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Nevada Busts Sports Wagering Kiosk Scheme

Casino Employees Allegedly Stole Money From Machines

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The Enforcement Division of the Nevada Gaming Control Board recently disrupted an alleged embezzlement scheme that resulted in the arraignments of two alleged co-conspirators last week.

Their names were not mentioned in an announcement from the Board.

Beginning in December of 2022, the Board began investigating the fraudulent cash adjustments at various sports wagering kiosks across multiple licensed locations throughout Las Vegas. The alleged operators of the fraudulent activity used internal information technology systems at their disposal, as employees of the licensee, to illegally add money to sports wagering kiosks and then print and redeem fraudulent wagering vouchers.

Sports betting is a growing offering in Nevada, with regulators closely monitoring the industry. According to figures released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the Silver State’s sportsbooks won $446,698,000 from sports gamblers in 2022. According to regulators, there were 183 “distinct licensed locations” for sports betting in 2022.

About $8.7 billion was bet on sports during the calendar year.

The licensee was able to use internal security to uncover the alleged criminal activity and report it to the Board. Agents of the Board’s Enforcement Division uncovered thousands of fraudulent adjustments from this one scheme.

“The Board appreciates licensees meeting their obligation to investigate and self-report potential statutory and regulatory violations, as well as alleged criminal activity,” said Kristi Torgerson, Chief of the Board’s Enforcement Division. “The Enforcement Division will continue to be aggressive in its investigations and covert operations to ensure that the gaming industry is free from criminal elements in its unending effort to safeguard the integrity of regulated gaming in Nevada.”

“I continue to be proud of the work that the Enforcement Division – and the Board as a whole – does to keep Nevada’s residents and visitors safe from criminal activity and to guarantee that the gaming industry is operating for the benefit of all Nevadans,” said Chairman Kirk Hendrick.

The Enforcement Division is the law enforcement arm of the Board, employing about 90 sworn officers, according to the announcement.