Bob Nersesian said his lawsuits have made him a lot of money, but his career is about “bringing thugs to justice.”
A forthcoming book called “The Law for Gamblers” tells the story of a lawyer who represents gamblers who feel they’ve been ripped off by casinos. The book, published by Huntington Press and set for release on March 31, is meant to teach people their rights in a casino.
The author is 58-year old Bob Nersesian, who resides in Las Vegas. For 21 years, Nersesian has been the man gamblers call when they want representation. In that time, Bob Nersesian has had 70 different gaming cases and won millions of dollars for his clients. The American lawyer, who is described by the New York Daily News as “a stock, aggressive pit bull of a man”, often represents card counters.
The Law for Card Counters
That’s the twist with “The Law for Gamblers“. Bob Nersesian does not represent gamblers who lost millions of dollars due to problem gambling. He represents gamblers who have won millions of dollars from casinos, then had that windfall taken away by a casino due to some arbitrary action. That’s when Bob Nersesian begins to fight for gamblers.
The first-time author discusses card counting, were a New Jersey judge ruled in 1982 to be legal. He pointed out the common misconception that counting cards is illegal, then said, “It is not illegal and it is not cheating. Card counting is nothing more than playing the game offered by the casino.”
Intimidation and Thuggery
He says that casinos use intimidation and underhanded tactics to seize the winnings of players. Because they know the house edge is in their favor, they grow suspicious of any player who can beat them consistently. It’s rare enough that they suspect anyone winning over a period of time is counting cards, or “cheating” in some way.
Nersesian said, “Casinos everywhere like taking shots at ripping off players. [They] will detain players or not cash their chips for any reason imaginable.”
The Rights of Gamblers
The Vegas lawyer said that casinos use people’s ignorance of the law to steal money they lawfully won. Many gamblers, unaware of their rights and wanting to put a traumatic situation behind them, walk away from their money.
Others come to Bob Nersesian, and gaming lawyers like him. He has prosecuted cases in Nevada, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Long time gamblers will know those three states are home to the most famous and lucrative casinos in the United States.
The successful lawyer wants people to know they have a good case, one supported by trial law. He added, “Clearly, they (casinos) don’t want certain people near their games. But if they offer a game to the community — and it’s their odds, equipment and rules — [how can] they exclude smart people from participating?”
The Trial of Keith Burks
One of the card counters Nersesian represented was Keith Burks, an Atlantic City gambler with experience beating the casinos. Burks said he was winning at an AC casino when a floor supervisor killed his hand and told him he was finished.
Because the pit boss abruptly ended play after a bet was made, Keith Burks was unhappy with his treatment. Burks said, “He killed the hand!. Things got heated. Security guards ended up tackling me and handcuffing me. I woke up Bob with a phone call.”
The terms of Keith Burks’ settlement remain confidential, but the casino eventually settled out of court, knowing they were going to lose the case. Bob Nersesian says he’s won cases for as much as $600,000.
The Trial of Thomas Kho
Thomas Kho, a 24-year old barber from New Jersey, hopes for a similar settlement from Nersesian. Last summer, Kho was at on his third day of gambling at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas. He had won $6,000 over the first two days, but was losing on the third day. Suddenly, he was told his gambling was over.
Because Kho had shown the dealer his ID, he refused to show the member of management his identification when the staff member demanded it (casinos are known to confiscate driver’s licenses). Kho was handcuffed and manhandled into a back room. There, his pockets were rifled, $30,000 in cash was taken, and his chips were confiscated. The Hard Rock, which also threw out Ben Affleck for card counting in 2014, would not give back the chips, though the cash was returned.
Thomas Kho said he called Bob Nersesian the next morning. The veteran attorney said, “If they did exactly what you say, we can make a lot of money.”
Bob Nersesian’s Motives
The case is pending. Bob Nersesian said he makes a handsome living suing the casinos, but it’s about more than the money. He said, “It’s about bringing thugs to justice.”
That is one of the reasons the Las Vegas gaming lawyer is writing “The Law for Gamblers“. He wants casino patrons to know about the challenges they face, the laws on card counting, and the hostility of these friendly-seeming casinos. Mostly, he wants gamblers to know their rights.
