Baccarat Cheating Scandal at Horseshoe Cincinnati: Casino Employees Indicted

The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) announced that multiple people have been indicted on suspicion of cheating in a mini baccarat game, including four former employees at the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati.

Commission Gaming Agents were tipped off about the scandal in 2014, which prompted them to investigate the matter further. It turns out that Andrew Grzelewski, a table games supervisor, would stack the deck before signaling an accomplice to the table.

His accomplice, Thomas Coffey, a former dealer at the casino, would then come to a specific mini baccarat game. Having insider knowledge of the deck, Coffey placed huge bets while knowing the future results.

Coffey’s mother, Susan, and another man named Lando Camp were also indicted in the baccarat scandal that ultimately cost Horseshoe Cincinnati $25,000 in losses. Grzelewski and Coffey now face two third-degree felony gaming charges while Camp and Susan Coffey are facing a fifth-degree felony gaming charge.

Matt Schuler, executive direct of the OCCC, hammered home the severity of casino cheating by telling the Norwalk Reflector the following:

“Casino cheaters do more than simply break the law – they are also stealing from the state and the citizens of Ohio. The Commission takes our mission to ensure the integrity of casino gaming seriously, and will continue to pursue legal action against those who cheat at Ohio’s casinos – as well as any individuals who help enable cheating.”

This wasn’t the only indictment handed down in connection with the Horseshoe Cincinnati Casino. Gemini Isham, a craps dealer at the Horseshoe, is facing three gaming-related charges for adding chips to an accomplice’s bets. The accomplice, Keith Washington, who’s a convicted felon, worked with Isham to cheat over 150 different times, resulting in a net loss of $96,000 for the Horseshoe Cincinnati. Washington is also facing three gaming charges for his role in the cheating scheme.

Ohio casino revenues have been falling in recent months, so it’s imperative that the state’s casinos catch cheaters. The state brought in $63.5 million in June gaming revenue, which is down from a year ago. Ohio has now made $409 million through the first six months of 2015, which is almost on pace with what they made last year.