Woman Casino Cheat gets a year in jail for colluding with Blackjack Dealer in Chip-dumping scheme

More Casino Cheating

It happened at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, a hotbed of all forms of casino cheating, some with the help of crooked dealers, others by casino cheats acting by themselves. This one included a crooked dealer, who simply dumped excess chips on his female cohort's winning hands.

They worked the blackjack scam on several occasions--and made a hefty $78,000 profit from the casino. It is not surprising that such a low-level and amateurish scam could make so much money at the Mohegan Sun. Scams like this have been successfully pulled off there time and again.

Thirty-eight year-old Marlene Rivera, who suffered from substance abuse, allegedly convinced her dealer friend Roy Mariano to perpetrate the blackjack cheating episodes. Mariano told investigators that he agreed to participate because he was upset that his working hours at the casino had been reduced. However, he has pleaded not guilty to the crime and is awaiting trial.

Rivera, on the other hand, pleaded guilty to first degree larceny and could have been sentenced to three years in prison. She told the court that she has been undergoing counseling to help with her substance abuse problems.

My take: It amazes me that it doesn't amaze me how these ridiculous scams net so much money before being caught.