Bingo and Keno Protection
Presented By:
Darrin L. Norcutt
Surveillance Training Manager
A.C.E.P. LLC.
Introduction
The Games of Bingo and Keno
 Possible Scams.
 Any relevant background?
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History of Bingo
Lo Gioco del Lotto d’Italia – 1530
 The French Lotto – 1700’s
 Germany – 1800’s
 Beano! – 1920’s
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Bingo Today
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Today Bingo is a multi-million dollar
industry.
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Casinos
Churches
Schools
Fund Raising
Bingo ~ General
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Bingo is a 24-hour operation consisting of three
shifts and four sessions per shift. (Except for
Native American Casinos who normally only
have a few sessions a day.)
The Bingo Cage and the Bingo Podium areas are
restricted to bingo personnel only.
A winner is the first person to complete coverage
of the designated game (single line, coverall,
etc.).
Should there be multiple winners on a game; the
prize money will be divided among them based
on the price of the bingo cards.
Bingo ~ General
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Games often have multiple Bingos.
– for example, the players may first play for a
single line, then after that is called continue
playing for a full card, then for a consolation
full card.
Bingo ~ General
Players often play multiple cards for each
game
 To mark cards faster the players usually
use special markers called daubers.
 After calling the number the caller then
displays the next number on a television
monitor; bingo cannot be called until that
number is called aloud, however.
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Bingo ~ General
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Commercial bingo exists only in Nevada
casinos and Native American bingo halls.
Many will have bingo sessions, and some
will link bingo games together to form
progressive jackpots that pay big money to
winners.
The Business of Bingo
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Commercial Bingo
– Nevada Casinos
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Cater to locals
They will usually offer several sessions daily, with relatively
modest stakes except for coverall jackpots.
– Native American Casinos
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Native American games are typically offered for only one or
two sessions a day, and are often played for higher stakes
than charity games in order to draw players from distant
places.
Some also offer a special progressive jackpot game that may
tie together players from multiple bingo halls.
The Business of Bingo
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Churches and Charity Organizations
Surveillance Standards for Bingo
and Keno
STANDARD 4
REQUIRED SURVEILLANCE COVERAGE: KENO AND
BINGO
1. The surveillance system of category “A,” “B,” and “C” licensees
must possess the capability to monitor the keno and bingo ball
drawing device or random number generator, which must be
recorded during the course of the draw by a dedicated camera or
automatically activated camera, with sufficient clarity to identify the
balls drawn or numbers selected.
2. The surveillance system of category “A,” “B,” and “C” licensees
must possess the capability to monitor and record general activities in
each keno game area, with sufficient clarity to identify the employees
performing the different functions.
3. The surveillance system in the bingo area of all licensees must
possess the capability to monitor and record the game board and the
activities of the employees responsible for drawing, calling and
entering the balls drawn or numbers selected.
Equipment Controls
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Bingo balls should be changed out once a day.
Supervision should notify Surveillance.
Balls should be inspected at the time they are
changed out.
When a ball needs to be replaced a notification to
Surveillance should be made.
Bingo equipment (blower machine and display
boards) should be checked for accuracy and
maintained on a periodic basis.
Equipment Controls
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Bingo cards are controlled by three
numbers
– Serial number: defines an entire set (price
level) which usually consists of five packs of
100 sheets each or rainbows (multi-colored
bingo packet) consisting of 15 packs of 50
sheets each and is printed on the top of the
sheet.
Equipment Controls
– Inventory Control Number: defines the
individual sheet number printed on the side of
the sheet and is used to calculate sales by
means of a physical inventory method.
– Card Numbers: identifies the individual card
and is used to determine a winner when
entered into the computer. Bingo cards are
consecutively numbered.
Equipment Controls
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Bingo paper, once received, should be
stored in a secured area. As needed, cards
should be delivered to the bingo cage and
stored in cabinets.
Equipment Controls
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Control Access
– Each user has his/her own individual
password.
– Passwords should be changed quarterly with
changes documented by the computer system.
– Backup and recovery procedures needed.
Equipment Controls
Cashier is accountable for their own
drawer.
 Drawer should be secured when not in use.
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Bingo Scams
Bingo Scams
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Selling Stations
– The seller may shortchange the customer by
charging more than the customer received.
– The customer is the control for this scam.
Bingo Scams
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Excessive variances
– Bingo transactions happen very quickly that
this is usually more of a mistake than fraud.
Bingo Scams
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Voids
– Paper is voided even though the packs are on
the floor. When voided, the entire pack should
be available not just the first page.
Bingo Scams
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Winner Scams
– Occurs during the payoffs of winners. With
the exception of the fraudulent act on the mic
by the caller, these are all collusive activities.
Bingo Scams
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FAKE WINNER
– This where a card is paid as a winner,
although it was never verified. Other
customers will be aware of this and will be
concerned as that will decrease the share of
the split.
Bingo Scams
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Paying winner for higher packet.
– The incentive is for the player to give a bigger toke.
– This scam will need the collusion of the Agent,
Cashier, Caller and weak auditor in accounting.
– The printer at the call stand documents the winning
card number and level.
– EXCEPTION: The paper rainbows will not specify
the level, consequently these are more vulnerable to
fraud than normal.
Bingo Scams
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Procedures Against:
– An audit of the winning numbers on the
calling stand printer versus the cashier
paperwork would isolate these fraudulent acts.
Bingo Scams
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Stealing Packs
– Packs normally range from $4-$18 and are
designated by color.
– 500 sheets in a pack
– Will usually steal from lower denomination.
Bingo Scams
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Ball Manipulation
– The agent can manipulate the balls on the
calling stand, causing someone to win where
they should not have.
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Not easily done with the blower style system.
Bingo Scams
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Toke Theft
– Same scam as we see in slots where an agent
receives a toke but does not drop it in the toke
box.
– Theft from co-workers.
KENO ~ General
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Keno is a lottery-like or bingo-like
gambling game played at modern casinos
though not licensed in many states.
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House Edge: 24 -28%
Keno ~ History
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Keno originated in ancient China in the
Han Dynasty between 205 and 187 B.C.
Chinese immigrants brought the game to
America in the 19th century.
Surveillance Requirements
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Must have the capability to monitor the keno
balls and the ball drawing device.
– Should be recorded during the course of the draw.*
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PTZ’s
– To covertly observe the activities within the keno area.
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Fixed Cameras
– Over every money drawer where customers or Keno
runners place the wagers as well as collect the
winnings.
Watch Out For:
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Ensure that the previous game’s balls have been dropped.
Control: Accounting should pull tape (or digital
equivalent) to do a 20 game random check.
Damaged or cracked balls should be immediately
replaced.
– Damaged balls will not be sucked up.
– Cracked balls will come up more often than regular balls because
the air is sucked in and the ball will rise into the blower.
– Keno agents and regular players know this and will pick numbers
accordingly.
– Possibility of collusion.
“Controls can only give reasonable assurance
not absolute assurance”
Thank You For Your Attention
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Questions or comments?