Former Poker Dealer Accused of Stealing Chips from the Pot

A former poker dealer at JACK Cleveland Casino, J.S., is facing multiple charges for allegedly stealing from the casino’s poker room. 

Indicted on 14 Counts, a Felony, and a Misdemeanor

The 51-year-old from North Olmsted has been indicted on 14 counts of violating casino gaming laws, a fifth-degree felony, as well as a misdemeanor theft charge on October 28.

The man recently appeared in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, where he was given a personal bond of $2,500 that he paid. 

The accusations stemmed from a complaint on September 6, when a patron informed a casino manager that J.S. had been taking chips from the pot wagered during a hand. 

Following the complaint, the casino reviewed surveillance footage and discovered five incidents of theft by the dealer, according to the agency overseeing gambling activities and enforcing gaming laws in the state, the Ohio Casino Control Commission. 

This prompted the casino to terminate him from his position the following day. The indictment claims that the man committed 14 separate thefts over the span of a month. 

The misdemeanor charge suggests that the man, who is a resident of a western suburb in Cleveland, stole under $1,000.

12 Out of 24 Cheating Incidents at the Same Venue

J.S.’s case marks the second recent incident of theft from JACK Cleveland Casino’s table games. 

Another individual, E.Q. from Tennessee, who had a history of cheating at casinos, was accused of manipulating a craps game at the venue on July 31. 

He was formally indicted just last month.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission, which is responsible for investigating a variety of gambling-related offenses that cover cheating in casinos and illegal betting activities, has recently published its most recent annual report. 

According to the report, the commission spotted 24 cheating incidents in Ohio’s casinos between July 2023 and June 2024. JACK Cleveland Casino, which is one of the most popular poker rooms in the area to host big events like the Mid-States Poker Tour, accounted for half of these cases.

For individuals convicted of theft at Ohio’s casinos, the consequences are severe. 

Offenders are permanently banned from all gambling establishments in the state and placed on the commission’s involuntary exclusion list. 

Currently, six former casino employees are listed for stealing during their employment, underscoring the casino’s zero-tolerance policy on theft.

A pretrial status conference for J.S. has been scheduled for 9 a.m. on December 3 in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, Cleveland.