Who and When Robbed the Casino in History?
Casinos, symbols of wealth and luxury, have always been tempting targets for ambitious thieves. Here we explore the top five biggest casino heists in history, recounting tales of audacity, cunning, and sometimes, plain misfortune.
The Biggest Casino Robberies in History
Throughout history, numerous casino heists have fascinated and stunned the world. From inside jobs to bold daylight thefts, these incidents have intrigued and puzzled investigators, often making their way into the plotlines of Hollywood films.
TOP 5 Popular Casino Robberies
- The Stardust Heist (1992) – Sports book cashier Bill Brennan walked out of the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas with $500,000 worth of cash and chips. Despite massive investigations, Brennan was never found, turning this heist into an infamous mystery.
- The Circus Circus Heist (1993) – Heather Tallchief, a 21-year-old armored vehicle driver, disappeared with over $2.5 million in cash from the Circus Circus Casino. She turned herself in over a decade later, but the money was never recovered.
- Crown Casino Heist (2013) – A high-tech heist carried out through the casino’s own surveillance system resulted in a $32 million loss at the Crown Casino in Melbourne. After that, the Solverde casino project was created. Of course, the casino managed to return a significant part of the money, but the daring scam is still remembered.
- The Bellagio Cashier Cage Robbery (2000) – The infamous “Biker Bandit” made off with $1.5 million from the cashier’s cage at the Bellagio. He was eventually caught when he tried to sell the stolen chips online.
- The Ritz Casino Heist (2004) – Three Eastern Europeans used a laser scanner and a computer to predict the outcome of roulette spins, swindling the Ritz Casino in London out of £1.2 million. They were apprehended but released as their technique was not deemed illegal.
TOP 3 Films About the Robbery of a Casino
- Ocean’s Eleven (2001) – A suave and star-studded gang plan a heist on three of Las Vegas’s biggest casinos. This stylish movie has since become a classic in the heist genre.
- Casino (1995) – This film depicts the criminal underbelly of Las Vegas casinos, based on real-life individuals and events from the 1970s and 1980s.
- 21 (2008) – A true story of MIT students who use their math skills to win big in Vegas. Although not a heist in the traditional sense, they effectively “rob” the casinos using card counting.
Funniest, Most Unfortunate Casino Robbery
One memorable case of a misfortunate casino heist was in 1992 at the Horseshoe Casino. A man named Roberto Solis masterminded a plan where his girlfriend, Heather Tallchief, would drive an armored truck full of cash away from the casino. The plan worked, but the funny and unfortunate part came when Solis, an ex-con and poet, ran off with the loot and left Tallchief to take the fall. She turned herself in after 12 years on the run, while Solis vanished without a trace.
Conclusions
The lure of easy money has enticed many to try their luck at robbing casinos. Some succeeded, most failed, but their stories continue to fascinate. While these tales are intriguing, they also underline the old saying – the house always wins.