State police in Pennsylvania say a blackjack dealer at the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh helped players steal almost $22,000 by either overpaying, or not collecting on losing bets.
Jamie Smith now faces felony charges for allegedly dealing almost 200 fake blackjack hands within a week.
According to court documents, Smith now faces fraud and theft with conspiracy charges. It is not clear if others are also charged in the case. Smith has a preliminary hearing scheduled for later this month.
Allegedly Crooked Hands Dealt During One Week Span
The hands in question took place between October 26 and November 2. WTAE News reports that she started slowly, but then got bolder as the week progressed. Here's a breakdown, according to police:
| Date | Hands | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 26 | 7 | $350 |
| Oct. 28 | 18 | $891 |
| Oct. 30 | 42 | $4,899 |
| Nov. 1 | 54 | $8,067 |
| Nov. 2 | 71 | $7,662 |
On October 26, investigators say it was seven hands in question amounting to $350. On October 28, the number of fraudulent hands grew to 18, and cost the casino $891. But that’s when things took a turn.
The number of hands that were either overpaid, or losing bets were not collected ballooned to 42 on October 30, resulting in nearly $5,000 ($4,899) in casino losses. Then on November 1, 54 fraudulent hands and $8,067, and November 2, 71 crooked hands cost the casino $7,662.
Investigators said casino video surveillance allegedly showed Smith dealing 192 phony hands of blackjack over 31 hours of work. The amount of money totaled $21,869.
A spokesperson for the casino said in a statement: “We cooperated fully with the Pennsylvania State Police in this investigation.”
This incident resembles another at a Pennsylvania casino where a dealer was allegedly cheating. Back in March, two North Shore casino employees and a player were arrested for allegedly rigging electronic roulette.
Casino Security Cameras Are Always Watching
Casino security cameras are there to protect against theft, cheating, and other crimes. These days, they often have features that go beyond the old “eye in the sky,” including:
- Video analytics that detect risks, such as banned people entering the casino.
- Remote access so security can view live or recorded videos from anywhere.
- Built-in AI that identifies objects, people, and vehicles, and sends instant alerts.
- Easy footage retrieval to audit or present evidence to authorities.
- Integration with emergency systems to communicate with first responders.
Casinos usually keep camera footage for 30 days to several years, depending on regulations and the type of footage.
