Casinos use networks to bust cheats

THE man at the poker table had a cap pulled down almost to his nose, but his glance up at a television screen revealed he was a well-known card cheat.
His photograph was sent by bulletin to casinos around the country.
Within hours, the bettor was arrested, accused of marking cards with invisible ink.
Casinos use networks to bust cheats
"The officer who identified him, basically she had a 'Holy crap!' moment,'' said Jay Lindroos, the casino's surveillance director. "She saw the face and said, 'I recognise that guy!'''
Casinos from the US to Australia use their own intelligence network to warn one another about cheaters. As table games spread across the Northeast, resorts are using it more than ever to stay ahead of suspect players - professional thieves and card counters - who can easily hit multiple casinos in the span of a few days.
Mohegan Sun, one of the world's largest casinos, began sharing intelligence a decade ago with its giant, next-door rival in southeastern Connecticut, the Foxwoods Resort Casino.
Although it was once less common for casinos to talk with competitors, the online network has evolved through mutual self-interest.
"If something happens at Foxwoods at 1 o'clock, we'll be aware of it no later than 2, 2:30,'' said Joseph Lavin, director of public safety for the Mohegan Tribe, which owns and operates the casino. "It won't take more than a day or so before that information goes to Atlantic City, goes to Pennsylvania, goes out to upstate New York.''
The element of luck makes it impossible to know exactly how much revenue is lost to cheaters, but 100 per cent casino surveillance coverage is a security standard for a US industry that generates tens of billions of dollars annually.
Workers at Mohegan Sun monitor feeds from roughly 4000 cameras, scrutinising the dealers as closely as they do the players. On a given day, they could be on the lookout for as many as hundreds of faces, some pointed out by other casinos, others by law enforcement agencies seeking criminals who might be trying to launder money.
If a camera picks up somebody who's been flagged for possible cheating, security officials said they'll watch the person play before taking any action.
The man arrested September 15, Bruce Koloshi, 54, was the subject of a security bulletin issued two weeks earlier by officials in Louisiana. He had cheating convictions in Iowa and Nevada and was facing charges in Louisiana that he marked cards last month at the L'Auberge Casino in Baton Rouge.
After the surveillance officer spotted him, Koloshi was seen moving his hands away from the Mississippi Stud poker table, allegedly for the marking substance, and cameras detected the ink that wasn't visible to the naked eye. Koloshi wore special contact lenses to see the ink, authorities said. He was arrested and charged with cheating, conspiracy to commit larceny and being a fugitive from justice. His bond was set at $300,000.
When he was questioned in Louisiana, he surrendered $3300 in winnings though authorities did not have enough evidence to charge him at the time, according to Captain Doug Cain, a spokesman for Louisiana State Police. Mohegan Sun officials said Koloshi was arrested at their casino before winning a significant amount.
A person who answered the phone at Koloshi's home in Summit, New Jersey, declined to speak with a reporter. His defence attorney was not available for comment. Casinos use networks to bust cheats.
The warning about Koloshi was relayed by the Division of Gaming Enforcement in Delaware, where table games were introduced in 2010. The division's director, Daniel Kelly, said information sharing has increased as Northeastern states have legalized more types of gambling. It also has become more important, he said, because cheaters have so many potential targets in a small geographic area.
"Within an hour, they can be in three or four different states,'' Mr Kelly said.
High-level casino cheats are considered rare, but Mohegan Sun officials say they frequently see card counters and other "advantage players,'' people who are not breaking the law but have skills that bend the odds in their favour. Mr Lavin said card-counting techniques were glamorised by the story of a group of MIT students who scored big wins at casinos, including his, in the 1990s.
One tell-tale sign for surveillance workers is gamblers placing higher bets than might be expected with the hands they're dealt. Casinos use networks to bust cheats.
When card counters are discovered, Mr Lindroos says, the casino will restrict their play by keeping them to betting the minimum or suggest they try a different game.
"The professionals, as soon as they see somebody walking over toward them, they'll say, 'OK, I'm out of here,''' Mr Lindroos said.
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New casinos touted

AQUIS Great Barrier Reef Resort proposal at Yorkeys Knob is now odds-on favourite after the State Government yesterday backed at least three new casino licences for integrated resorts across Queensland.
In a joint announcement with Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney, Premier Campbell Newman said there was a major market for high-end tourism, in particular, mega casino resorts.
He called for expressions of interest for a casino licence and redevelopment of the government precinct in Brisbane, and said there was strong interest in "other parts of Queensland" for which another two licenses would be up for grabs.
New casinos touted
The Premier remained coy on the Aquis development licence saying he would not talk specifics, as there was a lot of "strong competition" for vying for position.
However, he said the Aquis proposal was among several exciting development proposals in the Cairns region, along with the Ella Bay resort and the Port Douglas Mirage.
Director and CEO of Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort Justin Fung yesterday welcomed the Government's decision to "consider two new casino licences outside of Brisbane".
"The commercial viability of Aquis had always been predicated on the inclusion of a casino as part of the multi-faceted offering proposed for the Yorkeys Knob site, Mr Fung said.
"The project will not proceed without an appropriate casino licence."
Mr Fung said the Aquis proposal was the first of its kind to be suggested to the Newman Government and remains the largest and most advanced integrated resort proposal in Queensland. "We look forward to working with the Government to ensure our project conforms to all licensing requirements," he said.
He said the Newman Government had been "quick to understand the importance of integrated resorts to the future of Queensland's tourism industry and our ability to compete on a global stage".
Mr Newman yesterday admitted the future of Queensland's tourism industry was "bleak" without major draw cards such as integrated casino resorts.
"We have been losing the battle," he said. "Our offering has been run down and eroded.
"The Government believes Queensland can sustain up to three new integrated resort casinos and believes there would be strong interest in other parts of the state," Mr Newman said.
"In the end, there could be up to seven new casinos in Queensland."
Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said the government would release a new draft casino policy when the EOI for the government precinct was released.
The policy would consider issues such as a market capacity, implications of additional licences on existing and future operations, financial implications for the state, community interests and social implications.
Mr Seeney said such integrated developments which included casinos had "proven their ability to increase visitor numbers and stays elsewhere in the world".
"They are not just casinos as we have previously seen in Queensland; in fact, the casino is only part of these major developments which are tourism drawcards in their own right."
He cited Singapore as a recent example of success in attracting the tourism dollar. "Singapore's foreign visitor numbers were declining in 2008 and 2009," he said.
"When two integrated resorts with casinos (Marina Bay Sands and Resort World Sentosa) opened in 2010 visitor numbers rose by more than 20 per cent.
The resorts contributed $3.7 billion to Singapore's gross domestic product during the first nine months of operation, of which only $720 million was attributed to gaming tax."
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The Star casino

CHARGES have not been laid against The Voice star and Silver Logie winner Joel Madden, who was allegedly found in possession of marijuana at his Sydney apartment on the weekend.
Police have confirmed they executed a search warrant on Madden's serviced apartment at The Darling hotel, inside The Star casino complex, at about 10.30pm on Sunday night.
The Star casino
"During the search a small amount of plant product, believed to cannabis, was found," a police spokesman said.
"A 34-year-old man who occupies the apartment was present during the search. No charges have been laid."
Channel Seven have reported that police had been alerted to the site by a cleaner.
Madden was in possession of 5g of the drug, which isn't enough for a charge.
In NSW, any person found with 15g or less of marijuana is issued with a caution.
Madden has reportedly been ordered to quit his Sydney penthouse apartment.
Madden was spied meeting with a woman at Star casino cafe, Antidote, at 11.30am.
Sources said Madden had been given time to find new accommodations after being directed "immediately on Sunday night to pack his bags".
A spokesperson for the hotel confirmed that he was immediately asked to leave after the incident, saying: "He was not afforded any special treatment and he's moved out."
Madden has been living at The Darling as a VIP paying guest for more than two months and recently farewelled his wife Nicole Richie and two young children, Harlow and Sparrow.
Sources said cleaners were doing a daily room tidy when the drugs were found.
In a 2007 interview Madden said of his drug taking: "Without cigarettes, I would be doing heroin, probably, on a daily basis."
This is not the first time The Voice mentor has been involved in controversy while in Australia. In May last year the Good Charlotte front was accused of being drunk on an episode of the top-rating sing-off.
Several references to the singer's "sobriety" were made on Twitter, including the observation by performer Eddie Perfect that Madden's "green room is stocked with harder stuff than the contestants' "green room".
Joel Madden and his on air partner, Seal, have both used The Star's Darling Hotel as a home away from home when in Sydney shooting the ratings juggernaut.
The pair, who both stay in the hotel, have often been seen dining at hip Japanese lobby bar and eatery, Sokyo.
Channel Nine has investigated media reports regarding Joel Madden. He advised Nine that while police did search his room and found a very small quantity of marijuana no charges were being laid. Police have also confirmed to Nine that no charges will be brought.
Joel Madden issued a brief statement on Twitter and admitted police had found cannabis in his suite at The Star.
"Sunday while I was at work, a hotel employee found a small amount of marijuana in my hotel room," he said.
"The police were called and responded.
"Sydney is my adopted home and I appreciate the way the NSW Police handled the situation.
"They have informed me there will be no charges.
"I hope this didn't cause too much drama for anyone."
- Joel Christie, Clementine Cuneo, Annette Sharp
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Barangaroo casino
JAMES Packer's crowning glory - a $1 billion hotel resort and casino on Barangaroo - could begin development by next year, with key crossbench MP Reverend Fred Nile set to back his proposal to the state government.
NSW Cabinet is set to sign off on the first stage of the unsolicited proposal for Mr Packer's six-star Crown Sydney Resort on the coveted CBD site, which could be granted the city's second casino licence from late 2019.
It means Mr Packer would no longer need to increase his stake in The Star casino owner Echo Entertainment to utilise its exclusive licence.
It is understood that once planning approval is given, Mr Packer's Crown Limited and site owner Lend Lease could begin exploration and remedial work next year on the Barangaroo site, which is expected to take 18 months. Mr Packer visited the Christian Democrats yesterday who, with the Shooters and Fishers Party, are essential for such a project to go through parliament.
Barangaroo casino.
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Crown is negotiating with Lend Lease to extend a two-year exclusivity agreement the two companies have to build on Barangaroo.
Both minor parties are weighing up the proposal, but say they are "positively" looking at it.
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Christian Democrat MP Reverend Fred Nile confirmed the meeting with Mr Packer and said he would back the project - with strict terms.
"We need a firm guarantee there will be no poker machines, not one, now or in the future," Mr Nile said.
"We also want legislation protecting staff from passive smoking. Mr Packer has guaranteed he will do this but we want it to be part of the legislation."
Mr Nile's final condition to green-light the legislation is increased funding for counselling, including a chaplaincy service at the Sydney Crown casino when it is built.
"We will require the casino to support a chaplaincy on site," he said.
Shooters and Fishers MP Robert Borsak said the party would be "very favourably disposed" to looking at the proposal, and would approach it with a "positive view".
Last night upper house opposition leader Luke Foley said Labor would back the Crown proposal as long as it passed planning requirements and guaranteed no poker machines.
If all goes to plan, remedial work will take 18 months and building the 350-room hotel will begin by 2015.
The project, which is expected to generate more than 1300 jobs during construction and 1400 jobs a year once complete, will be finished by 2018. It is understood Crown may seek to amend its current proposal, raising the height of the glass tower to 70 storeys to accommodate luxury apartments and "salons" - which are villas that high rollers can stay and gamble in.
By 2018, the development will include a Mahogany Room for high-rollers, which will sit in mothballs until the government's exclusivity arrangement with The Star owners Echo runs out in November 2019.
Before work begins, the design will need to be approved by an international design panel.
Former prime minister Paul Keating's support for the plan, along with the state government, is crucial to approval.
Mr Keating has previously said there was "little doubt", Mr Packer "could build a hotel of world rank".
Premier Barry O'Farrell would not comment on whether the project would be ratified by Cabinet, but said: "If any proposals are submitted under this policy, a public announcement is made if the NSW government determines to proceed to the detailed consideration stage."
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CAIRNS Regional Council will spend $524,000 on outside help to decide whether the Aquis resort at Yorkeys Knob will go ahead.
The council will have the final say on Hong Kong-based developer Tony Fung's plan to rezone 343ha of land at Yorkeys Knob to make way for the $4.2 billion mega resort (pictured).
But the council has recruited consultants APP to help to make its decision, with councillors voting unanimously in August to put a call for tenders to help assess the proposed development.
APP, which has provided its expertise on dozens of projects including the redevelopment of Cairns Hospital and Sydney's International Airport, has been chosen to provide the council's feedback to the State Government on the environmental impact statement.
The company will also assess the development application when it is submitted to the council for approval.
The State Government earlier this month released the final terms of reference for the EIS for the proposed resort.
Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney yesterday told Parliament casino resort developments were key to attracting investors and tourists to Queensland.
"I would suggest that nowhere in the world is better placed to take advantage of that emerging tourism market than North Queensland," he said.
"The Great Barrier Reef, the rainforest, the climate and all the things that have attracted people to North Queensland for many years remain a major part of the attraction.
"If they can be complemented with an integrated casino-resort type development, such as has been so successful in other parts of the world, North Queensland can become one of the great tourist destinations of the world."
Barron River MP Michael Trout said the Government's decision to consider new licences outside of Brisbane was good news for the region.
"This gives Aquis the ability to bid for this licence. We now have the legislation that we can have this sort of investment come to Queensland."
But CRC councillor Richie Bates called on the State Government to start investing in the infrastructure and services needed for the region to support the expected population boom if the project goes ahead.

CHRISTMAS Island should get its casino back, according to a report on the future of the Australian territory submitted to the federal government.
The island, best known for housing hundreds of asylum seekers and hosting a phosphate mine, was also home to a casino resort for four years in the mid-1990s.
And after requests from resort owner David Kwon to consider reissuing a casino licence, the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories recommended the Commonwealth grant his wish.
"The committee cannot see any reason for the Australian government not to facilitate this venture, especially as the commercial risk falls entirely on the proponents," the report said.
"The potential benefits to Christmas Island if the casino succeeds are considerable, (and) the probable outcome of failure is merely a return to the status quo."
The report pointed out that immigration detention was not expected to be a permanent fixture and tourism to the island had been underdeveloped.
It also referred to the limited life of the island's phosphate mine, which on Friday had its lease extended for another 21 years.
The committee also said the weight of numbers of asylum seekers being housed on the island was putting a strain on the hospital, and called for more resources so "the provision of services to asylum seekers is not at the expense of services for residents".
The report also called for an urgent upgrade of the immigration facilities on the Cocos Islands, which it said comprised of tents with cots in an old quarantine station, described as "a makeshift solution to a new phase of the asylum seeker directly arriving from Sri Lanka".
"A more permanent and better appointed facility, built to the required cyclone standards, is urgently needed," the report said.