A couple from Kazakhstan have been charged after allegedly using hidden cameras and earpieces to cheat at card games and defraud Sydney’s Crown casino out of almost $1.2 million.
A woman, 36, and her husband, 44, were arrested at the casino in Barangaroo on Thursday after a Crown Sydney staff member noticed her wearing a small camera attached to her shirt, NSW Police said on Sunday.
Organised Crime Squad detectives then allegedly found small magnetised probes, batteries, a mobile phone with a fitted attachment that allegedly allowed the camera function of the phone to discretely view, capture or record images, and a small custom-made mirror attachment for the same mobile phone.
They were both charged with “dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc by deception” and refused bail.
Police allege the couple arrived in Sydney last month and applied for Crown membership on the same day before allegedly defrauding the casino out of $1,179,412.50 over multiple visits during October and November.
“It will be alleged, with their mobile phones capturing images of the table, the pair were communicated with using deep seated earpieces through which they received instruction to wager on various card games and ultimately cheat the casino,” police said.
“A subsequent search warrant was carried out at their accommodation on Kent Street in Sydney, where police located other gambling props, high end jewellery, and $2,000 Euro dollars.”
Photos of the seized items show $5,000 and $1,000 casino chips, microphones, cameras, and modified clothing and mobile phone cases.
Police said the amount won had raised the suspicions of the casino, and Organised Crime Squad Commander Peter Faux said the Casino and Racing Unit worked closely with casino security to detect and prevent criminal activity.
“Our detectives collaborate closely with casino security to identify and disrupt unlawful behaviour. This strong cooperation is vital to maintaining the integrity of gaming operations and is reflected in outcomes like this,” Detective Superintendent Faux said.
Header image: Items alleged used in the casino scam (NSW Police).
