Man Who Cheated Casino Ordered to Pay it Back

A Holyoke, Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty in connection with a cheating scheme that won him more than $30,000 in illegal poker winnings at MGM Springfield.

Attorney General Maura Healey made the annoucement on Friday.

Daniel Ruiz, age 41, pleaded guilty March 24 in Hampden Superior Court to one count of larceny as well as one count of swindling and cheating, making him the first person ever to be charged with cheating a Massachusetts casino. 

According to the AG’s Office, between January 29, 2019 and February 14, 2019, Ruiz frequently went to MGM Springfield to play four card poker.

Boston.com explained how the scheme worked:

While playing, Ruiz repeatedly used a strategy whereby he would ask dealers to break a high value chip down to smaller chips. Ruiz then handed the high value chip to the dealers, and using a slight of hand, discreetly added to his existing bet in the game, increasing his winnings.

This scheme is known as “bet-capping.” He was ultimately caught when MGM saw him cheating at the game on their surveillance system.

Ruiz was ordered to pay $30,025 in restitution to the casino.

- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com