Las Vegas Casino Markers Cases

Criminal Defense Lawyers in Las Vegas

A casino marker is a line of credit extended by a casino. They are offered by nearly every casino in Las Vegas, and are given out as an interest-free line of credit that must be paid back by the customer. The funds can be used only for the purposes of gambling, and a casino can choose to withdraw the credit at any time if the customer is not putting it to use. When paying back the credited funds, some casinos permit "check-cashing"—which allows the payment to be made with a personal check. This method puts the casino at risk, because they could accept a check from an account with insufficent funds that therefore leaves the casino short of the money that was spent. When this happens, the customer may be held liable through criminal charges.

Most people take out casino markers with the full intention of paying the casino back. These cases often come down to the intent of the individual to knowingly sign a casino marker that they are later unable to pay. Under the law, a person can only be held liable in this case if they were aware that they would not be able to repay the credit, but many times, law enforcement will simply assume that a person intentionally attempted to defraud the casino. By negotiating with the prosecuting attorney and thoroughly investigating all aspects of a case, however, a defendant may be able to prove their innocence.

Penalties for Outstanding Casino Markers

In Las Vegas, a casino marker is not treated as a debt. Rather, it is considered to be a check. For this reason, a person with an outstanding casino marker may face criminal charges if he or she does not pay. It is a felony offense in Nevada to knowingly issue a bad check valued at $250.00 or more. The same applies to casino markers. If you are found guilty of this offense, you may face imprisonment, fines, probation and more.

Casino executives are always complaining that the criminal justice system is unreliable in prosecuting gamblers who fail to pay outstanding gambling credit, and this is a growing concern in this declining economy. The District Attorney in Clark County processes about 100 marker cases every week involving resorts on the Strip and smaller, neighborhood casinos as well. To combat their problems with debt collection, many casino giants have tightened their credit policies. This has done little to help them collect on past debts, and big casinos may have hundreds of unpaid markers in the collection process at any time.

Enlisting the Help of Legal Representation

Casinos and the corporations behind them are becoming more and more aggressive in their pursuit of gamblers who have outstanding credit. While no one can guarantee the outcome of any criminal case, this is especially true in marker cases where each gambler's situation is different. Casinos will turn to the District Attorney to bring a marker case to court, and these cases typically take an extremely long time to reach verdict.

Here at De Castroverde Law Group, we understand what is at stake for those who are accused of outstanding casino markers. With over 20 years of criminal law experience in Nevada, we are highly experienced at defending the rights of those who have been accused of this crime. Marker cases are taken as seriously as other criminal cases, and the court uses a vast wealth of resources to investigate these cases. Our firm understands that many gamblers are mistreated by casinos and have been wrongfully accused of this crime, and we are here to help.

Consulting a Las Vegas criminal attorney who is experienced with casino marker cases is essential if you are interested in fighting your charges and avoiding serious penalties. De Castroverde Law Group was the first criminal defense firm to obtain a not guilty jury verdict in a felony casino marker case in Las Vegas, Nevada. With our dedicated and tireless approach to our clients' defense, we are confident that we can accurately assess the situation and devise a defense strategy that will give you the best opportunity to obtain a positive case outcome.