NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rolling snake eyes is now the least of Derek Bethea’s concerns.
Bethea, a 57-year-old New Jersey man, is headed to prison for 17 years for placing bets at craps tables after the dice had already been rolled at three Atlantic City casinos during a two-week period last August.
The sentence, imposed on Thursday by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Donna Taylor, came after a jury convicted him in May on charges of swindling and cheating at casino gambling, according to state authorities. Bethea represented himself at trial.
Prosecutors accused Bethea of betting $1,100 at a craps table at the Borgata Hotel & Casino on Aug. 13, 2013, after the dice had come out. He collected the winnings but was detained at a different casino the following day and issued a summons.
Two weeks later, he tried again, placing a late $505 bet at Resorts Hotel & Casino, and the following day, he laid down $240 at Revel Casino, prosecutors said.
In each instance, the gamble failed to pay off, as the casinos refused to honor the bet.
Bethea was previously convicted in 2001 and in 2005 of similar offenses, including placing late bets at roulette tables, and was sentenced to several years in each case.
As many know, I worked in the casinos in Reno in the 50's. THEN, it was up to the boxman and the dealers to catch "late" bets ..... "NO BET" .... and that was the end of it. In calling the dice, I often said, "Get your late bets down early." Often followed by a "Security" ... and the late bettor, was escorted out the door. In my "training" I was taught to keep my eyes on the table, we caught the "thieves" did not prosecute them. It could be also, that a late bettor, might have problems, handling bets, with broken fingers. I must admit I don't understand why they would prosecute someone for doing it and then all of the negative publicity that. followed. 17 years for "late betting" seems VERY severe. It was the ONLY sure bet on the table. If they never paid he off, I don't see how they could convict him, he did nothing wrong but .... "try" ....
