Toronto Casino Cheating Scheme Leads to Five Arrests

Posted on: March 28, 2024, 06:50h. 

Last updated on: March 28, 2024, 11:59h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

Five suspects were arrested recently after alleged cheating was discovered at a table game at Ontario’s Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto.

Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto
The Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, pictured above. Four players and a dealer were arrested for cheating there. (Image: Great Canadian Entertainment)

A casino dealer was “in collusion” with four players at the gaming property, authorities said. No details on the cheating scheme were released by investigators.

The Ontario Provincial Police Investigation and Enforcement Bureau was contacted on March 18 to investigate the plot. The five Canadians were arrested soon after, police revealed on Wednesday.

Charges Announced

The suspects, who are all between the ages of 21 and 25, include Tajveer Kour of Brampton, Anagha Varghese, Yakshu Nehra, Himanshu Tanwar, and Parkh Raheja, all of Etobicoke.

Each suspect was charged with three counts each of cheat at play, criminal breach of trust, fraud over $5K, and theft under $5K. Each was released from custody after they were processed by authorities, and their cases were turned over to local prosecutors at the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto.

The Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto opened on June 20, 2023. Currently identified as the largest gaming property in Canada, it is located in Etobicoke.

Prior Cheating Allegations

In April 2023, when the gaming property was called Casino Woodbine, authorities discovered a similar cheating scheme involving an electronic craps dealer and several players, according to the Toronto Sun.

Five Canadian suspects were arrested in that plot, which included allegations of cheat-at-play and dealer collusion.

They included Arthur Segovia, 52, of Etobicoke, who was charged with criminal breach of trust, cheat at play, fraud over $5K, and theft over $5K. Andrew Gayle-Bourne, 33, of Oakville, Khalil Evans, 29, Donovan Smyth-Todd, 30, and Daniel Hatton, 25, each of Toronto were all charged with cheat at play, fraud over $5K, and theft over $5K.

Details on their court cases weren’t immediately available.

Government officials fined Casino Woodbine C$80K (US$60K)  after it was found the gaming property failed to comply with the Gaming Control Act.

But Great Canadian Entertainment, the parent company of Casino Woodbine, defended its adherence to regulations.

“We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of security, integrity, and fairness in all aspects of our operations,” Great Canadian Entertainment said in a statement released last year.