Bold Poker Heists: From Bellagio Robberies to Online Thefts

The Bellagio casino in Las Vegas has been a frequent target for daring robberies due to the large amounts of cash involved in poker games. One of the most notable incidents occurred in 2010 when Anthony Carleo walked into the casino wearing a motorcycle helmet and wielding a pistol, making off with about $1.5 million in chips.

Carleo's audacious plan involved wearing a dark jumpsuit, rubber gloves, and a motorcycle helmet with a lowered visor. He approached a craps table, brandished his pistol, and demanded the chips. The casino staff and patrons complied, and Carleo quickly filled his backpack with stacks of chips worth thousands of dollars. However, his luck ran out when he attempted to sell the stolen chips to an undercover police officer, leading to his arrest.

In another incident in 2012, two criminals used a gas canister at a blackjack table to steal 23 chips worth $5,000 each. Their plan was foiled when one of them was caught by the casino's security, who then revealed the identity of his accomplice.

Scott Carmichael attempted a similar heist in 2014, robbing the Bellagio of $43,500. He was arrested a few days later. Carmichael's extravagant spending after the robbery, including $10,000 on a hotel room at Hard Rock and gifts for prostitutes, led to his quick capture. Despite his attempts to live lavishly, his criminal activities caught up with him.

Michael Cohen, a repeat offender with a history of crimes including kidnapping and carjacking, attempted to rob the Bellagio in March 2019. He was shot and killed by police during a shootout. Cohen's criminal past included a previous robbery at the Bellagio in 2017, where he managed to escape on a motorcycle wearing a mask and wig.

Poker heists are not limited to physical casinos. In 2015, a viewer of a poker stream used TeamViewer to steal $1,000 from Charlie Carrel's account during a live broadcast. The theft was captured on video, and PokerStars returned the stolen money to Carrel. Remarkably, Carrel won the Sunday 500 tournament just two weeks later, showing that even after such incidents, players can bounce back.

In another unusual incident, the chip leader of a $1,100 tournament at the WPT Fallsview Poker Classic was arrested during a lunch break in 2015. The arrest was noted by DJ McKinnon, who tweeted about the surprising turn of events. The chip leader was taken away in handcuffs, leaving the tournament and the spectators in shock.