FAQ – Casino Crimes in Columbus and Central Ohio

Q: Are Violations of Casino Laws Criminal Offenses?

A: Sometimes. There are gaming law infractions which are considered administrative cases and lead to civil penalties. Other gaming law infractions are considered crimes. Some of those crimes are classified as misdemeanors, and others are classified as felonies.

Q: What are some Examples of Misdemeanor Casino Crimes?

A: Examples include: (1) knowingly making a false statement in the context of an application; (2) knowingly allowing someone under 21 to bet at a casino; (3) knowingly helping someone under 21 to enter a casino; (4) knowingly entering a casino while under 21. These crimes are first-degree misdemeanors on a first conviction and fifth-degree felonies on a second conviction. These are examples and not a complete list of misdemeanor casino crimes.

Q: What are some Examples of Felony Casino Crimes?

A: Examples include: (1) purposely or knowingly use a device to help predict the outcome of a game; (2) purposely or knowingly track the cards played in a game; (3) purposely or knowingly cheat at a game; (4) purposely or knowingly change the outcome of a game after bets have been placed and the outcome has occurred but has not been made known to the players; (5) purposely or knowingly possess or use fake tokens or chips. These crimes are fifth-degree felonies on a first conviction and fourth-degree felonies on a second conviction. These are examples and not a complete list of felony casino crimes.

Q: What are the Possible Sentences for Misdemeanor Casino Crimes?

A: The misdemeanor casino crimes described on this page are first-degree misdemeanors. The possible sentence includes incarceration for up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, and probation (‘community control’) for up to five years.

Q: What are the Possible Sentences for Felony Casino Crimes?

A: The felony casino crimes described on this page are fifth-degree felonies on a first conviction. The possible sentence includes incarceration for up to 12 months, a fine of up to $2,500, and probation (‘community control’) for up to five years. On a second conviction, these crimes are fourth-degree felonies. The possible sentence includes incarceration for up to 18 months, a fine of up to $5,000, and probation (‘community control’) for up to five years. In addition, if the defendant has a casino gaming license, that license is subject to revocation.

Q: How are Casino Crimes Investigated?

A: The Ohio Casino Control Commission has agents who investigate casino crimes. The agents are law enforcement officers authorized to investigate crimes, make arrests, and file charges.

Q: For Someone Charged with a Casino Crime, Where to They Go to Court?

A: If the offense was committed at one of the two central Ohio casinos (Scioto Downs Racino and Hollywood Casino), the court appearances will take place in Franklin County. If the offense is a misdemeanor, the defendant will go to the Franklin County Municipal Court. If the offense is a felony, the defendant will go to the Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

Attorneys for Casino Crimes in Columbus and Central Ohio

The Dominy Law firm in Columbus, Ohio represents clients charged with casino crimes in Franklin County, Ohio. To learn more about the Dominy Law Firm, please see this site’s ‘About Us’ page. You can also see what clients say about our firm’s representation on the ‘Client Reviews’ page. If you were charged with a casino crime and would like to discuss how the Dominy Law Firm can help with your case, please call (614) 717-1177 or submit a CONTACT FORM to schedule a free phone consultation.