The pair ran their schemes at Harrah’s San Diego and Pala Casino Spa Resort
Two Southern California men are facing felony charges after allegedly cheating at poker in casinos by marking high-value cards. Prosecutors say the scheme allowed the pair to pocket more than $30,000 before they were caught on surveillance cameras. Both are now in court as the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office pursues the case.
Vaagn Galustyan, 52, and Armin Martirosyan, 53, were arraigned this week on two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime. Authorities allege they targeted Harrah’s San Diego Resort & Casino and Pala Casino Spa Resort, bending the corners of cards such as tens, jacks, queens, kings, and aces to give themselves an unfair advantage at the table.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan described the scam as a method that has existed for centuries, but emphasized that modern surveillance makes it harder to escape justice. She noted that while such tactics can go unnoticed in the short term, today’s casinos are equipped with sophisticated monitoring systems that can identify even subtle cheating attempts.
Investigators revealed that the men’s actions were captured on casino CCTV systems, providing clear evidence of the card manipulation. By creating visible bends on valuable cards, the players were able to track their appearance in future hands, tilting the odds heavily in their favor.
The alleged scheme highlights how traditional cheating techniques remain a threat to brick-and-mortar casinos, even as online platforms remove such possibilities. Prosecutors argue that the crime not only defrauded casinos but also undermined the fairness of games for other players.
If convicted on all counts, Galustyan and Martirosyan could face up to three years and eight months in prison. The case serves as a warning, officials say, that attempts to manipulate casino games will be aggressively prosecuted in California.
