Six Charged for Multi-State Casino Card Manipulation Scam

baccarat cheating ring that targeted multiple casinos across the United States has come under serious legal fire. Authorities charged six individuals with felony theft and cheating at gambling after they allegedly stole over $1.5 million using a coordinated scam.

Good to know

• The group reportedly took $700,000 from Hard Rock Casino in Northern Indiana in just one week.
• Similar incidents were traced to casinos in Illinois, Pennsylvania, California, Mississippi, and New York.
• One accused individual also faces a separate warrant in Pennsylvania.

Between July 2023 and March 2024, the group hit more than 10 casinos using a method centered on manipulating the way cards were dealt in baccarat. Their strategy was especially successful at Hard Rock Casino in Indiana, where $700,000 was taken in a short span.

The accused — Jianchu Liu, Fuxian Liu, Qingyong Zhang, Honghui Wu, Yuhan Hu, and Daiqi Wang — now face two felony charges each. All six were officially charged on June 2.

How the Scam Worked

Baccarat is a card game where players bet on whether the “player” or the “banker” will win. It uses eight decks and relies on quick dealing. The suspects allegedly exploited the early stages of each hand, where a player is often allowed to cut the deck.

One person in the group reportedly fanned out or looked at the cards during the cut. Another would record the sequence while trying to block casino staff and cameras from seeing the activity. With that card knowledge, other members placed large bets based on upcoming hands.

Court filings say the men moved between tables, waiting for dealers who unknowingly gave them the opportunity to carry out the plan.

At first, authorities believed a dealer might have been part of the operation. But after an interview and phone record review, they found no communication between him and the suspects. Investigators confirmed the dealer had not intentionally aided the group.

Investigation Reaches Other States

Illinois authorities tied the suspects to a similar scheme at Bally’s Casino in Chicago, where they had already been banned. Other affected venues include casinos in Pennsylvania, New York, Mississippi, and California, all reporting baccarat losses that matched the same tactic.

Indiana authorities have issued arrest warrants for all six men. Jianchu Liu, a Chinese national, is also wanted in Pennsylvania on two felony counts for winning by trickery at casinos there.

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