I would like to think this subject is worthy of it's own title. As many of you know, the Bellagio was robbed early on Tuesday morning. The facts are that the person rode in on a motorcycle and parked it in the north valet area. The robber went into the Bellagio still wearing his full faced helmet and approached a craps table. He told everyone to back off as he pulled a handgun and scooped up over $1.5 million, mostly in chips. The then fled, got on the motorcycle and was last seen going west on Flamingo.

There is a lot of speculation going on. Some say the chips have radio frequency tags in them, aka RF ID. Some suggest he is the same person that robbed the Suncoast poker room last week. Some say the Bellagio might change their chip design.

As for the RF tags, maybe they are in the chips, maybe not, maybe in some of the chips. In the big scheme of things, that is a lot of money to you or I, but not in the eyes of Bellagio. Obviously, if the bandit goes in the Bellagio next week wearing the same outfit and tries to cash out, he would be subject to questioning. But what if he goes to a blackjack table and launders them into the pool a little at a time? Or cashes out at the cage with 90% legal chips and a few of stolen chips. It is "assumed" that he is working alone. What if he has others doing the laundry job? In my eyes, the bottom line facts are that the Bellagio has said NOTHING about the chips being detectable. That is a wise move as they would not want to compromise their security policies. It is only the media and alleged experts that are claiming everything from electronic to printed serial numbers to ID the chips. Also, in regards to the chips, the Bellagio lost maybe $200 worth of plastic. It's only when that plastic is exchanged for cash that they lose money.

On Tuesday night, I went to the Luxor for some late night Fantasy. Security was very very tight. There was a guard on bicycle riding up and down the walkway from the parking lot. As I entered the Luxor, there were about 6 security officers standing just inside the door making a firm presence. They were in the way and would not budge. Everyone entering had to make a special effort to walk around them when entering or leaving.

On Wednesday night, I went downtown. The 4 Queens security was beefed up with more security on foot, walking the floor. In the Las Vegas Club, there were about 5 security guards walking the floor at any given time. The Fremont had big officers in front of their FSE entrances.

My prediction is that guy will get caught in an uneventful arrest based on info from an anonymous tip…possibly from a greedy helper.

This was a very curious robbery. Why on Earth would they take chips? It would take a very long time or a big team of people to launder those back in to the pool.

The other thing that perplexed me is why they robbed a craps table. The craps tables at the Bellagio are centrally located and not near any of the exits. It's a very long walk from the craps table to the north valet entrance. I'm not sure how he got out unscathed.

security opted not to get in to a running gun battle inside the casino.chips are basicly worthless unless we have some insider help going on.i wonder if he/she tipped valet?in the book bringing down the house the counters got stuck with chips after the mgm brawl and had thier stripper friends cash them in but a mill and a half?

I went to the SunCoast last night, where the guy is suspected of robbing the poker room last week, and security was normal. I saw one guard at the cage, and that's it.

From the pictures I saw of the robber running away, he has to have grabbed relatively high denomination chips since he wasn't hauling a big sack or a case. One would think that the higher value chips would have a higher level of security either RFD chips or some kind of serial number.
My son says the robber would have chosen the craps table because they hold many more chips than the blackjack tables.
Two robberies in such a short period either suggests organized group or somebody who has gone over the edge into a psychotic episode. Grabbing chips rather than cash is consistent with either one. An organized group would have some sort of plan for converting the chips and a lone nut wouldn't think about it.

I was thinking that he scoped out the operations and knew when the drops were made, when the guards took breaks, etc. If so, he had info on Boyd as well as MRI.

I find the SunCoast poker room an interesting hit. While security is/was relatively light, it's not an easy casino for a quick in and out.

So far, no news on the robber.

They appear to have arrested the robber. The high denomination chips appear to have done him in. Meanwhile, he was living the high life spending the lower denomination at Bellagio and being comped for it.

This 'story' sounds like great movie making material.

DId I read someplace that the robber was a judge's son?

If I knew all these details, I'd start writing a script but I bet some much more knowledgeable person is already on it.

Can anyone suggest an appropriate title?

Million Dollar Bag of Chips ???

Worlds biggest loser? Oh I beleive that name is already taken.

Will is right. This could make a good book or movie. Stories pop up every day. He bragged about how easy it would be to rob the casino, tried to recruit helpers, donated a stolen chip to a Salvation Army bell ringer, and yes, he is the son of a judge.

The Bellagio bandit pleaded Not Guilty to all 7 charges in front of a judge today. His trial has been set for next January.