Ohio plans aggressive campaign to fight casino con artists

April 15, 2012 at 3:03p.m.

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Ohio is ready to do battle with the con artists expected to arrive with the opening of the state’s first casinos next month.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission has assigned 13 state investigators full time to the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, scheduled to open May 14, and similar contingents at casinos opening later in Toledo, Columbus and Cincinnati.

Agents have completed a 40-hour course that covers the rules for games such as poker or craps as well as ruses that cheats are likely to try.

“Every organized team that hits every jurisdiction will be coming to Ohio in some fashion,” George Joseph, a veteran Las Vegas-based casino security consultant, told the Plain Dealer. “Your money’s green in Ohio. They’ll be coming that way.”

The agents have sole jurisdiction on the gaming floor, though casino-hired security will handle routine matters, said Matt Schuler, the commission’s executive director.