Abbie Chadwick
A table games dealer has been charged with allegedly aiding players to cheat Pickering Casino Resort in Ontario, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). OPP revealed that the police’s Enforcement Bureau was notified on August 3 about the allegations, which prompted an investigation supported by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). As a result, four individuals were arrested.
Sandeep Sogi, a 24-year-old man from Toronto, faces several charges, including criminal breach of trust, four counts of cheat at play, and four counts of fraud over $5k. The other three persons, who have been charged with four counts of cheat at play, fraud over $5k, and possession of property obtained by crime over $5k, are 28-year-old Sukhvir Singh of Mississauga, 30-year-old Deepak Kakkar of Brampton, and 24-year-old Anchhu Kumar of Brampton.
What Punishment the Dealer May Face?
Under the Criminal Code of Canada, those convicted of fraud over $5k may face up to 14 years in prison. According to Canada’s Criminal Code, cheating at play is an offense that carries a punishment of up to two years imprisonment. Anyone who cheats while playing a game intending to defraud others may be charged with cheating at play.
A spokesperson for OPP told journalists from CTV News Toronto that further information regarding the total value of money defrauded or the method used by the dealer to help players cheat would be released after the investigation. The spokesperson explained that every detail would be used as evidence in court. At the moment, the investigation is going, and the police ask everyone with information to contact investigators. The four suspects have been released from custody and will appear in an Oshawa courtroom at a later date, according to the police.
Pickering Casino Resort opened its doors this January. The $500-million entertainment facility is located east of Toronto and features over 2,200 slot machines, 90 table games, and about 140 live dealer stadium game terminals.
Other Cases of Casino Dealers Helping Patrons to Cheat
But this is not the first case in which a dealer aids players to win. In 2017, a 21-year-old casino dealer from Kelowna, British Columbia, was charged with one count of trying to cheat Lake City Casino while holding the stakes for a roulette game. Allegedly, the dealer colluded with a 25-year-old patron from Kamloops, helping him cheat at play. The croupier was suspended from the casino and lost his provincial registration number as a casino worker. The player was charged with two counts of trying to defraud a casino and cheating at roulette and poker.
Another shocking case is from 2018 when a baccarat dealer helped players defraud a Maryland casino out of more than $1 million. Ming Zhang allegedly lifted the deck to reveal part of the unshuffled cards, allowing players to see them. In return, the dealer received a cut from the players’ winnings. Following an investigation into the fraudulent scheme, Zhang was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.