poker
• 📍 Where? Bellagio, Las Vegas
• 💰 How much? $1 million before being caught

8. The Roselli Brothers Scam (1970s) – Rigged Craps

The Roselli brothers devised an elaborate scam using loaded dice and controlled rolling techniques to manipulate craps games. Working with corrupt dealers, they won huge sums before authorities shut them down.

• 📅 When? 1970s
• 👥 Who? The Roselli brothers
• 🎰 What? Loaded dice and controlled throws
• 📍 Where? American casinos
• 💰 How much? Hundreds of thousands of dollars

9. Richard Marcus Scam (1990s) – Chip Switching

Richard Marcus was a sleight-of-hand expert who perfected the "Savannah move". He would place a bet using low-value chips, and if he won, he would switch them for high-value ones without being noticed. He pulled this off for over 20 years before being caught.

• 📅 When? 1990s
• 👥 Who? Richard Marcus
• 🎰 What? Chip switching with the Savannah move
• 📍 Where? Various casinos in the US and Europe
• 💰 How much? Estimated millions of dollars

10. The Monte-Carlo Casino Roulette Bias Scam (1960s) – Defective Wheel Exploitation

A group of Italians discovered a mechanical flaw in a Monte-Carlo roulette wheel, favouring certain numbers. They studied the wheel for days, betting exclusively on the most frequent numbers, amassing millions of francs before the casino replaced the wheel.

• 📅 When? 1960s
• 👥 Who? A group of Italians (names unknown)
• 🎰 What? Exploiting a biased roulette wheel
• 📍 Where? Monte-Carlo Casino
• 💰 How much? Several million francs