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UK
Casino Times
> Casino
News
01 January 2005
Ritz Roulette Ruling Epitomises
Need For Legislative Update
The
UK casino industry, which prides itself on being one of the
most regulated gaming environments in the world, is having
to come to term with the fact that its antiquated
legislation has rendered it an easy target for casino cheats
and opportunists.
The three people suspected
of masterminding the audacious scam involving a laser gadget
at the Ritz casino back in March have been under full
investigation by Scotland Yard for nine months but, due to a
technicality in the letter of the law, they are now free to
go, with the casino having to honour the 'winnings' which
they are believed to have used 'James Bond' gadgetry to
accrue.
Comprising one Hungarian
woman and two male Serbian friends, the gang were accused of
using the modified mobile phone to cheat the Ritz Casino,
the popular Piccadilly haunt for Arab royalty and
international playboys. But despite the three being arrested
on their second venture into the London casino, and the
suspect equipment being seized, Scotland Yard said it had
closed the case after failing to find evidence that any
crime had been committed. The investigators who seized the
cash have handed it back to the gamblers.
Officers examined the
Ritz's CCTV footage but said the case had been rubber
stamped 'no further action'. A Scotland Yard spokesperson
said of the suspects: "They have been informed that no
further action will be taken and that the inquiry has ended.
All the money retained by police at the beginning of the
inquiry has now been returned."
Legal sources said the
gamblers were let off because it was deemed they had not
violated any law since the scanner did not interfere with
the ball or wheel.
The Ritz, owned by the
Barclay brothers, was not available for comment but one
industry insider said: "My immediate reaction is one of
complete dismay and I think the ramifications for the
industry could be catastrophic. Whilst as 'members only'
environments, UK Casinos retain the right to refuse
entry, does this ruling mean they have to pay out every time
somebody uses the latest technology to cheat them? Keeping
pace with such developments as technology improves is going
to be an insatiable struggle. The law as it stands offers no
protection. It's thought that Scotland Yard said it could do
nothing as there was no interference on the game play, so
clearly the laws need changing as a matter of course. But
there's no doubting that this is not within the spirit of
the game. Roulette is a complete game of chance between
players, there is no strategy. Using such devices completes
destroys the fabric of the game."
A scanner, concealed in a
mobile phone, was believed to measure the speed of the ball
on its first two circuits of the wheel, measuring what is
known as its 'decaying orbit'. This data was then allegedly
beamed to a micro-computer, which was then said to predict
in which section of numbers the ball would land, thus
reducing the odds of winning from 37 to one to just six to
one. This information was then flashed onto the screen of
the mobile phone just before the wheel made its third spin,
by which time all bets must be placed. The trio placed bets
on all six numbers in the section where the ball would
definitely end up.
Officers seized their
mobile phones and searched the hotel opposite where they
were staying. The three were released on police bail and
have been reporting to a central London police
station.
According to reports from
Budapest, the Hungarian woman was well known at the casinos
in her country and had been banned as a result.
Whilst there is little
doubt that she will now be on the 'banned' files of every
casino across the country, and that security have been well
groomed to spot similar stings, the very fact that the three
have been successful paints a grim scenario of people with
different scams believing UK casinos are fair game. For as
long as their plan does not interfere with the outcome of
the game, current legislation dictates that the worst that
can happen to them is that their scam is spotted and they
are immediately ejected and banned. The casino, it would
seem, still has to pay up and the law can provide no
protection. One observer added: "The backlash for the player
is that they will be watched like never before and with no
protection to prevent the payout, the casino will act
quickly whenever suspicion arises."
"Banning mobile phones
from the gaming floor would only lead to smaller gadgets
coming into the casino," one source suggested. "Perhaps the
answer is in changing the dynamics of the game, like when
continuous shufflers curbed card counting when that first
burst onto the scene. Certainly calling 'no more bets' when
the ball is first released would stop the scam in its
tracks."
Other early suggestions
being touted include a form of protective dome over the
wheel which would of course call for automated spins, and
even devices to identify and interfere with the signal being
sent to the micro-computer. But until either the Ritz or the
police reveal more about the exact specifics involved, the
industry is left second guessing how best to protect
itself.
Related pages:
Ritz
Roulette Sting Leaves Industry In A
Spin
Ritz
Roulette Gang Banned From
Budapest
Four
Arrested After Mobile Phone
'Fraud'
Atlantic
City Roulette Scam Takes Unlucky Turn For
Four
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