Two Las Vegas Casino Dealers Busted for Helping Gamblers Cheat

Article by : Erik Gibbs Nov 9, 2023

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Nevada gaming investigators suspect that two baccarat dealers at Rampart Casino in Las Vegas, Yuxuan Leng and an unnamed second dealer, may have cheated to assist players in winning substantial amounts of money.

The information, obtained from court documents by KLAS-TV, indicates that charges have been filed against Yuxuan Leng, while the identity of the second dealer remains redacted.

The suspicions were brought to the attention of the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) in May 2022 when another Rampart employee reported unusual activity. Longtime baccarat players were winning more than usual, prompting an investigation.

Casino surveillance allegedly captured Leng and the other dealer “revealing the gaming cards to [both players] before the conclusion of gameplay on six separate incidents spanning over May.”

Armed with knowledge of game outcomes in advance, the players collectively won $5,000. One player admitted collusion when confronted by casino security, while the other denied involvement.

Yuxuan Leng was arrested on November 2, facing charges of cheating and attempting or conspiring to cheat at a gambling game. Her court appearance is scheduled for December.

The unnamed dealer, arrested by NGCB investigators, denied receiving any money from the players. He described himself as one of the fastest but somewhat sloppy dealers. The current legal status of the unnamed dealer remains unclear

A “Flashing Baccarat” scandal unfolded in June 2020 when Ying Yu, a former baccarat dealer at the Strat, was apprehended for engaging in a cheating scheme known as “dumping.” This fraudulent practice benefits a player while allowing the dealer to receive extra tips.

In this case, Yu neglected to collect the player’s losing wagers on four occasions, and the player tipped Yu more than $100, as indicated by documents related to the incident.

Another incident involved Ming Zhang, a former baccarat dealer from Maryland, residing in Alexandria, Va., who, in December 2019, received an 18-month prison sentence in federal court. Zhang played a role in a million-dollar baccarat cheating scheme, according to federal prosecutors.

Upon his release, Zhang was placed under three years of supervised release, and Maryland US District Court Judge Paul W. Grimm ordered him to reimburse the casino for the entire loss amounting to $1,046,560.

Zhang and his co-conspirators’ actions led to this substantial loss, and he pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to transport stolen funds.

While prosecutors did not disclose the name of the casino in their statement, the Associated Press reported that Zhang had worked at MGM National Harbor near Washington, DC.