Las Vegas gamblers are charged in dice sliding scheme
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'Cheating' gamblers are arrested after winning more than $200,000 in craps game at The Cosmopolitan casino in Las Vegas 'by using dice sliding'
Four Las Vegas men have been accused of illicitly winning more than $200,000 in a 'dice sliding' scheme at a craps table on the Las Vegas strip.
Antcharaporn Kamonlert, Hau Duc Ngo, Max Edward Rappoport, and Oscar Ovidio Rodriguez Alvarado are charged in the case, which stems from an alleged scam at The Cosmopolitan casino.
Investigators say that over the course of six days in December 2021, the group obtained at least $226,000 by sliding dice across the smooth surface of an electronic craps table, allowing them to control the outcome of the roll.
Ngo's attorney, Mitchell S. Bisson, told DailyMail.com that his client vehemently denies the allegations, calling the charges a 'losing hand' for the state. Attorneys for the other three men did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Investigators with the Nevada Gaming Control Board said 'the cheating involved multiple suspects and occurred on the Azure Roll to Win Electronic Craps table,' according to documents reported by KLAS-TV.
Four Las Vegas men have been accused of illicitly winning more than $200,000 in a 'dice sliding' scheme at The Cosmopolitan (above) on the Las Vegas strip
'The cheating method involved dice sliding and sliding occurs when the shooter slides one or both dice across the table in order to prevent the cubes from rolling,' the documents said.
'The dice will be in the same position as they started, allowing the shooter to control the outcome of the game,' investigators said in the documents.
'Before illegally sliding the dice [one person whose name is redacted in court documents] would signal the other by placing single wagers in a circle motion around the main screen [wagers],' the documents said.
Azure's electronic tables use real dice, but have a touchscreen table surface that allows them to operate semi-automatically, according to the company's marketing material.
Traditional craps tables utilize a felt top, which would presumably make 'sliding' dice across the surface much more challenging.
Kamonlert and Ovidio, who share a defense attorney, are charged with six felony counts of committing a fraudulent act in gaming establishment as a first offense, and six felony counts of cheating at a gambling game as a first offense.
Rappoport faces the same charges, but on four counts each. Ngo faces three counts of each offense. The four cases are linked in court records.
Investigators say the 'dice sliding' scheme occurred on an Azure Roll to Win Electronic Craps table, like the one above, which use real dice, but have a touchscreen table surface
'Mr. Ngo vehemently denies any allegation that he was involved in cheating at a gambling establishment in any way, shape, or form,' his attorney Bisson told DailyMail.com in a statement.
'Mr. Ngo maintains his innocence and firmly believes the allegations to be completely unfounded. Mr. Ngo is a person of integrity and has an impeccable record both personally and professionally,' the attorney added.
'I am confident that a thorough investigation will vindicate Mr. Ngo and expose these allegations as nothing more than a losing hand, so to speak.
'I urge the media and public to avoid rushing to judgment and instead allow the legal process to run its course while Mr. Ngo clears his name of these baseless allegations,' said Bisson.
The defendants were all released on personal recognizance bonds. A preliminary hearing in the case is set for June 1.
