An appellate judge in New York wants New Jersey gambling regulators to investigate a man’s claims that an Ocean City casino cheated him out of millions of dollars by using rigged dice.
The Division of Gaming Enforcement has been urged to look into a complaint by Wayne Chan against Golden Nugget Hotel, Casino & Marina, alleging that the casino manipulated the dice in a manner that violates state regulations.
According to court documents, Chan lost nearly $470,000 while playing craps in 2018 and 2019 using dice that were allegedly altered improperly.
Craps gambler commun Atlantic Town casino, boasts ‘ unfair’ game
Chan filed a lawsuit against Golden Nugget in September 2021. A Newark court ruled in favor of the casino, but Chan’s lawyers appealed the decision.
In April, a New York court granted the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) a six-month period to investigate and resolve the matter.
The DGE operates under the state Attorney General’s office. As a matter of policy, neither organization provides comments on the status of ongoing investigations or litigation.
Rolling (dice) afoul of this law inside NJ
Chan’s initial complaint alleges that Golden Nugget AC marked the dice with a table number and used nontransparent dice, both of which are not allowed under New Jersey gambling regulations.
In Atlantic City casinos, dice are only permitted to have the spots, label (or trade name) of the casino, and a serial number. They must be transparent to ensure that the dice are not weighted, which could impact the outcome of a roll.
New Jersey gambling officials dismissed a similar complaint regarding improper dice against Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City in 2022.
Everybody can be ‘ aware’ is a dangerous legal protection
Here’s where it gets “dicey.”
Chan claims he raised the suspicious dice to Golden Nugget staff while playing.
On Jan. 13, 2020, an attorney representing Golden Nugget wrote Chan’s attorney. In the letter, the casino’s lawyer called “scribing the dice…an industry well-known practice.” Golden Nugget’s attorney also mentioned that the “Division of Gaming Enforcement and every other regulatory agency knows.”
As a result, the AC casino sought $200,000 it claims Chan owed.
The next day, Chan filed a complaint with the DGE. No determination regarding Chan’s complaint was ever filed.
Golden Nugget continued its collection efforts until Chan filed his lawsuit on Sept. 24, 2021.
In May 2022, the NJ federal court dismissed Chan’s suit without prejudice. The appellate court in New York denied the summary judgment with an opportunity to renew pending a DGE ruling or after six months.
David Danzis is the head writer for PlayNJ. He is a New Jersey native and an honors graduate of Rutgers University. With a background as a newspaper reporter for the New Jersey Herald and Press of Atlantic City, David has received statewide awards for his coverage of politics, government, education, sports, and business. Today, he serves as PlayNJ’s Atlantic City “insider” and an industry expert on casinos, sports betting, and online gambling. David resides in Mays Landing with his wife and two children. When he’s not at the beach, on a golf course, or snowboarding, David enjoys cheering for his beloved New York sports teams – the Yankees, Jets, Rangers, and Knicks.
