Three employees of Binion’s Gambling Hall in downtown Las Vegas are suspected of stealing almost $300,000 from cash registers at the property. They are facing criminal charges.
Authorities accused Christina Carbonell, Siraprapha Rattana, and Rommel Soriano are accused of stealing $298,000 from the iconic property. Binion’s was the original home of the World Series of Poker until Harrah’s bought the WSOP brand in 2004.
The scheme began in 2022 and the casino discovered it last April. According to the Las Vegas Metro Police departmnet, staff discovered the theft during an internal audit of the property’s cafe.
Casino staff initiated the audit after another employee called the police to report the alleged theft. Then, hotel security detained Rattana. She reportedly told police the three took an average of about $200 a day, local media reported.
Unauthorized Discounts, Lower Prices
As part of the investigation, casino security presented police with video of Rattana supposedly “skimming the register” and keeping the cash. Authorities allege cashiers Carbonell and Rattana “would intentionally apply unauthorized discounts or manually reduce the transaction total” and then “retain the discounted cash amount.”
Soriano worked at the property as a server. According to prosecutors, there is video evidence proving Soriano participated in the scheme.
Police reported that a large amount of money allegedly moved through the suspects’ bank accounts, with large withdrawals taking place at other Las Vegas area casinos. The investigation eventually led to the arrests of all three suspects.
Carbonell faces a theft charge with a value above $100,000 and has pleaded not guilty. In a court appearance, she was ordered to stay away from the casino. Rattana is charged with theft with a value above $100,000 and pleaded not guilty.
Soriano faces a theft charge between $5,000 and $25,000, and has pleaded not guilty. Court hearings for the three suspects are set for April and May.
Binion’s Played Major Role In Poker
Binion’s was founded by Benny Binion and was the birthplace of the WSOP. The property hosted the tournament from 1970 to 2004 before Harrah’s Entertainment (which later became Caesars Entertainment) purchased the brand and moved the series to The Rio.
The property closed its poker room in 2020. TLC Casino Enterprises has owned the property since 2008. The company also owns the Four Queens in downtown Las Vegas.
In February, Sylvester Stallone’s Balboa Productions and MGM Television announced that the two companies are adapting the 2014 book, “Blood Aces: The Wild Ride of Benny Binion, the Texas Gangster Who Created Vegas Poker,” into a TV series.
