Famed gambler accused of cheating California casino by marking cards
Archie Karas, who once built US$50 stake into millions, is held for defrauding casino
Professional poker player Archie Karas has been arrested on charges of cheating and defrauding a casino after authorities say he was caught marking cards at a California blackjack table.
Karas, 62, best known for reputedly building a beginning stake of US$50 into a US$40 million fortune during a record three-year winning streak, was taken into custody last week from his home in Las Vegas, in the US state of Nevada.
If convicted, Karas, whose real name is Anargyros Karabourniotis, faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison.
"This defendant's luck ran out thanks to extraordinary co-operation [among] several different law-enforcement agencies who worked together to investigate and prosecute this case," said Bonnie Dumanis, district attorney for San Diego county.
According to prosecutors, Karas was spotted by surveillance cameras marking cards - using tiny smudges of dye secretly wiped on to the backs of jacks, queens, kings and aces - while playing blackjack in July at a casino in Lakeside, California.
The marks gave Karas an unfair advantage by helping him identify the value of cards before they were dealt as he chose whether to take another card, or hold, in an effort to reach the winning value of 21 without going over, prosecutors said.