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10 Gamblers Banned From Las Vegas Casinos

Las Vegas is a gamblers’ paradise famous for its state-of-the-art casinos that attract high-profile gamblers from all over the world. Here, celebrated players seeking fortune and fame showcase their strategies and tactics.

Cases of Banning Gamblers from Las Vegas Casinos

However, not all gamblers follow the rules. Some cheat and cause trouble, which leads to them being banned from casinos in Las Vegas.

Reasons Why Las Vegas Casinos Ban Gamblers

Las Vegas casinos have strict gambling rules to ensure fair play and a safe and secure environment for gamblers. Any gambler found violating the rules is subject to a ban from the casino establishments.

Here are some of the main reasons why Las Vegas casinos ban gamblers:

  • Cheating: Cheating in gambling involves the use of various methods such as rigging slot machines, card marking, dice sliding, edge sorting, and employing electronic devices or technology to manipulate game outcomes and have an unfair advantage over other players.
  • Card counting: Card counting is legal, but most casinos think it’s unfair because skilled card counters often win a lot of money, which hurts the casino’s profits.
  • Consistent large wins: Most casinos consider gamblers with a record of consistent big wins as a financial threat. Although the player may not cheat, casinos often suspect unfair play and ban the individual.
  • Collusion: This happens when two or more players team up to cheat the house or other gamblers. Casino staff and security closely monitor poker tables and gaming floors for any signs of collusion and will ban any parties caught in the act.
  • Fraud: Some gamblers try to outsmart the system by using fraudulent credit cards, fake IDs, or counterfeit chips to cheat the casinos. Any gambler found involved in fraud is permanently excluded from establishments and may also face criminal charges.
  • Violence or disruptive behavior: Las Vegas casinos also ban gamblers involved in violent or disruptive behavior such as aggression, altercations, and drunkenness that disrupts the safety and comfort of other players and guests.
  • Casino blacklists: Most casinos in Vegas are part of a broader network of gambling establishments and share information about banned players. So, a casino may ban someone simply because they were banned from another casino.
  • Excessive gambling or addiction: Although this is a rare case, some casinos ban individuals for excessive gambling, especially if they exhibit signs of self-harm after experiencing losses. Also, gamblers may request to be banned from casinos to control their gambling addiction through a self-exclusion program.

Discretion of Las Vegas Casinos in Banning Gamblers

Casinos in Sin City operate as private business entities and, therefore, have broad discretion when deciding who to serve or even enter their premises. They aren’t under any obligation to allow anyone to gamble or enter their premises if they feel the individual is detrimental to their business.

10 High-Profile Gamblers Banned from Las Vegas Casinos

Over the years, some popular gamblers have made headlines in the gambling world for their permanent exclusion from Las Vegas casinos following their outrageous behavior.

Las Vegas casinos, like any other private business, can ban any individual from their premises if they don’t violate anti-discrimination laws.

1. Ronald Harris

Ronald Harris, a former Nevada Gaming Control Board employee, took advantage of his expertise and access to inside information to illegally modify slot machines to pay large sums of money when specific coin sequences were inserted. Through this trick, Harris and his accomplice managed to secure large wins from Vegas casinos.

However, his cheating tactics were later discovered, resulting in permanent exclusion from Las Vegas casinos and serious legal consequences.

This trick by Harris is one of the most successful and undetected scams in gaming history.

2. Ben Affleck

Las Vegas casinos banned Ben Affleck, a famous actor and poker enthusiast, for counting cards. While card counting isn’t illegal in gambling, most casino establishments do not allow it and often ban players found doing it.

Affleck loved blackjack and decided to perfect his skills, but the former Hard Rock Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas banned him because he “was too good” at cards.

3. Don Johnson

Don Johnson is a renowned blackjack player who also made his way onto the list of gamblers banned from casinos.

Johnson’s woes in the gambling world hit a climax when he won over $15 million in Atlantic City. His excellent negotiating skills and strategies contributed to his win, which didn’t sit well with casinos in Sin City, leading to his exclusion.

While his negotiating skills weren’t illegal, most casinos saw his success as a threat.

4. Shaun Benward

Shaun Benward, a gambler who describes himself as a magician and illusionist, was banned from Vegas casinos when he was convicted of cheating at roulette in various casinos.

Besides violation of gaming laws, Benward was also convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude and having a notorious or unsavory reputation.

5. Dana White

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President and CEO, Dana White, is also in Vegas Casinos’ Black Books.

White, an exceptional baccarat player, is also a high roller who likes playing at high-stakes tables. He’s managed to create a name for himself following his massive wins. One widely-known instance is when he won approximately $26- $27 million on baccarat at Ceasars Palace in early 2024.

His immense success, however, made most casinos deny him a seat at their tables.

6. Allen Iverson

While casinos banned most of the gamblers on our list because of cheating or massive wins, Allen Iverson is among those banned for disruptive behavior.

The former NBA star had a gambling problem for the better part of his career. Every time he lost (which was way too often), he mainly reacted with violence and other disruptive behavior, such as throwing chips or cards at the dealer. He was also rude to other players and staff.

7. MIT Blackjack Team

The MIT Blackjack Team is one of the most famous crews in the history of gambling. This team comprised students and ex-students from Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and other leading colleges. They used advanced mathematical strategies and team-based card counting to increase their wins.

When investigators uncovered their winning tactics, the MIT blackjack team members were auto-banned from casino establishments in Vegas.

8. Richard Marcus

Richard Marcus is a professional gambler and a master cheat in the gambling world. Marcus developed several cheating tactics, such as past posting and chip dumping, which misled the dealers and gave him an unfair advantage in the game.

His tactics resulted in numerous wins and a permanent place on casinos’ ban list.

9. Dominic LoRiggio

Dominic LoRiggio is also known as the “Dominator” in the gambling industry. He earned his name following his exceptional ability to dominate at casinos’ dice controls and blackjack.

His mastery at controlling dice rolls in craps resulted in an unusual level of success that led to most casinos banning him.

10. Tommy Glenn Carmichael

Tommy Glenn Carmichael is a renowned gambler and a slot machine hacker. Carmichael made a fortune in gambling for years using homemade devices to cheat slot machines.

However, he was finally caught and banned from casino establishments in Las Vegas.

Can a Gambler Appeal Their Ban From Las Vegas Casinos?

Usually, casino bans are final and not subject to appeals. And since casinos are private businesses, they are under no obligation to provide room for appeal or reverse their decisions.  However, certain rare cases exist where a gambler may appeal their ban.

Ideally, the chances of successfully overturning a ban depend on:

  • The casino’s policies
  • Reasons behind the ban
  • Whether the gambler can provide valid and compelling reasons for reconsideration.

What reasons might be overlooked?

  • Self-exclusion – reinstated after a significant period and upon issuing proof of rehabilitation.
  • Minor offenses – brief altercations or drunkenness, especially if the gambler has no record of other incidents.
  • Temporary suspension for non-criminal behavior.

What cannot be forgiven?

  • Cheating
  • Fraud and criminal activities
  • Severe behavioral issues

Did Any of These Gamblers Appeal Their Ban?

Several casinos banned Dana White for his consistent large wins at high-stake tables. White successfully managed to appeal his ban, and several casinos allowed him back to their tables. However, the decision came under specific conditions, among them reduced bet sizes. This ban lift shows that casinos sometimes overlook non-criminal behavior, such as consistent wins or a gambler’s skills.

Wrapping Up

These 10 gamblers banned from Las Vegas casinos are just a few of the many high-profile gamblers whose many years of fame and fortune dwindled following their outrageous cheating tactics and disruptive behavior.

Many gamblers think they can use their cheating tactics to outsmart the system. However, it’s clear that casinos are well-equipped to handle them. Although it may take years, they ultimately suffer the consequences of their actions: tarnished reputations and long-term casino bans.

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