Two charged after winning $30K by cheating at California casinos

• A pair of men face accusations for cheating at Pala Casino and Harrah's Casino, the San Diego County District Attorney announced
• The two are suspected of marking cards to gain an unfair advantage and win more than $30,000
• Summer Stephan, the San Diego County District Attorney, speaks about the method of cheating that was used and the importance of casino surveillance as a way to combat such crimes

Two men, suspected of cheating at a San Diego, California, casinos and winning tens of thousands of dollars, may face more than three years in prison if found guilty.

Marking high-value cards: the oldest trick in the book

Earlier this week, the San Diego County District Attorney, Summer Stephan, uncovered details regarding the criminal case.

One of the suspects is 52 years old, while the other one is 53. Each suspect is facing two felony counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, the DA confirmed.

The pair of men are accused of cheating at Pala Casino and Harrah's Casino in Valley Center.

This unlawful activity enabled them to gain an unfair advantage and win more than $30,000.

Per the criminal charges filed against the two men, they first visited Pala Casino.

Each suspect entered the casino separately, but in the end, they sat down at the same table and began playing Mississippi Stud Poker.

Casino surveillance recorded each of the men marking the corners of high-value cards they received while playing.

With this method, the pair allegedly marked the corners of Tens, Jacks, Queens, Kings and Aces.

"Each defendant is seen multiple times marking cards to help them see what cards the dealer might have in front of them to assist them in deciding how to bet on the subsequent rounds of the game," the DA's statement explains.

After several hours of play, when the poker table was shut down, the two suspects exited the casino without cashing in their chips.

Several hours later, the pair returned to Pala Casino in different clothing and partially cashed in their winnings by going to different cashiers.

An investigation into their actions estimated the loss for Pala Casino at $19,250.

Separately, the same two suspects visited another casino. This time, the pair played at Harrah's Casino in Valley Center.

According to the criminal charges filed against the duo, they incorporated the same cheating method while playing Mississippi Stud Poker. This enabled them to win $13,410.

Thanks to modern technology, cheating can be easily detected

DA Stephan said about the latest criminal case: "This method of cheating at cards goes back hundreds of years but with modern technology, the practice can be detected and those who would scam local casinos can be brought to justice."

Moreover, he added: "I’m proud of my office’s relationships with tribal governments and the cooperation we continue to have with them to successfully prosecute a variety of crimes that occur on tribal lands."

If found guilty, each suspect may be sentenced to up to three years and eight months in prison.

According to the DA's Office, a preliminary hearing of the criminal case is scheduled for January 15, 2026.

Image credit: Pixabay.com