Atlantic City Roulette Scam Takes Unlucky Turn For Four

Police in Atlantic City have arrested four European players at the Borgata resort casino for placing their bets after 'no more bets' had been called.

The European men, one from London, two from Italy and one from Malta, were arrested after being charged with pulling a scam that netted $5000, police said.

The technical term for the cheat is 'past posting', a con game that brings sleight of hand, finesse and diversion to the roulette table.

Borgata security alerted the New Jersey State Police's Gaming Enforcement Bureau after a dealer suspected he had been scammed.

Past posting, or placing a wager after betting is closed, needs at least three people and a 'weak' dealer. The roulette wheel is spun, and as the ball falls into a numbered slot, one of the culprits distracts the dealer. Another reaches across the gaming table as the third slides a stack of chips onto the winning number.

The Atlantic City authorities added that the scam did not occur often.

Detectives and Borgata security reviewed surveillance tapes, identified the suspects and their car, and spotted two other suspected instances of past posting by the group. Police found the car parked at the Ascot Motor Lodge at Iowa and Pacific Avenues in Atlantic City and arrested the men shortly after when they returned to their car.