SaskGaming loses almost $30K after Casino Regina dealer colludes with player, province says

The Saskatchewan government's purse is $29,435 lighter due to a blackjack dealer at Casino Regina colluding with a player, according to the province's latest quarterly report on losses of public money.

The report, released Monday, details losses from January to March.

It says that on Jan. 14, a customer at the casino reported "unusual behaviour between a dealer and a guest, whereby the dealer was paying out losing hands on a blackjack table."

Video surveillance confirmed the collusion, the report says.

According to SaskGaming, the dealer was employed by Casino Regina for two years before this incident and knew the guest beforehand.

The dealer was immediately put on administrative leave for a week, before being terminated on Jan. 22.

An internal investigation by SaskGaming's risk and compliance department found more evidence of collusion between the dealer and the player over a four-week period.

The Crown corporation followed up by issuing a five-year ban against them. That excludes the pair from Casinos Regina and Moose Jaw including their attachedentertainment theatres and restaurants as well as any Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority casinos.

On Jan. 28, the file was transferred to the Regina Police Service. Criminal charges are now pending.