Part IV: Financial Fraud · Chip, Cash & Ticket Fraud

Check Kiting at Casinos

How it works

A fraudster exploits the float time between depositing a check and its clearing to create artificial account balances. At casinos, this takes the form of depositing checks (often drawn on accounts at different banks) into a casino front-money account, withdrawing chips or cash against the deposited funds before the check clears, and using those funds to cover other checks. In 2023, the DOJ exposed ATM kiting operations in Las Vegas casinos where kiters deposited bad checks and instantly withdrew funds before checks bounced. The circular nature of kiting — moving funds between accounts to create the illusion of balances — can be adapted to casino front-money and credit systems.

Where it appears

Cage, front money deposits, credit marker payments

On the record

A 2023 DOJ case exposed check kiting at Las Vegas casinos using ATM deposits. FinCEN has identified check fraud against casinos through returned marker payments as a recurring SAR category.

Published as a detection reference for surveillance, compliance and gaming-operations professionals. Thresholds and tuning are set by the property. Nothing here is instruction — the method is described so it can be recognised.