Ontario Casino Dealer Charged for Allegedly Helping Gamblers Cheat

Posted on: August 17, 2023, 09:08h. 

Last updated on: August 17, 2023, 11:59h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

An Ontario casino dealer is facing charges in the Canadian province after law enforcement alleged the employee colluded with several gamblers to cheat the house.

Ontario casino dealer Pickering Canada
An Ontario casino dealer working at the Pickering Casino Resort has been accused of helping gamblers cheat. Three others are also facing criminal charges in the alleged scheme. (Image: CTV Windsor)

Great Canadian Gaming Corporation opened its 96,000-square-foot Pickering Casino Resort in July 2021. The casino offers more than 2,200 slot machines and 90 live dealer table games. The gaming floor also features 140 live dealer stadium gaming seats.

One of those Pickering dealers, Ontario Provincial Police allege, conspired with at least three individuals to cheat.

CTV News Toronto reports that law enforcement was tipped off to the cheating allegation on August 3. A subsequent investigation led by the OPP in conjunction with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) concluded that 24-year-old Toronto resident Sandeep Sogi “was in collusion with patrons” while on the job.

Sogi has been charged with criminal breach of trust, four counts of cheat at play, and four counts of fraud in excess of $5,000.

Pickering opened its $500 million hotel in January with 275 guestrooms. The property additionally included a 2,500-seat venue called The Arena that will host concerts, theater productions, and live sports.

Details Scant

Ontario police aren’t saying how Sogi allegedly assisted players at the felt in beating the odds and regularly winning. But law enforcement officials also charged three of his alleged conspirators, Sukhvir Singh, 28, of Mississauga, Deepak Kakkar, 30, of Brampton, and Anchhu Kumar, 24, of Brampton, in connection with the case.

Those defendants are each facing charges for cheat at play, fraud over $5,000, and possession of property over $5,000 obtained through crime.

Cheat at play, according to the Criminal Code of Canada, refers to the act of intentionally defrauding a person or business while playing a game. Individuals found guilty of a cheat-at-play charge face up to two years imprisonment.

How Sogi and his alleged conspirators swindled money from the Pickering casino remains unknown. It’s also unclear what game Sogi dealt.

All of the specifics will be part of the evidence when the matter is heard before a judge,” an OPP spokesperson told CTV News Toronto.

Police said all four suspects have been released and will be scheduled to appear in an Oshawa courtroom at a later but not-yet-scheduled date. Law enforcement told the media that the investigation is ongoing, and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact police.

AGCO Strengthening Protections

The AGCO says part of its mission is to “regulate in accordance with the principles of honesty and integrity, and in the public interest.” A pillar of that objective is safeguarding the integrity of casino gaming throughout the province.

The AGCO also works to make sure Ontario’s legal gaming market doesn’t negatively impact society. This week, AGCO announced a CA$100,000 (US$74,000) penalty against Apollo Entertainment Ltd. after a review concluded that the iGaming operator failed to intervene with suspected problem gamblers.

The regulator said Apollo staffers didn’t reach out to one such gambler who lost nearly $150K in just a four-month span online.

“All registered operators have an obligation to proactively monitor patron play for signs of high-risk gambling, and must take appropriate actions to intervene and reduce the potential for gambling-related harm,” said Tom Mungham, chief executive officer and registrar of the AGCO.