A couple visiting Australia from Kazakhstan has been arrested in New South Wales over an alleged scheme to cheat Crown Sydney, according to a report by trade publication Casino.org based on an arrest warrant and a police statement. None of the allegations has been tested in court.
What police allege
The report names the pair as Dilnoza Israilova, 36, and her husband, Alisherykhoja Israilova, 44. According to the arrest warrant, they entered Australia in October. After arriving in Sydney they reportedly applied for casino membership at Crown Sydney, the Barangaroo resort. They also rented an apartment on Kent Street, near the casino.
Police allege the couple frequently attended the casino and kept winning, which drew the attention of casino security. Security reportedly concluded that the pair had hidden a mobile phone in a Mickey Mouse t-shirt. The phone's camera allegedly streamed the table game live to a remote co-conspirator, who then directed Dilnoza or Alisherykhoja on how to bet.
The police report said: "It will be alleged, with their mobile phones capturing images of the table, the pair communicated using deep-seated earpieces through which they received instructions to wager on various card games and ultimately cheat the casino."
Arrest, search and charges
NSW Police say that when the pair were approached at Crown Sydney, they were in possession of batteries and a mobile phone fitted with an attachment that allowed the camera to discreetly view, capture and record. Over October and November, police say, the couple won $1,179,412.50. The report says this raised the casino's suspicions of fraud.
A search warrant was later carried out at their Kent Street accommodation. Police said they located other gambling props, high-end jewellery and 2000 euros.
The couple were denied bail because they are considered a flight risk. They remain in custody at Day Street Police Station. They have been charged with dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception. Casino.org reports that a person found guilty of that offence in Australia faces up to 10 years in prison.
"Our detectives collaborate closely with casino security to identify and disrupt unlawful behavior. This strong cooperation is vital to maintaining the integrity of gaming operations and is reflected in outcomes like this." – Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, NSW Police
What is not known
The police report did not specify which card game was played. Casino.org suggested blackjack and card counting, but this is the publication's own speculation rather than a police finding. The publication noted that card counting is not illegal, though venues typically bar known counters. It speculated that the couple may have been recruited by a counter, but offered no evidence for this.
The source material does not identify the remote co-conspirator, say whether anyone else has been arrested, or say whether any winnings have been recovered. It also includes no statement from Crown Sydney and no court dates. The pair's responses to the charges are not reported. The article does not state the currency of the winnings figure, though it is presented in dollars.
This matter concerns a land-based casino. Online casino services remain prohibited for Australian residents under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.