Two croupiers Craig Walker and Daniel Johnson have been jailed after casino managers found out that they were fixing a roulette wheel. According to the information provided to the public, Walker, 26 and Johnson, 29, have come up with a secret signal to tip off their partner Kevin Traynor, 32.
The scam took place in a popular attraction in Blackpool, United Kingdom, and if it weren’t for the managers who have become suspicious of Traynor’s winnings, the casino would have lost lots of cash. The trio managed to con out £23,000, but Traynor’s betting pattern got them all arrested.
Apparently, the two croupiers were working together when they became aware of the possibility to perform a “no spin” on the wheel. This means that the ball can be fixed in a way that it would stay in the same slot. This revelation motivated them to call Traynor and ask him to place winning bets. Whenever he was given the appropriate signal – the croupier scratching his head – Traynor would increase his bet from £25 to £100 and win. He later split the money with his accomplices.
The scam was first noticed in January, 2015, two months after the trio started with their scheme. Luckily for the casino, its manager Richard Monroe felt that Traynor’s gambling pattern was suspicious and asked another member of the casino’s staff to supervise him. Turned out, the player was gambling with small amounts, but managed to scoop big wins. The casino computer even recorded a huge £2,100 payout.
This made the manager take a look at the CCTV footage and notice that Walker was scratching his head prior every spin that made Traynor a winner. Soon afterwards the trio was arrested and they all pleaded guilty to fraud.