The Most Memorable Casino Heists in History

Casino heists embody the epitome of underdog tales, making them a beloved film subgenre.

Hollywood has romanticized these gripping narratives, but their true impact and grandeur surpass our imagination, given the sheer unlikelihood of success. Below, we present the top nine casino heists, ranging from intricate "Ocean's 11" schemes to breathtaking simplicity.

01: The Crown Casino Heist - Perth, Australia

The 2013 heist at Crown Casino stands out as this list's largest and most cinematic operation. Invited by a VIP services manager, New Zealand millionaire James Manning ventured into the high rollers' room. Surprisingly, he won an astounding $33 million by triumphing in eight hands of blackjack. 

However, his remarkable luck concealed a darker truth — breached security cameras and card signaling orchestrated by the manager who had recruited him. By refraining from cashing out his ill-gotten gains, Manning was discreetly escorted out of the casino that night, allowing the heist to remain concealed.

02: MIT Blackjack Team

This captivating tale unfolds as a card-counting heist — though, technically, these winnings can be seen as entirely lawful. Bill Kaplan, the mastermind behind the MIT blackjack team, asserts that blackjack stands alone as a game where statistical analysis truly grants an advantage as probabilities evolve with each card dealt. 

With this knowledge, Kaplan assembled a team comprising students from prestigious institutions like Harvard, MIT, Princeton and the University of Chicago, imparting upon them the art of card counting and strategic play. 

Over twenty years, this formidable team amassed tens of millions of dollars by outsmarting casinos worldwide in enthralling blackjack sessions. Estimates of their total winnings vary, ranging from $22 million to $57 million.

03: Circus Circus Heist - Las Vegas, U.S.

In 1993, Heather Tallchief shattered the notion that every heist requires breached cameras, cheating or an elaborate scheme. Guided by her boyfriend, Roberto Solis — a convicted murderer who found freedom through his acclaimed poetry — Tallchief secured a position with Loomis, driving armored vehicles in Las Vegas to replenish casino ATMs with cash. 

During a routine stop at Circus Circus casino, Tallchief left with approximately $3 million. She and Solis fled the country only to surrender to authorities in 2005. 

Tallchief maintains that she separated from Solis and received a mere $1,000 from the multi-million dollar heist. To this day, authorities have been unable to locate Solis.

04: Ritz Casino - London, U.K.

In a heist that unfolded at the Ritz casino in London, United Kingdom, three individuals showcased that the principles of physics could indeed provide an advantage in the game of roulette. The year was 2004 when these astute gamblers employed cutting-edge technology, including laser scanners and microcomputers, to calculate the ball's orbital decay and accurately predict its eventual landing position. This ingenious method is commonly referred to as sector targeting.

By using this advanced technique, the group managed to circumvent the notion that statistical analysis and probabilities alone could grant an advantage in roulette. They leveraged their understanding of the physical properties governing the ball's trajectory to gain an edge over the house. This demonstration emphasized that factors beyond traditional gambling strategies could significantly determine outcomes in games of chance.

After a rigorous nine-month investigation, the authorities determined that no crime had been committed, leading to the players being rightfully awarded their winnings. The advent of smartphones has made this form of cheating more accessible to execute and harder to uncover. Nevertheless, this endeavor was not the first of its kind. 

Graduate physics students at the University of California experimented with a more rudimentary version of this technology in the late 1970s, cunningly concealing the system beneath their clothing.

05: Soboba Casino - San Jacinto, California, U.S.

In 2007, a surveillance technician at Soboba Casino, Rolando Luda Ramos, arrived at work and immobilized his unsuspecting colleagues before stealing over $1.5 million from the casino's vault. Within 48 hours, both Ramos and his accomplice, Eric Aguilera, were apprehended by law enforcement.

In his defense, Ramos said he was on cocaine when committing the crime. He was sentenced to 16 years for second-degree robbery, false imprisonment, battery and a few other counts. His partner Aguilera got 12 years in prison.

06: Bellagio - Las Vegas, U.S.

The infamous Bellagio "Biker Bandit," despite conjuring images of a character in pursuit of Kevin McCallister from Home Alone amid vacant buildings during Christmas, executed one of Las Vegas' most audacious robberies. In 2010, Anthony Michael Carleo, son of a Las Vegas judge, brazenly entered the Bellagio donning a motorcycle helmet, brandishing a gun and swiftly snatched $1.5 million worth of chips from a craps table. 

Just days before, Carleo had carried out a similar heist at the Suncoast Hotel & Casino, making off with $20,000 worth of chips using the same method. Ironically, Carleo shared one common trait with the criminals from "Home Alone" – an irresistible urge to claim credit for the crime, ultimately leading to his apprehension.

07: Stardust Casino - Winchester, Nevada, U.S.

When it comes to bestowing superlatives upon the heists mentioned in this compilation, the 1992 robbery of the Stardust Casino undoubtedly earns the title of the most theatrical. This extraordinary heist involved an inside job, a family crime ring and the strategic deployment of smoke bombs. 

It all began in 1991 when Royal Hopper, a security guard at the Stardust, enlisted his two sons as "fake" robbers to orchestrate the theft of $150,000. Emboldened by their success, six months later, Hopper and his two sons launched a daring assault on a guard transporting $1.1 million in cash and checks from an armored truck, using smoke bombs to veil their escape.

08: The Bellagio - Las Vegas, U.S.

In 2000, Jose Vigoa culminated a two-year crime spree with his daring heist at the Bellagio. Equipped with bulletproof gear, Vigoa leaped over the cashier counter, filling a bag with casino chips valued at $160,000. 

Despite his protective clothing, the former commando of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces made no effort to obscure his face, neglecting to shield the most crucial aspect of all: his identity. 

Shortly after that, he was apprehended and is currently serving four life sentences for a series of robberies, including the murder of two armored truck guards.

09: Treasure Island - Las Vegas, U.S.

In the span of a single calendar year, Reginald Johnson embarked on not one, not two, but three audacious attempts at the same casino — Treasure Island. He brazenly opened fire during these heists, injuring security guards on multiple occasions. 

Johnson managed to walk away with over $30,000 during his first two escapades. But his luck ran out on the third attempt as vigilant Vegas authorities captured him. Eventually, Johnson pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and attempted murder.