Arrest Made After Fake Chips Used at Vegas Casinos

By Jane Shaw Senior Editor Updated: 05/04/2024

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We count on Jane to inform our readers about the latest slot games in the US market. With her passion for video games and a degree in engineering, she’s our gambling tech expert. Jane’s also active in our blog section, where she tackles the curiosities and changes in the industry.

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Fake Chips Used at Vegas Casinos

It has been reported that police in Las Vegas have recently apprehended a 54-year-old man on multiple charges related to the use of counterfeit gambling chips at several well-known casinos in the area.

Gratis Woolen, Jr. was arrested earlier this month on charges including burglary and possession of unlawful instruments. This followed an incident at a Las Vegas Strip motel unrelated to the counterfeit chips, as reported by Las Vegas TV station KLAS.

Upon conducting a background check during the arrest, officers discovered an outstanding warrant associated with the fraudulent gambling chips. Woolen appeared in court where Clark County judge Melissa Stratton set a $1,000 bond for his release, requiring him to wear an electronic monitoring device.

Investigation into Counterfeit Chips Started Last Year

The investigation into the counterfeit chips began in January 2023 when an employee at Harrah’s Las Vegas Hotel and Casino alerted the Nevada Gaming Control Board after a female player used a fake chip at the casino.

Around the same time, an employee at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas also reported a similar incident involving counterfeit $100 chips. Subsequent investigations by the NGCB revealed that Woolen was the suspect behind the counterfeit chips used at The Cosmopolitan, where he allegedly exchanged them for cash at the casino’s cashier’s cage.

Inspectors from the NGCB noted that the counterfeit chips had Golden Gate gaming property stickers attached, with further examination revealing issues such as misaligned inserts and abnormal bumps underneath the stickers. Another incident occurred at the Linq Hotel + Experience, where a cashier inspected a chip presented by an unnamed woman.

An NGCB official said:

The chips were easily identified as counterfeit, as legitimate chips are a solid piece of ceramic without external decorations, such as stickers and paint.

It remains uncertain whether Woolen manufactured the chips himself or obtained them from another source, as reported by KLAS. The female suspect involved in the Linq Hotel + Experience incident has yet to be charged, and police have not disclosed her identity.

Counterfeits a Challenge for Casinos

Officials said that Woolen’s arrest highlights the challenges faced by casinos in terms of tackling counterfeit activities and maintaining the integrity of their gaming operations. The incident also highlights the vigilance of casino staff and regulatory authorities in identifying and apprehending those involved in fraudulent activities within the industry.

It has been reported that authorities will continue to investigate the extent of Woolen’s involvement in the scheme and any potential accomplices in the distribution or production of counterfeit chips. In the meantime, casinos are likely to review and strengthen their security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The use of counterfeit chips is one of various challenges that face casinos. Many casinos have been hit with other issues, such as hacking and cybercrime, which have led to huge problems and breaches of customer data. Regulators in Las Vegas have been proactive in taking action to reduce the risk of this sort of crime being committed at Las Vegas’s famous casinos.