Gambling and gaming in casinos are highly regulated activities. If someone is found to be violating the ‘rules,’ then the Division of Gaming will charge them with Fraudulent Acts. The problem is, often people don’t know that they are violating the rules. We are not talking about a professional con artist who can – through slight of hand – exchange cards to get a better hand at poker. Most people charged with this offense did something like pick up a ticket with a few bucks left on it off the ground and cash it in. Literally picking up someone’s trash can land you with a criminal charge. Or, sitting down at a machine where the previous person didn’t cash out and you play their left-over credits. There are people watching ALL the time, looking for anyone violating these rules and eager to rush in with a ticket or summons for you to appear in Gilpin County Courts.
Fraudulent Acts Law in Gilpin County: What is Considered a Fraudulent Act in Colorado Casinos?
The Gilpin County, Colorado law definition of Fraudulent Acts – C.R.S. 44-30-822 (1)(a-c)– is:
(a) To alter or misrepresent the outcome of a game or other event on which wagers have been made after the outcome is made sure but before it is revealed to the players;
(b) To place, increase, or decrease a bet or to determine the course of play after acquiring knowledge, not available to all players, of the outcome of the game or any event that affects the outcome of the game or that is the subject of the bet or to aid anyone in acquiring the knowledge for the purpose of placing, increasing, or decreasing a bet or determining the course of play contingent upon that event or outcome;
(c) To claim, collect, or take, or attempt to claim, collect, or take, money or anything of value in or from a limited gaming activity with intent to defraud and without having made a wager contingent thereon, or to claim, collect, or take an amount greater than the amount won.
Most commonly, we see people issued tickets for a violation under subsection (c). It basically means that you are claiming or playing money that you didn’t earn. Interestingly, if you were in the parking lot of the casino and found a $1 bill on the ground, it wouldn’t be a crime to pick it up. But, if you were in the casino and found a discarded $1 ticket on the ground and cashed it out, you just committed a misdemeanor according to this law.
Sentence for Fraudulent Acts in Central City and Blackhawk Casinos
If you are issued a summons or ticket for Fraudulent Acts due to conduct at a Colorado Casino, then you are likely facing a class 1 misdemeanor charge. If, however, you are considered a repeat gambling offender, then it would be charged as a class 5 felony.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Fraudulent Acts, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 to schedule your free initial consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
Image Source: Pexels – Pixabay