Chavdar Vasilev is a journalist covering the casino and sports betting market sectors for CasinoBeats. He joined CasinoBeats in May 2025 and reports on industry-shaping stories across the US and beyond, including legislative debates, market...
Read Full BioCalgary police have arrested and charged five individuals — including two casino employees — in what they describe as a scheme to issue “unearned winnings” to patrons at a southeast Calgary casino.
Authorities responded to calls from the casino management, which had launched an investigation into suspicious activity. The alleged conspiracy ran between October 31 and November 19. The two employees allegedly colluded with three patrons to issue fraudulent payouts during card games.
At around 3:20 p.m. on November 19, officers arrived on site after reports of “theft and fraud,” and arrested two men and three women on the gaming floor. All five face charges of fraud over $5,000. The two casino employees are also facing charges of criminal breach of trust.
The accused, Yalan Yin, 50; Leonilo Calahi Juan, 51; Rui Qin Huang, 52; Rosielyn Konno, 57; and Catherine Manipon, 48, are scheduled to appear in court on December 22, 2025.
In a statement as reported by the Calgary Herald, police said they “work closely with regulatory bodies and industry partners to ensure gaming-industry standards are followed — and those who attempt to exploit them are held accountable.”
Not an Isolated Incident in Canada
Though the Calgary incident stands out for involving casino staff and multiple patrons, it is not unique. Canadian casinos have faced other high-profile fraud cases in recent years.
Earlier this year, an investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police targeted a coordinated ATM-fraud ring operating across casino properties in Alberta.
The accused individuals allegedly made high-volume withdrawals from casino ATMs. That later led to money laundering and fraud charges after investigators uncovered suspicious activity.
In 2023, authorities charged a dealer and patrons at Ontario’s Pickering Casino Resort for alleged coordinated cheating at table games. The scheme, which occurred only months after the casino opened, was similar to the recent Calgary one, where the dealer colluded with the patrons to issue fraudulent winnings.
US Incidents Reveal Parallel Vulnerabilities
U.S. casinos have also fallen victim to criminal schemes. A notable example is the now-dismantled Tran Organization. The syndicate exploited close to 30 casinos across the U.S. and Canada, reportedly siphoning around $7 million. Over 40 people pleaded guilty in the case.
More recently, casinos have faced fraud rooted in simple deception, such as social engineering. In 2023 and 2024, several high-impact social-engineering cases emerged.
In one case, Las Vegas police arrested an individual for pretending to be Circa Casino owner Derek Stevens. He tricked a casino cage supervisor into handing him over $1.1 million. The scam prompted the Nevada Gaming Control Board to issue a warning to casinos.
A similar incident at Four Winds Casino in Michigan resulted in an individual successfully tricking a cashier into handing over roughly $700,000 in cash.
Social engineering also led to major cyber incidents at MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment in September 2023. The perpetrators allegedly tricked IT help desk employees into resetting credentials. MGM endured a multiday system shutdown that cost the company more than $100 million.
In the tribal sector, Louisiana authorities launched a major investigation into embezzlement at Coushatta Casino Resort. The former chairman of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Jonathan Cernek, allegedly embezzled casino funds for personal use.
Together, the Calgary incident and these cases reinforce a central truth: casinos remain vulnerable wherever trust, access, or procedural oversight can be compromised — from table games to cash handling to accounting offices.
