Posted on: March 28, 2024, 06:50h.
Last updated on: March 28, 2024, 06:50h.
Five suspects were arrested recently after alleged cheating was discovered at a table game at Ontario’s Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto.
A casino dealer was “in collusion” with four players at the gaming property, authorities said. No details on the cheating scheme were released by investigators.
The Ontario Provincial Police Investigation and Enforcement Bureau was contacted on March 18 to investigate the plot.
The five Canadians later were arrested, police revealed on Wednesday.
Charges Announced
The suspects include:
- Anagha Varghese, 21, of Etobicoke. He was charged with three counts each of cheat at play, criminal breach of trust, fraud over $5K, and theft under $5K.
- Tajveer Kour, 21, of Brampton, who was charged with cheat at play, criminal breach of trust, fraud over $5K, and theft under $5K.
- Yakshu Nehra, 23, of Etobicoke, who was charged with three counts of cheat at play, three counts of fraud over $5K, and three counts of theft under $5K.
- Himanshu Tanwar, 25, of Etobicoke, who was charged with three counts of cheat at play, three counts of fraud over $5K, and three counts of theft under $5K.
- Parkh Raheja, 25, of Etobicoke, who was charged with three counts of cheat at play, two counts of theft under $5K, two counts of fraud under $5K, as well as single counts each of fraud over $5K and theft over $5K.
Each was released from custody after they were processed by police officers. Their cases were turned over to local prosecutors at the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto.
The Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto opened on June 20, 2023. Currently identified as the largest gaming property in Canada, it is located in Etobicoke.
Prior Cheating Allegations
In April 2023, when the gaming property was called Casino Woodbine, authorities discovered a similar cheating scheme involving an electronic craps dealer and several players, according to the Toronto Sun.
Five Canadian suspects were arrested in that plot, too. It included allegations of cheat-at-play and dealer collusion.
They included Arthur Segovia, 52, of Etobicoke. He was charged with criminal breach of trust, cheat at play, fraud over $5K, and theft over $5K.
Others were Khalil Evans, 29, Donovan Smyth-Todd, 30, and Daniel Hatton, 25, each of Toronto. The fifth suspect was Andrew Gayle-Bourne, 33, of Oakville. Each of these four were charged with cheat at play, fraud over $5K, and theft over $5K.
Details on their court cases were not immediately available.
Government officials fined Casino Woodbine C$80K (US$60K) after it was found the gaming property failed to comply with Gaming Control Act.
But Great Canadian Entertainment, the parent company of Casino Woodbine, defended its adherence to regulations.
We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of security, integrity and fairness in all aspects of our operations,” Great Canadian Entertainment said in a statement released last year.
