Dealer sues gaming regulators over denial of work permit

Grace Leong

Monday, Dec. 18, 2000 | 12:46 p.m.

A former MGM Grand dealer, who was arrested in 1997 by Nevada Gaming Control Board agents on charges of cheating at gambling, is taking legal action to reverse a November decision by regulators to deny him a work permit.

Gary Tam, who sought employment as a dealer at Hotel San Remo but was denied a work permit by the board because he allegedly failed to list his March 13, 1997, arrest on his application, sued the Control Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission.

His petition in Clark County District Court seeks a rehearing of his case by the Gaming Commission and for permission to seal his records and delete his arrest.

Richard DeGuise Jr., a Nevada Gaming Control Board hearing examiner, in a Nov. 9 order, said Tam, was "observed and captured on surveillance videotape to perform a cheating technique known as a 'false shuffle' " while dealing a traditional Pai Gow game using tiles.

"While shuffling the tiles, Tam was observed to withhold or segregate certain tiles, which he would then use to form his hand. This technique allows players to have advance knowledge of the game's outcome whereby they can bet large sums with confidence, knowing their bets will win," DeGuise wrote.

He cited a testimony by David Stants, MGM's surveillance supervisor, that alleged Tam not only "falsely shuffled the tiles, but also had purposely manipulated the dissemination of these tiles to the players so that the house would have a disadvantaged hand. ... Tam would turn over tiles finding the lowest values and segregate them through the false shuffle."

Tam pleaded guilty on April 24, 1998 to "an amended charge of disorderly conduct as a misdemeanor" and was ordered to pay a $750 fine, DeGuise said.

Steve DuCharme, the board's chairman, declined comment on the petition but said: "Individuals that cheat at gambling are unsuitable to be employed in the gaming industry under any circumstances."