Convicted casino cheater approved for LasVegas security contract

Thursday, May 11, 2000 | 11:21 a.m.

A Montana man who was convicted of cheating at gambling in the early 1970s and turned down for licensing by Nevada authorities in 1980 has won approval to contract with the Rio hotel-casino on a security consultant agreement.

John Antone Bertolero told the state Gaming Control Board Wednesday he no longer associates with other "crossroaders" who cheated casinos because most of the ones he has known are dead.

Some casinos hire reformed cheaters to spot security problems on their own floors. In allowing the Rio to contract with a denied applicant, the board ordered that Bertolero's contract be forwarded to regulators for review.

Ironically, Bertolero was caught cheating at Harrah's Reno. The Rio is now owned by Harrah's.

He attempted to be licensed as a key employee when he worked as a shift boss at the Maxim hotel-casino in 1980 but was turned down.

Board Chairman Steve DuCharme said approving an association between a denied applicant and a casino is unusual, but Bertolero convinced the board he no longer has criminal associations.

"That was my past life," Bertolero told board members Wednesday. "I don't associate with them anymore."

Bertolero, who cheated on slot machines, is expected to work with the Rio on a table-games security contract.