15 months in prison for casino cheating
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27 Apr 2025 •
Reading time: 2 minutes Two Ukrainians have been sentenced to 15 months in prison for orchestrating a sophisticated cheating operation at the Annecy casino, using micro-cameras, earphones and artificial intelligence to analyse the cards in real time via an accomplice abroad. The duo, who pocketed more than €270,000 since 2023, were arrested after a nationwide investigation.
On 13 February 2025, at the Impérial Palace casino in Annecy, two men of Ukrainian origin, aged 35 and 71, were arrested in flagrante delicto for cheating. Their particularly sophisticated method combined advanced technology and international complicity.
Using micro-cameras hidden in their clothes and invisible earpieces, they filmed the cards dealt during poker games. The images were transmitted in real time via the Zoom application to an accomplice based abroad. Using an artificial intelligence-assisted analysis, the latter provided them with the best playing strategies.
Colossal winnings and a national investigation
The two men frequented the Annecy casino almost daily, sometimes betting between €30,000 and €40,000 per game. Their cumulative winnings since 2023 are estimated at more than €270,000.
Their arrest was part of a wider investigation by the Service central des courses et jeux and the Saint-Étienne judicial police. During the searches, the authorities seized nearly €15,000 in cash, more than 60,000 Swiss francs, as well as jewellery and a luxury watch.
On 7 April 2025, the Annecy Criminal Court sentenced the two men to 15 months’ imprisonment, with continued detention. They are also permanently banned from entering France. Their lawyers pleaded a passion for gambling and addiction rather than intent to harm, arguments that were rejected by the court.
Casino security put to the test
This case highlights the challenges facing casinos in the face of increasingly ingenious cheats. Casinos are stepping up their security measures, combining human surveillance with advanced technology.The use of artificial intelligence in fraudulent activities raises ethical questions. While technology offers considerable opportunities, it can also be misused for malicious purposes.