Casino crime is an informal term for crimes that are committed at or in relation to casinos and other gambling establishments. The term specifically covers white-collar crimes such as money laundering and fraud.
In Pennsylvania, while the attorney general and district attorneys generally prosecute these crimes, they often brush up against the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). Some crimes may rise to federal charges.
A conviction may result in being placed on the involuntary exclusion list. It may affect an individual’s career and reputation, to say nothing of potential fines and jail time.
If you’re facing charges involving a casino crime or believe you may be charged, contact the LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team. We assist individuals who have been charged with federal and Pennsylvania state crimes. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form.
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
A state agency, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), is in charge of protecting the public by regulating:
- Casino and internet-based gambling
- Sports wagering
- Video gaming terminal (VGT) gambling
- Fantasy sports games
The board also has a role in the horse racing industry. PGCB enforces laws and regulations to ensure the integrity of legalized gaming within the state. The board also licenses relevant individuals and entities.
Part of the board’s job is economic. States legalize gambling as a source of revenue. The goal of legalizing gambling is to increase economic opportunities, including jobs, and improve tourism.
The board doesn’t handle criminal charges. The Pennsylvania Attorney General and other prosecutors will press charges.
Pennsylvania Involuntary Exclusion List
PGCB also manages the Keystone State’s involuntary exclusion list. The exclusion list bans people from gaming in a casino or placing bets via online gaming or a video gaming terminal.
The state also has a voluntary exclusion list, which is comprised of people who request to be excluded from this list. Someone with a gambling addiction, for example, may request to be placed on this list.
The involuntary exclusion list is for people whose actions or conduct result in the state banning them from licensed gambling establishments. In some cases, state law may require that they be banned.
Who Ends Up on the Exclusion List
Individuals can be placed on the registry for a number of reasons, including criminal convictions. For example, someone who is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude and whose presence in a gambling establishment would be harmful to the state or the licensed facility may be placed on the involuntary exclusion list.
A criminal conviction in any state, not just Pennsylvania, may qualify someone for the involuntary exclusion list. Anyone who is found guilty of cheating, such as stealing from another player, may end up on the involuntary exclusion list.
Placement on the involuntary exclusion list isn’t an automatic lifetime ban. Individuals can apply to be removed from the list after five years.
When the PGCB is considering placing someone on the exclusion list, such as after a criminal conviction, they will notify that individual. That person then has 30 days to respond and decide whether to appear at the hearing.
The involuntary exclusion list is one more way that a conviction for a casino crime can affect your life.
Common Types of Casino Crimes
Casino crimes run the gamut, from stealing another person’s winnings to high-level money laundering. Convictions can range from misdemeanors to felonies. Punishments span a similarly wide range from probation and fines to long prison sentences.
While other types of crimes can occur in casinos, casino crime generally refers to white-collar crimes. These are crimes that generally relate to money and gambling.
Even “minor” criminal convictions may affect professional licenses and your reputation. You may be placed on Pennsylvania’s involuntary exclusion list. A conviction may limit your employment opportunities.
That’s why, if you are charged with a casino crime, you need to be proactive in addressing the charges and defending yourself against them.
Pennsylvania Crime Versus Federal Crime
The division between state and federal charges can sometimes be confusing, especially in white-collar crime cases. In general, a case becomes a matter for federal law when:
- You allegedly crossed state lines during the commission of the crime
- You’ve been accused of committing a crime on federal property
- You allegedly committed a crime against the federal government or a federal employee
If you’re unsure if you’ll be facing federal or Pennsylvania criminal charges, the LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team can answer this and other questions.
Theft
In 2024, four employees from a Pittsburgh-area casino were charged with theft related to an electronic roulette table game. The employees were alleged to have taken over $10,000.
Theft occurs when someone takes someone else’s property. To be considered theft in Pennsylvania, someone must:
- Intentionally take another person’s property without permission
- Take this property with the intention of keeping it forever
In Pennsylvania, a theft conviction can range from a summary offense to a first-degree felony. The amount stolen factors into the grade and degree of any penalty. For example, someone who takes more than $2,000 and less than $500,000 could be convicted of a third-degree felony and face up to seven years in prison.
Cheating
It’s a common scene in Westerns and spy movies: the card player with an ace up his sleeve. The card, identical to the deck in play, allows him to win at a crucial moment.
Officially, this is known as card switching. It’s one of several ways that people may cheat in casinos. Individuals may use hidden cameras. They may count cards. They may mark cards. They may try to trick a slot machine.
Casinos find ways to stop one method of cheating, only for gamblers to find a new avenue. It’s an endless cycle, and both casinos and law enforcement can be aggressive in trying to stop cheating. The result is that individuals may face unexpected allegations of cheating.
Money Laundering
Someone obtains money illegally. They then find a way to “clean” or “launder” the money to make it appear that it’s come from a legal, legitimate source. One of the goals of money laundering is to take advantage of illegally obtained assets while hiding the illegal means and activities that made them.
Casinos have long been a favorite spot for money laundering, partially because of the amount of money that flows into them daily. While casinos are said to have strong anti-money laundering compliance, several high-profile casinos in Las Vegas have all had failures with their prevention systems.
Casinos themselves can potentially face criminal charges in money laundering cases. Wynn Las Vegas forfeited $130 million to settle federal allegations of conspiring with global unlicensed money-transmitting businesses.
In Pennsylvania, money laundering can be charged as a felony in the first degree. If convicted, a defendant would face:
- A fine of either $100,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater
- Up to twenty years in prison
These are serious consequences, which is why it’s important to be proactive in defending yourself against allegations of money laundering.
Embezzlement
In June 2025, police in San Jose, California, announced they had arrested a husband and wife for alleged embezzlement. Law enforcement claims the two embezzled tens of thousands of dollars from a casino where the wife worked.
Embezzlement involves a person intentionally using or diverting assets away from their intended purpose. It involves taking property that belongs to someone else, for example, casino chips, and converting that asset into their property. Embezzlement often occurs in workplaces.
Embezzlement is similar to theft except that the person who takes the property had legal control or possession of the property at some point. With theft, in comparison, individuals generally did not have any right, even a temporary one, to the taken property.
In the San Jose case, for example, the woman, as part of her job, did interact with chips as part of her job. Authorities allege that she took the chips and gave them to her husband. Her husband, in turn, would go into the casino and cash out the chips.
Pennsylvania defines embezzlement as a type of theft. The state defines it as occurring when a person takes money or other assets that were given to that person for a specific purpose.
Gambling and Addiction
In 2025, a York County woman was alleged to have stolen over $50,000 to fuel her gambling addiction. The case highlights that some casino crimes may relate to addiction or other issues. In these cases, individuals may not be helped more than by punishment.
If you’ve committed a casino crime because of a gambling addiction, the LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team can help you build a defense. If convicted, it may mitigate or lessen the sentencing.
Protect Your Future
Casino crimes may result in misdemeanor or fraud charges. They can carry stiff penalties, and anyone facing these charges needs a strong defense. The LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team assists our clients in collecting evidence and building strong cases.
If you’ve been charged or believe you may be charged for alleged actions related to a casino crime, contact the LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team. We handle both Pennsylvania and federal charges. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form.