Bellagio robbed!
Dec 14, 2010 | 6:38 pm
#1
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Bellagio robbed!
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/12/14/...obbery/?hpt=T2
A robber wearing a motorcycle helmet stole chips from the B and escaped. I wonder how he is going to get rid of the chips? Don't they have RFID in them?
A robber wearing a motorcycle helmet stole chips from the B and escaped. I wonder how he is going to get rid of the chips? Don't they have RFID in them?
Dec 15, 2010 | 6:19 am
#2
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Bellagio still doesn't use RFID as far as I know, but I could be wrong. Also, they would actually have to track stacks and payouts at the tables for RFID to be meaningful in this situation (RFID is usually touted as a way to detect fake chips at the cage, so not all casinos may use them for tracking at the table).
He's still not going to be able to cash any of the higher denomination chips, and he has to have grabbed a bunch of them to get $1.5mil quickly (the article mentions that he did nab cranberries, so I'm going to guess he took at least one 500k stack). It takes me long enough to get cashouts verified even when I actually win them!
He's still not going to be able to cash any of the higher denomination chips, and he has to have grabbed a bunch of them to get $1.5mil quickly (the article mentions that he did nab cranberries, so I'm going to guess he took at least one 500k stack). It takes me long enough to get cashouts verified even when I actually win them!
Dec 15, 2010 | 12:01 pm
#5
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didnt ever recall that even the flags @ bellagio has rfid or "serial" numbers?
i would assume that he should be able to cash out a bit of the 5k and below by going in during busy periods and playing at higher limit tables, no?
i would assume that he should be able to cash out a bit of the 5k and below by going in during busy periods and playing at higher limit tables, no?
Dec 15, 2010 | 1:02 pm
#6
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Other than the requirement of showing a players card and account verification at the cage for anything over 3k, I think it would also raise red flags if a person were to show up with a high-denomination chip and play high bet amounts and not want to show a players card and be rated. Otherwise, I suppose that the robber could do as you suggest and leave the table without coloring up, effectively lowering his chip denominations, and make multiple cashouts at the cage - but that might still raise suspicion at the cage just due to the high frequency of visits needed to cash out any meaningful amount.
Dec 15, 2010 | 3:50 pm
#7
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When I heard about this I figured he was going to fence them somehow. Amazed the guards didn't shoot him in the parking lot ala the montage in Oceans 11 
Dec 16, 2010 | 4:41 am
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Other than the requirement of showing a players card and account verification at the cage for anything over 3k, I think it would also raise red flags if a person were to show up with a high-denomination chip and play high bet amounts and not want to show a players card and be rated. Otherwise, I suppose that the robber could do as you suggest and leave the table without coloring up, effectively lowering his chip denominations, and make multiple cashouts at the cage - but that might still raise suspicion at the cage just due to the high frequency of visits needed to cash out any meaningful amount.
Word was, he also stole (some) $25K chips. Those will be near impossible to cash/fence.
Very few people ever play with or color-up to that denomination. You would need a legitimate 'million dollar' player to do anything with those high-denomination chips. Even then, the inventory is very tight.
Also, like after the Tyson fight MGM fiasco; chances are that Bellagio is in the process of modifying all of their high denomination chips to a new (perhaps only slightly modified) format. Doesn't mean that you won't be able to cash 'old-chips' but they will be under further scrutiny once the new (version) of Bellagio chips hit the floor.
Dec 16, 2010 | 9:41 am
#10
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LAS VEGAS — The heist was as brief as the spin of a roulette wheel, as dramatic as a Hollywood caper.
While much of Las Vegas slumbered Tuesday, a gunman made off with $1.5 million in casino chips from the opulent Bellagio hotel and casino. What followed was something of a metaphor for this luminous gambling town....
While much of Las Vegas slumbered Tuesday, a gunman made off with $1.5 million in casino chips from the opulent Bellagio hotel and casino. What followed was something of a metaphor for this luminous gambling town....
Last edited by cblaisd; Dec 16, 2010 at 5:19 pm Reason: Per the TOS, removed full quote of copyrighted material
Dec 30, 2010 | 9:31 am
#12
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Bellagio nixing $25,000 chip after casino heist
Originally Posted by AP
By OSKAR GARCIA, Associated Press Oskar Garcia, Associated Press Wed Dec 29, 9:21 pm ET
LAS VEGAS Las Vegas casino bosses are serving notice to the bandit who made off with $1.5 million in chips from the Bellagio: Try to redeem those worth $25,000 soon or they'll become worthless.
LAS VEGAS Las Vegas casino bosses are serving notice to the bandit who made off with $1.5 million in chips from the Bellagio: Try to redeem those worth $25,000 soon or they'll become worthless.
Jan 1, 2011 | 8:11 am
#13
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Hmm, looks like the Bellagio is handling this okay.
At first, I assumed he could just sell them to some dumb tourists at the airport. But, if he nabbed only $25,000 chips, then he won't have an easy time getting rid of them.
At first, I assumed he could just sell them to some dumb tourists at the airport. But, if he nabbed only $25,000 chips, then he won't have an easy time getting rid of them.
Feb 3, 2011 | 2:30 pm
#14
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http://www.lvrj.com/news/money-gambl...115205644.html
Judge's son arrested
Carleo, also known as Anthony Assad, is the son of Las Vegas Municipal Court Judge George Assad and is a UNLV biology student.
Judge's son arrested
Originally Posted by Review-Journal
Carleo, also known as Anthony Assad, is the son of Las Vegas Municipal Court Judge George Assad and is a UNLV biology student.
Aug 24, 2011 | 10:21 am
#15
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http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011...llion-chip-he/
Bellagio bandit gets 3-11 years for $1.5 million chip heist
I guess being the son of a judge is a mitigating factor?
Bellagio bandit gets 3-11 years for $1.5 million chip heist
I guess being the son of a judge is a mitigating factor?