Casino Gambler in Argentina Attacks Security After Run of Bad Luck

Posted on: February 10, 2023, 08:11h. 

Last updated on: February 10, 2023, 12:58h.

Erik Gibbs Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Gaming Business, Global Gaming.

A gambler in Argentina went into a rage after a losing streak on Wednesday. He reportedly damaged equipment and attacked police officers who tried to step in.

Casino del Rio Cipolletti in Rio Negro, Argentina
Casino del Rio Cipolletti in Rio Negro, Argentina, at night. A gambler upset that he wasn’,t winning, took his frustrations out on security guards and machines. (Image: LM Cipolletti)

The angry man began to shout and insult the casino, Casino del Río in Cipolletti, Río Negro, blaming it for his bad fortune. Security and two bouncers stepped in, urging him to calm down and avoid a major scandal. Security eventually grabbed the man and threw him onto the floor.

A casino patron caught the action with her cell phone, which shows the two employees and another individual who appears to be wearing a police uniform. Two employees are seen trying to immobilize the wild gambler while the third person handcuffs him.

The men struggled with the gambler, as captured by the phone’s camera, amid his continued grunts and protests.

Social Media Skirmish

But the enraged patron grew angrier after realizing the incident was being recorded. Two unnamed individuals attempted to get the woman to stop recording, but she refused. One of them tried to snatch the woman’s cell phone but failed, although he hit her twice.

At the end of the recording, before the guards removed their handcuffed gambler, another woman appeared on the recording, reportedly a casino employee. She began arguing with the impromptu reporter, telling her to leave the property.

It can only be assumed that she – as well as the guest who started the ruckus – were out the door soon after. The recording stopped at this point. But the evidence of the guard’s attack could reappear later.

Wrong Place, Wrong Time

The gambler picked the wrong venue if he had wanted to strike it rich. Despite the long drive, he would have been better off visiting a casino in Mendoza, 500 miles away.

On Tuesday, at the Arena Maipú casino complex, a gambler decided to try her luck on a progressive jackpot slot machine around 10 p.m. It paid off, as she won more than ARS3,608,324 (almost US$19,000).

The casino said in a statement that it was one of the largest prizes any casino in the country has ever awarded. The winner wasn’t even a regular – she only went to the casino in search of “temporary entertainment,” according to comments she made.