Craps Gaming Commission Comedy of Errors …

I was recently informed that my name was mentioned in an Ohio State Gaming Commission memorandum,even though I have never been to Ohio so naturally my interest peaked …. And after making a few phone calls I was able to narrow the source down and make contact with the person that had obtained some documents under the Open Records Act.

There was a Memorandum from the Assistant General Counsel of the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) that referenced my name and cited my website (Link) … below are some of those papers, with information and names of the innocent redacted.

These real documents read like a bad Hollywood script of "Comedy of Errors" - see how many technical snafus made by the supposedly independent Casino Control Commission you can find ... (after reviewing these documents and having more than 8 hours of interviews with the craps player involved, my comments have been added in red and emphasis highlighted in light red, the original documents included yellow highlighting - Please note you will have to go to the Link for the original article in order to see the commentary in red and 2 different highlightings as this message board does not allow highlighting as far as I know due to Mad Professor's overuse of "rainbowing" - coloring text)

…. Is this a perfunctory investigation by amateurs in a manner that is incomplete, incompetent, lacking of analytical abilities, unprofessional and can only be described as an inadequate, negligent performance of government administrative, fiduciary and enforcement responsibilities or maybe is just an orchestrated cover-up of the actual facts of unbalanced dice in live casino play. This dice inspection is being supervised and directed by an attorney (Assistant General Counsel) so either is possible -- you decide.

Some dates have been highlighted to let you decide what took so long to occur behind closed doors – Also note that the original case was marked CLOSED in the field at the Casino after reviewing the dice, surveillance video, talking to the Boxman that tested the dice and the Gaming Agent made a recommendation that the case be closed. HOWEVER, this case was REVERSED at the Headquarters Ohio Casino Control Commission:

1. Without even interviewing the Boxman or patron and
2. Ignoring the overwhelming surveillance video and
3. Ignoring the biased results of the dice on the table and THEN
4. Ignoring the actions of the Casino to remove the dice from play AND
5. NEVER “officially” testing the evidence themselves with a dice balancing caliper
6. AND
7. Without "officially" meeting with the lead field Agent. Even though this case took over 52 days to settle, the headquarters division conveniently never "officially" met with the original on-site Gaming Agent that wrote the Initial Report and did the initial investigation and recommended this case Closed in this following Initial Report:

___________________________________________________________________

OCCC ACISS Case Management System: Initial Report Report Inquiry (XX-1093)

Initial Report Report: XX-1093


Primary Information

Report Number: XX-1093
Case Number: XX-1093
Case Status: CLOSED
Case Lead LEO: Chapman, Kyle
Type Of Report: Initial Report
Report Date/Time: 09/13/20XX 0:00
Description: Player Dispute
Reporting LEO: Chapman, Kyle (Cincinnati / Ohio Casino Control Commission)
Occurred From: 09/13/20XXXX6:15
Occurred To: 09/13/20xx 9:10
Source Of Info: XXXX
Source Reliability: XXXX
Dissemination: SYSTEM WIDE
Approved By: Koeppe, Stu (Cincinnati / Ohio Casino Control Commission)
Approved Date/Time: XXXX
Approval Status: Approved
Expense Status: Not Posted

Synopsis

On 09-13-XXXX (wrong year is typed in this Report) a patron playing at craps Table 306 disputed that the dice in play were out of balance and requested them to be changed. A new set was brought in and calibrated/checked on the table in front of the patron. He claimed the new set was out of balance and asked for another set. (To clarify, the Casino Boxman determined that all these sticks of dice were unbalanced by properly using the caliper, not the patron.) The third set was also found to be out of balance (by the Casino Boxman). The fourth checked ok and were introduced to the game. The patron wanted to file a dispute form with the OCCC. (The patron did not want to file a complaint until after the Shift Manager refused to retest the dice on the hard surface of the chip bank cover or the podium in the pit, and then refused to reimburse the patron for his losses due to unbalanced dice being used by the casino in violation of state law as noted below. The patron was aware that the inspection is required to be conducted on a hard surface [ Note: see patron's filed complaint; and, this was the subsequent reason for dismissing the tests conducted at the table by the boxman, which actually did not distort the conclusion of the tests performed on the felt layout of the table.] ).


Related Addresses

Address Relationship

1000 Broadway Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202,

Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OHIO, 45202 OCCURRED


Charges

Offense Type Offense Attempted/Committed Statute UCR Class

1. Regulatory - Patron Complaint / Dispute NOT APPLICABLE REG UCR

Related Subjects

Name Relationship Type Sex Race Age DOB

XXXX xxxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxx xxx

Related Property

Property Class Property Type Description Prop Status

1. EVIDENCE Miscellaneous - Sleeve of 5 red dice from table 306 - EVIDENCE/SEIZED

(Note – the 2 other sleeves listed from this Initial Report’s Synopsis above are missing from EVIDENCE – why - as Ohio Administrative Code (OAC), highlighted below clearly indicates they should be removed from play.

Where is the casino's discrepancy report, as later noted by Mr. Martin, the Ohio Director of Regulatory Compliance in an email ?? This requirement was even highlighted in yellow by the Patron in the OAC he attached to his Complaint. )

2. LOST US Currency $XXXX USD lost at craps table 306 ---

Narrative

On XXXX, at Craps Table 306, XXXX was playing the game for about an hour according to statements, when he asked the boxman (supervising dealer) of the table to test the dice being used in play. His reasoning for the request was that certain combinations of the die were showing up more frequently than others and this made him suspect that the dice were not 'balanced.'

Testing of the dice began at the table, on the table felt around 8:55 hours. Via XXXX XXXX's statement and surveillance footage, the dice that were in play at the time were taken off the table due to faults (the Casino Boxman determined that all these sticks of dice were unbalanced by using the caliper). Two more sleeves of die (dice) were also tested by the Boxman and both of those, as well were deemed to have faults (determined that all these sticks of dice were unbalanced by properly using the balancing caliper) and were taken out of the game.

The fourth sleeve tested ok and were introduced to the game. During the testing OCCC agents were requested. Contact was made around 1000 hours. XXXX alleged the dice he was using and other players were 'unbalanced.' Those dice were seized by agents as evidence for a regulatory matter. He went on to state the other sleeves tested after were 'unbalanced' as well. XXXX was given a dispute form and was advised he could bring the form back to us or mail a copy to Columbus. He stated he would, and requested that his $XXXX he lost on the game be returned for the dice being out of compliance (attached is the casino CMS record indicating a lost of $XXXX on XXXX).

He was advised to speak with the Casino about that matter and that the OCCC could not make that determination right then and there.

As related above, the Casino did find the disputed dice to be out-of-balance, as well as two new sleeves of dice, therefore I recommend this case be Closed, Transferred to Regulatory Compliance.

Attached are: Casino CMS records of play and loss, OCCC Dispute form, OHLEG printout. Also, video of the complainant's play has been flagged.

Attachments

Description Size Mime Type Record Origination

1. OHLEG (ohleg.pdf) 237 KB application/pdf XXXX
2. Dispute Form (disputeform.pdf) 12,660 KB application/pdf XXXX
3. Casino CMS Record for XXXX (cmsrecord.pdf) 18 KB application/pdf XXXX
View Image Report

Record Status Information

Record Origination Operator: Chapman, Kyle (Cincinnati / Ohio Casino Control Commission)
Record Origination Date: XXXX
Last Update Operator: Koeppe, Stu (Cincinnati / Ohio Casino Control Commission)
Last Update Date: XXXX

ACISS software licensed by Ohio Casino Control Commission
msiba XXXXXXXX

___________________________________________________________________

The full article with documents, colored commentary and highlighting can be found here --> Link

 

Maybe the Gaming Commission problems are not restricted to Ohio. Separately, but related - the following is from a Report to the Mississippi Legislature Gaming Regulation in Mississippi: A Progress Report The Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) done by a Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER)

Enforcement

• The MGC’s Enforcement Division still lacks a formal inspection program that would include a plan for conducting unannounced inspections of casino operations a pre-determined number of times to ensure adequate monitoring of the fair play of casino games.

• MGC does not provide adequate training for enforcement agents regarding MGC’s regulations, table games, and electronic gaming devices and equipment. Thus MGC does not ensure that enforcement agents have the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to ensure that gaming is conducted honestly and competitively.
​

MGC’s Theory of Inspections

Since the agency’s inception, the MGC’s enforcement field operations have been driven primarily by industry complaints rather than by an aggressive inspection program. The theory has been that casinos are primarily responsible for detecting and reporting incidents and potential violations to the MGC. According to MGC staff, an underlying assumption of this theory is that the casinos are owned by legitimate corporate businesses that are not going to risk losing their gaming licenses through unethical, unfair, or illegal play of the game practices.​

A formal inspection program for casino regulation would include an inspection of every facet of each casino’s operations a pre-determined number of times, comprehensive and standardized checklists to document evaluations of casino games and operations, and twenty-four hour coverage, seven days a week, on a “no notice” basis in all MGC districts. Such a program would aggressively monitor all casino operations without an assumption that licensees are trustworthy and would report all potential violations of state laws or regulations to the MGC.

MGC still does not have a formal inspection program in place for monitoring casino games.

The MGC has criteria for table game approval and modifications (e. g., a new game should not exceed the estimated hold percentage of games already approved in Mississippi, games should be compatible with the public policy of the state). However, MGC has not written these procedures for this process. PEER contends that without written criteria, MGC cannot assure that table games are being conducted in an honest and competitive manner. Without sufficient policies governing the approval or modification of table games, the commission cannot be assured that table games are being approved in a consistent manner and played consistently on a statewide basis. Because the standard is discretionary, there is no objectivity in the table game approval and modification process. Without this objectivity, the MGC cannot ensure fair and equitable treatment of casino patrons or operators.
​

http://www.peer.state.ms.us/reports/rpt522.pdf

 

Harley

I alway thought you be masterfull occupying a position on some Gaming Commision Committee, as you would bring common sense reasonable solutions to correct problems. However, I now think these problems are all part of the process and were intentionally created, and your expertise in such matters would not be welcomed.

These reports are very informative, keep up the good work.

 

Common sense once again would tell you that the states are making a lot of money off casinos, are they going to shut them down or go out of their way to cut off the money pit that they now have?

 

Don't think anyone wants the state to shut down the revenue producing casinos, just make sure the casinos are complying with the current states laws & regulations, and too, to tighten up or enact new regulations to protect the gambling public.

 

Laws are only beneficial if they are followed. Here in Nevada, we have no laws on the dice or craps to speak of. The casinos can make changes to the game without report back to the gaming commission.

 

The casinos are going to get away with anything that they can, as long as the Gaming Commission offers no resistance. So the real focus should be, the relationship between the Casino's and the GC. As long as each state participates in the casino revenue, then the GC is not going to intervene as long as the casino is not hiding the money. The only way GC will get involved if the casino's advantage is so outrageous that the customers or players quit playing which affects the bottom line of the casino and in essence affects the state's revenue.

Keep up your good work Harley and Superrick.

 

This is all true and this is why I believe a person like Harley would be prove beneficial. What a great job this would be for a person who so loves the game.

 

In the end, it comes down to us players. If we know the dice are bad and still play, then what does the casino have to worry about? From what I can see there are plenty of people out there willing to play craps even when it is clearly apparent by the dice rolls that come up in live play that the dice are rigged!

I see people all the time playing the really crappy video poker machines on The Strip casinos such as JOB 7/5 where there is no hope of ever winning in the long run by playing such a machine.

Slot players face a 89% return rate on average and they keep coming despite the fact that they can never win in the long run.

On other gambling forums, the members have resigned to the fact that casinos are no longer the place to scratch up a few hundred though Advantage Play with Video Poker to subsidize their income as it was in the pre-recession days. Now in this post-recession world the most they can hope for is to play enough to get free rooms and dinners while socializing with friends in nice air condition casinos and away from the desert heat. The promotions that create an AP situation for Video Poker are now rare where in pre-recession was far more common if not 365 24/7 days a year.

Other pro gamblers who I personally know have said that the post-recession Las Vegas requires a much higher buy-in and play-though for them to see the same comps and results as in the pre-recession Las Vegas. Suffice it to say many pros where once they could fly in and stay at the casinos are now forced to live in Las Vegas because of the casinos reluctance to comp them full stay and in many cases reduce or eliminate the resort fees. There are some ways around this and I know a few pros who fly in, play hard for 24 hours straight then fly back out. They will do this 4 to 6 times a month.

For the Youth, Las Vegas is very different. They come for the Party Life. The gambling is entertainment and a ticket to the Party. Sure, good skills and savvy play can reduce the cost of the ticket to the Party Life, though most who play hope to win but expect to lose. It is just how much you get to keep and still get the ticket to the party is sort of the game that they play. What is at stake: Free cabanas, pool parties, club tickets, special invites to exclusive parties and events. These tickets are not cheap either, you have to be a person of means to obtain it - that is to come in with $10K and be willing to pass it though the casino once a day.

For the mid-age singles, Las Vegas is where they go to get away from the dreary work-a-way world. The come to eat great good, to drink and play. Casinos offer anything from fabulous dining and clubs/bars to adult pools and lounges where 'what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas'.

Las Vegas has learned that it can be more than just a place for gamblers to come. It is now about conventions, parties, sensual delights, escapism and sexuality. The casinos know that the money is not in the quality of the game, but in the quality of the party, and that is where most casinos are at.

Now having said all of this...
Some casinos have loosened up and found they can bring in the people who think they got what it takes to beat the casino. Often such casinos don't cater to the party life, don't really have lavish dining or high end entertainment, but what they do have is good points for cash programs and fair gaming that makes Advantage Play possible if you got the skills to make it so. Such casinos however don't cater to the high rollers, where the highest you might find is a $5 video poker or $1000 max craps tables or $5000 blackjack.


List of craps tables in LV
http://www.nextshooter.com/vegas

List of Blackjack tables in LV
http://wizardofvegas.com/guides/blackjack-survey/

List of Video Poker machines in LV
http://www.vpfree2.com/casinos/by-region/las-vegas.html

 

.... TTT for @Casino Review