Last year, the Alicante Casino faced a fraud allegation involving two casino employees and the father of one of them. In a scheme reminiscent of a smaller scale Ocean’s Eleven, the trio allegedly engineered a plan to win at roulette and, in less than a month, secured a prize of 46,325 euros. The alleged method did not rely on the ball landing on a chosen number. Instead, it involved manipulating the betting chips to place winnings in a way that advantaged the conspirators. The casino detected the irregularities and reported the incident. The Prosecutor’s Office has since filed an oral trial request, indicting the three individuals and seeking prison terms along with restitution of the defrauded amount plus statutory interest.
The events targeted by the indictment occurred at the Alicante Casino between February and March of the previous year. One of the defendants served as a salesman and held a supervisory role at the American roulette table. According to the provisional outcome document from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the two workers conspired with the seller’s father to develop a system for extracting roulette prizes that operated at the establishment, with the aim of obtaining illegal gains.
During the days when the couple worked at the American roulette table, the father would approach the table and head directly to the seat where his son would play, a move that violated the regulations of the Valencia Community Regulation on gambling casinos. At the table, the croupier or table head – the son and daughter-in-law of the employee – allegedly acted to ensure the father’s bets won. The scheme reportedly involved a “moving ball” tactic, with the purposed advantage that the father could secure winnings on several spins, even when the ball had already ceased moving.
Typically, a correct bet would be refused if the ball had stopped, and the money would be returned to the customer. In this case, however, it is claimed that the defendants did not follow that standard practice and instead manipulated the chips to secure a payout. According to the public accusation, the dealer, with the table manager’s approval, secretly placed chips where the father had bet on the winning numbers or adjacent numbers, resulting in rewards of the same amount for multiple spins.
The Pattern Of deception
The alleged hoax continued over five days in February and fourteen days in March of the previous year. Across this period, the trio allegedly raked in 46,325 euros in winnings. The father reportedly enjoyed consistent success, allegedly earning more than 400 euros every day, according to the prosecution.
The Prosecutor’s Office has named three individuals in connection with what is described as ongoing fraudulent activity and is seeking penalties for the two casino employees, including aggravation for breach of trust. The request includes prison terms and the obligation to reimburse Alicante Casino the amount of 46,325 euros, plus interest from the date of the events. The case is being pursued to determine accountability for the alleged scheme and to ensure restitution for the casino.