Nevada Adds Mississippi Illusionist to Black Book of Banned Casino Players

The Nevada Gaming Commission unanimously voted on Thursday to add the 36th name to its List of Excluded Persons. That’s the infamous “black book” banning people for life from all casinos in the Silver State.

Shaun Joseph Benward, a 36-year-old native of Ocean Springs, Miss., is an illusionist who allegedly uses his knowledge of distraction to scam casinos. He was nominated for the dishonor in September.

Benward was previously convicted of cheating at roulette in several states and has been removed from 17 Nevada casinos. Though he was notified of the vote, he didn’t attend Thursday’s Commission meeting.

Michael Somps, Senior Deputy Attorney General in the Gaming Division of the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, testified before the Commission in September that Benward has cheated casinos out of tens of thousands of dollars by perpetrating a single scam — an allegation backed up by multiple news reports.

Benward’s MO is to work with an accomplice to distract roulette dealers. He wins their confidence through conversation, then places his bet late in a game.

When the ball lands, Benward tries convincing his dealer that he mistakenly placed his chips on the wrong number. His accomplice backs up the story.

Often, a flustered dealer will allow the bet to be played. Often, however, Benward is caught.

This is why his name appears on exclusion lists in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Missouri, and Michigan, and why he has cheating arrests or convictions in Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, and Rhode Island.

Benward satisfied all four criteria.