A 25-year-old Washington County man was detained and charged by Pennsylvania State Police after it was alleged that he had cheated while playing Ultimate Texas Hold'em.
While playing poker at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows in North Strabane Township, 25-year-old Brando Castaneda is accused of using a sleight of hand tactic. Penn Entertainment is in charge of running the casino.
According to police, Castaneda was seated at an Ultimate Texas Hold 'em table when casino security observed him switching cards between hands. Castaneda allegedly shifted cards between his hands to create a winning hand or one with a higher payoff, according to the charges against him.
Castaneda won about $18,500 over 31 rounds of play, according to the casino's eye in the sky. A third-degree felony theft by deception — false impression was the allegation brought against Castaneda after his arrest.
In Pennsylvania, a person convicted of such a crime risks a maximum prison term of seven years and a maximum fine of $15,000.
About 65 live-dealer table games are available at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. They are open from 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and 24 hours a day on Fridays through Mondays.
Current Cases
According to Pennsylvania court documents, Castaneda was taken into custody on August 30, 2024, for driving while intoxicated. He was accused of two misdemeanors: DUI: general impairment, first offense, and highest rate of alcohol (BAC.16+).
Castaneda's DUI case is still pending since he disregarded court directions and is accused of driving while intoxicated. A judge in Washington County Court issued a bench warrant for Castaneda's arrest earlier this month.
When someone disobeys a court order, a judge may issue a bench warrant, which instructs law enforcement to make an arrest. Castaneda's lawyer is not listed in court documents in either case.
It is illegal for someone to "knowingly, by a trick or sleight of hand performance or by fraud or fraudulent scheme, or manipulation, table game device or other device, or interactive gaming device for himself or for another, win or attempt to win any cash, property, or prize at a licensed facility or to reduce or attempt to reduce a losing wager," according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Act.
In Asia, sleight of hand tricks carry harsher penalties
A person found guilty of such an act in Asia faces even heavier penalties than Castaneda, who could spend up to seven years in prison for his alleged Ultimate Texas Hold'em plan.
A table game dealer at Singapore's Resorts World Sentosa faces 25 years in prison for embezzling casino funds, according to a report published by Casino.org last October. According to law authorities, a 35-year-old croupier pocketed chips from the table game that belonged to the casino into his pants pocket using a sleight of hand.
Thai immigrant Oumnakil Thanakorn, who had been employed at the Genting property for almost two years, entered a guilty plea to the theft. Prosecutors and the court agreed to a substantially lesser sentence of 12 to 14 months in prison and his deportation back to Thailand upon his release in exchange for his admission of guilt.
