Baccarat Player Says Trump Casino Took Gains

ATLANTIC CITY (CN) - A Trump casino took back $280,000 that a player won at baccarat, and threatened to have him arrested, despite a police report that concluded he had not cheated, the man claims in court.

Kook Chee Hoe sued Trump Entertainment Resorts, Trump Taj Mahal Associates and Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resorts, in Atlantic County Court.

Hoe says he won $290,000 playing mini baccarat for two hours at the Trump casino in Atlantic City in December 2011.

He played a little more, lost $10,000, and left the casino with a $240,000 check and $40,000 in chips, according to the complaint.

With 75 regular tables and 14 tournament tables, the Trump Taj Mahal has one of the largest poker rooms in Atlantic City.

Hoe says that though the casino security team monitored his game at all times, the casino asked New Jersey State Police to investigate, claiming that he had been involved in some type of dealer cheating scam.

Hoe claims the police concluded there had been no criminal activity, and did not press charges against him or any dealer.

Nonetheless, Hoe claims, when he returned to the casino the next day, it threatened to arrest him and tried to make him return all his winnings.

"On Dec. 12, 2011, Mr. Hoe returned to the Taj with his chips to gamble," the complaint states. "He was approached by Ray Effinger, dual rate security shift manager, and escorted upstairs to a room to meet with Nick Ferraro, casino shift manager. Chung Lee, the Taj Asian marketing host, was present for translation if needed.

"At the meeting, Mr. Ferraro told Mr. Hoe he was in trouble.

"Mr. Ferraro also told Mr. Hoe that he had won based upon an improper shuffle and that Mr. Hoe knew of the improper shuffle. Mr. Hoe denied such knowledge.

"There is no evidence that supported any assertion of impropriety.

"The relevant gaming law permitted the Taj dealer to reshuffle each hand, a practice known as 'shuffling at will.'

"The Taj personnel failed to exercise their right to reshuffle despite hours of play, and permitted the entire shoe to be played out without any reshuffle.

"During the meeting, Mr. Ferraro pointed to a security officer who raised a jacket exposing handcuffs, indicating that Mr. Hoe would be locked up for his conduct by the police and go to jail if plaintiff did not return the ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) of winnings he had gambled and lost.

"Mr. Ferraro also confiscated forty thousand dollars ($40,000.00) in chips Mr. Hoe had in his possession.

"Plaintiff was then escorted out of the casino and dropped off at a bus station."

Neither Effinger nor Ferraro are named as defendants.

Hoe claims the casino canceled the $240,000 check he had deposited in his account, which cost him a chargeback fee.

He seeks compensatory, punitive and treble damages for breach of contract, unfair business practices, fraud, false imprisonment, negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, conversion, and discrimination.

He is represented by Michael Mosca.

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit