The poker dealer allegedly stole chips from pots in the card room

The eyes in the sky and a poker player’s attention to detail led to a poker dealer at JACK Cleveland Casino being fired and indicted for allegedly stealing chips from gambling pools.

Jason Salibaa 51-year-old Ohio resident, was indicted on 14 counts of casino gambling, a fifth-degree felony. He also faces a theft charge.

Saliba was arraigned on Oct. 28 and posted $2,500 bail. A pre-trial status conference has been set for 6 p.m. 9 a.m. Dec. 3 in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court in Cleveland.

Accusations against poker dealer

JACK Cleveland is one of the best poker rooms in the area and has hosted major events such as the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT). Saliba was a dealer in the card room before a poker player noticed him allegedly doing something illegal.

A player in a game on September 6 Saliba handed out claims of noticing the dealer stealing chips out of a pot. The patron then alerted the poker room staff to this discovery. Casino staff reviewed surveillance footage, which reportedly corroborated the player’s allegations. The Ohio Casino Control Commission was then alerted and began an investigation.

Staff viewed additional surveillance footage and discovered five other instances where the poker dealer had apparently stolen chips from cash games. Investigators now say Saliba stole chips 14 times — hence the 14 charges — over a one-month period. But the amount of the theft is alleged to have been less than $1,000.

Ohio law states that a theft is classified as a misdemeanor if the amount stolen is under $1,000 and a felony if $1,000 or more. Saliba, who lives in a west suburb of Cleveland, could face up to 12 months in prison on the felony charge and up to 180 days in jail on the misdemeanor charge if convicted. He was immediately fired from JACK Cleveland after staff saw surveillance footage.

PokerNews will continue to monitor the case as the investigation unfolds.

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