Two Star Casino employees have been sacked and convicted in court after attempting to steal more than $30,000 in gaming chips.
Mr Richard Quach, a baccarat dealer, was captured on CCTV footage taking five chips off a gaming table and stuffing them into his sock while dealing a hand at the casino in 2020.
The footage shows Mr Quach dealing cards to two players before placing chips on the table. As he returns the chips to the rack, he can be seen sliding his hand off the table along with several chips.
A subsequent investigation by the casino found he had stolen $11,000 worth of gaming chips over a one-week period in July 2020.
Only five of the gaming chips worth $5,000 were recovered with the attendant admitting he had cashed out $6,000 worth of chips to play gaming machines inside the casino.
Mr Quach was sacked by The Star and convicted of theft in the NSW Local Court. He was sentenced to serve a two-year Community Corrections Order and required to pay a total of $6,000 in compensation.
In a separate incident CCTV captured another employee, Mr Pharadorn Naweesakorn, giving $6,000 worth of chips to a customer in exchange for $1,000 in cash – an overpayment of $5,000.
A subsequent investigation found he had made a total overpayment of $20,000 to the same patron on four separate occasions.
The dealer admitted he colluded with the patron after the scheme was first suggested to him as a joke.
He was sentenced to a two year Community Corrections Order and ordered to pay $8,550 in compensation to The Star.
Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority Chair, Philip Crawford said The Star self-reported the misconduct in line with its obligations and was right to sack its employees as they held special positions of responsibility in the industry. After the finalisation of court proceedings in February 2021, ILGA cancelled the former employees’ gaming licences.
“A casino special employee is a licensee engaged to supervise and facilitate gaming activities,” Mr Crawford said.
“These people help safeguard the integrity of casino operations from criminal influence, serious misconduct or exploitation and a special degree of trust is placed in them.”
