Saucedo was caught slipping chips into his toke box at Bally’s, but continued as a Bellagio dealer for 8 months more.
A poker dealer at the Bellagio, Jesus Saucedo, had his dealer’s license revoked on Thursday after he was accused of stealing $5 poker chips while working at Bally’s. Commissioners from the Nevada Gaming Commission voted 4-0 to revoke Saucedo’s licensing.
This was the first time in 10 years that the commission had to revoke a dealer’s license under such circumstances. The decision came after a 1-hour evidentiary hearing.
A Nevada Gaming Control Board agent gave testimony, while surveillance videos showing the alleged crime was played for the commissioners.
Video showed Saucedo slipping $5 poker chips into his toke box. He resigned at Bally’s shortly after the incident came to light.
Control Agent Noticed Chip Theft
During questioning by Assistant Attorney General Michael Somps, NGCB agent A. Alan Vaughn served as a witness in the Bally’s case. Agent Vaughn described Jesus Saucedo’s technique for stealing chips while the video played for the commissioners. The Las Vegas Review-Journal said Saucedo was shown “curling his fingertips around the chips” and sweeping it near the rake pile.
Later, Saucedo would sweep those errant chips into the toke box, along with the real tokes he had accumulated. After A. Alan Vaughn noticed Saucedo’s suspicious behavior, he brought it to the attention of Bally’s security. They reviewed the tape, confronted Saucedo, and he left the Vegas Strip casino’s employ soon after.
Nevada Gaming Control Board Agents
Nevada Gaming Control Board agents like A. Alan Vaughn go into the Nevada casinos in plains clothes to regulate gaming. Not only do they walk the casino floors to spot any irregularities, but NGCB agents play casino games to get a closer look at the conduct of casino staff. Dealers and pit bosses never know which customer is a control agent, so the oversight is supposed to ensure fair gaming and better treatment for visitors.
June 17 Incident at Bally’s Casino
The original complaint against Jesus Saucedo was signed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board in October 2017. The incident at Bally’s happened on June 17 of last year, but Saucedo continued to deal poker at Bellagio until the time his license was revoked. When Gaming Control Board agents realized Jesus Saucedo was dealing poker at Bellagio in October, the Control Board filed the complaint against him.
Jesus Saucedo defended himself at the hearing. He told the commissioners, “My mistake was not following the proper procedure. It was not my intent to steal from my previous employer.”
The commissioners disagreed. Besides the one hand Vaughn noticed, casino staff reviewed two other hands earlier in the day in which Saucedo appeared to move $5 chips into the toke box. The officials agreed that the moves were not only deliberate, but they would have required practice to master the sleight of hand.
Commissioner Moran: Not “Your First Rodeo”
Commissioner Joe D. Moran said the incident likely was for more than the $15 in poker chips Bally’s security spotted. Moran said, in his opinion, Saucedo had been stealing from the house for some time. He said, “I think you cheated the game. I think you cheated your employer and, consequently, you cheated yourself because I think you’re a very skilled and good employee except for the fact that you cheated.”
“I don’t think this was your first rodeo. I think you’ve been doing this a long time. I wish we had facts for that, but we don’t. But I don’t need anything else than your admission and what I saw on the affidavits. I’m going to believe what I saw.”
Suspended at Bellagio in February
Despite leaving his job at Bally’s, Jesus Saucedo had continued at his job at Bellagio until the previous Thursday, when he was suspended. That is when Bellagio management learned of the previous incident. No incidents occurred at Bellagio in the meantime.
Jesus Saucedo can appeal the decision in Clarke County court, though it is unclear if he intends to do so. Saucedo also can apply for reinstatement in one year’s time. Again, it is uncertain if he plans to do so.
