5 Famous Casino Heist of the Century
Understandably, people are curious about actual casino heists, given the popularity of films like Ocean's Eleven, American Hustle, and Now You See Me. Not all recent heists sound like they were taken directly out of a movie, but even the ones without the Hollywood glitz are exciting.
Casino Amount Year
Stardust Hotel and Casino $500,00 1992
Crown Casino, Australia $30 million 2013
Bellagio Hotel and Casino $1.5 million in chips 2000 and 2010
Crown Casino, Australia $32 million 2011
These are only a few instances of well-known casino robberies. Each one's distinctive components and means of operation by the crooks involved differed. It's important to remember that participating in illicit acts, such as casino heists, is prohibited and may carry harsh punishments. The top ranking kasyn heists in history are listed here in no order. Interestingly, these casino heists follow the same process:
- Reconnaissance
- Team formation
- Planning
- Gathering equipment
- Infiltration
- Bypassing security measures
- Targeted asset
- Swift execution
- Escape
Crown Casino Melbourne Robbery
The largest casino heists sometimes involve inside jobs caused by dishonest staff. It frequently requires a person on the inside who is conversant with the casino's security system. High roller and casino personnel collaborated to pull off a $33 million theft at Jacob Packer's Crown Casino in Melbourne.
Casino hosts often ask high rollers to participate in high-limit games, no matter how benevolent they appear. However, it was discovered that Manning's VIP services supervisor was also involved in the scheme. Manning continued to win at the blackjack table. Manning finished with eight straight wins and $33 million in his pocket.
Security took notice of the extraordinary bet sizes and winning streak. Security team members found evidence of a compromise and fraud involving the security cameras as signals were allegedly sent to Manning. Later, a security officer confronted Manning in his suite and demanded that he vacate the building. The Crown Casino decided not to file a complaint. They also intended to conceal the occurrence from the public.
Soboba's unconscious robbery
Rolando Ramos, who wasn't much of a mastermind, stole $1.5 million from the Soboba gaming establishment employing a relatively standard and easy method: robbery at gunpoint. An unsophisticated strategy when compared to the others.
Rolando was a member of the low-level security staff at the casino. One of his coworkers, Eric Aguilera, was also able to help him. At gunpoint, they held ten workers hostage. Later, it turned out to be a prank.
While Aguilera operated the getaway vehicle, Ramos loaded the cash. The fun part of this tale is how Rolando insisted he couldn't remember what he'd done when confronted. He blamed his extensive drug use. Have a hard time using that as an excuse for your casino robberies!
Bellagio Casino Robbery
Some people plan casino heists without ever having displayed any prior criminal behavior. They don't appear on police surveillance and have no criminal history. Jose Vigoa is one of those who fit this description.
The lifelong criminal was connected to several casino robberies. Vigoa and his team attacked the MGM Grand, Desert Inn, Mandalay Bay, and the Bellagio during his stint as the mastermind behind numerous casino robberies in Las Vegas for millions of dollars.
The men broke into the casino cashier area with force and stole $160,000 in cash. As they left the Bellagio carrying the cash, shots were fired. Vigoa engaged in a high-speed pursuit with the police four days later.
Vigoa’s car smashed into a tree while carrying his wife and child. Vigoa's two years of casino robberies in Las Vegas ended. He was found to have killed two armored car drivers during an earlier robbery attempt.
Circus Circus Casino Heist
In 1993, one of the most frightening and successful casino robberies occurred in Vegas. This incident involved a boyfriend and girlfriend at the Circus Circus Casino. Due to his poems, Roberto Solis, a murderer with a conviction, was granted parole.
Yes, you did read that right. Solis penned poetry under the pen name "Pancho Aguila" and persuaded writers, painters, and poets to participate in a petition that resulted in being freed in 1991.
His girlfriend, Heather Tallchief, acquired a job driving cash to ATMs in armored cars. Tallchief left the usual stop with $3 million in the truck and three guards inside. Tallchief turned herself in 2005 after the couple left the country. She received only $1,000 from the plan. That was a bad turnout for her because she was the one who made the huge move there. Solis has yet to be located, but there is a Netflix documentary about him that could be the largest heist in Las Vegas.
MIT Blackjack masterminds
A Harvard graduate named Bill Kaplan spotted a great opportunity to generate a fortune around the game after becoming an expert in card counting while playing Blackjack. He eventually enlisted the help of a group of MIT students and began teaching them the 'craft' of card counting.
From 1979 to 2000, the gang was thought to have 'stolen' about $22 million by deceiving many casinos worldwide with this approach. These were not technically successful casino robberies, but they were undoubtedly successful, and the casinos must have felt robbed. Nonetheless, their plan was so brilliant that the story made international news and became known as one of history's biggest undercover casino heists.
Will another heist take place?
These casino robberies will remain the most heinous crimes ever committed. Some of these crooks may have escaped, but most were apprehended, and the cash returned. It's absurd that somebody would do something as stupid as looting a casino. Where will the next casino heist take place?