If you’re thinking of going to a casino using a fake ID, think again.
I’m pretty sure you already know it’s not allowed, however you may not be aware of all the implications of using a fake ID in casinos.
I work as a casino dealer and I know how strict the rules and laws are, so here are a few things you should keep in mind.
You may have heard stories of people who were able to use a fake ID in casinos back in the days, and got away with it.
But things have changed — here’s what you need to know.
Casinos must be strict with IDs
Not only are there so many laws regulating casinos and gambling, they are very strict as well.
Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, I guess it’s subjective. But that’s the way it is.
In countries where casinos are legal, including the US, it is the casino’s responsibility to ensure minors do not have access to them.
This means the casino staff, including security, servers, and dealers, are trained to check and report anything that doesn’t look right, including checking someone’s identity, especially if they look very young.
By trying to visit a casino or card room with a fake ID, you risk being reported and you put someone else’s job at risk as well.
What may happen if you use a fake ID
- Permanent ban. Either from the casino you tried to visit, or all casinos owned by the same company.
- A fine and/or jail time. Depending on where you live and the reason you tried to use a fake ID to gamble.
- Employees being fired. As mentioned earlier, casino employees can get into trouble if they don’t report this.
- Frozen money. Say that you win and try to cash out; if you get caught, you definitely won’t be able to collect your winnings.
Two poker pros who used a fake ID
This isn’t supposed to encourage anyone to do the same, but I thought I’d share the story of two famous professional poker players who once used a fake ID to play.
The first is Phil Ivey, who managed to gamble in Atlantic City despite being still a teenager, and who eventually became one of the greatest poker players of all time.
The second is Jennifer Hartman, who grew up watching her father play in home games and then won two WSOP bracelets — a record achieved by only three other women.
In both cases, the reason for using a fake ID was simply young age. When the players turned 21, they obviously no longer needed to use fake IDs to play.
Remember, this was in the 80s and 90s, so casinos were not as strict. I seriously doubt they would be able to do the same nowadays.
