A Guide to Wisconsin Casino Crimes and Tribal Lands
While gambling is not permitted in the state of Wisconsin, you could drive through many areas and spot small casinos where some residents can gamble on a variety of games. The reason these casinos are allowed is because they are built on tribal lands and the native lands do not have the same laws as the rest of the state.
Through special permissions, Wisconsin tribes are able to run and operate these casinos. But anytime the possibility of big money is at stake, crime can come hand in hand. Learn about some of the more common casino crimes and what happens if you commit a crime on tribal land.
Criminal Jurisdiction and Tribal Lands
When laws were set in place to protect the Menominee Tribe and award them private lands, the criminal jurisdiction still remained in the power of the state. This benefits both parties and prevents the need for a law-free land where no one had true power to prosecute crimes.
In short, the state law officials can go on the tribal casino property to issue warrants and arrests, so anyone who uses the casinos does not have immunity from the laws set in place. Not only does the state of Wisconsin have the power to arrest and enforce laws, but some of the casino profits are actually put towards investigative services for gaming law enforcement.
This means that officers have been hired to patrol the land and open cases when suspicious activity occurs. So if you find yourself arrested at a casino, you may get transported to a standard county jail and have to deal with the regular criminal process.
Money Fraud at Casinos
Some of the most common types of crime that occur at casinos includes money fraud. Money fraud can include a wide range of subjects in a casino and include some serious charges you would want to seek a defense attorney for.
For example, any type of credit card fraud could be applied at a casino. This includes the use of a lost or stolen credit card, along with falsifying statements to get a card. Some credit card fraud may expand if you use any banking services at a casino. For example, you may use a credit card at a casino cashier or with an ATM. You could face tacked-on charges due to those changes.
Money fraud at a casino could also expand to the manipulation and attempted cheating at any of the casino games. Stealing chips at table games could result in theft charges. Attempted manipulations to game software like slot machines could result in a number of different charges.
With any money fraud charge, you could face multiple forms of punishment. For example, you could face time in jail along with the need to fully pay back any money stolen. And without a proper defense attorney, you could end up paying the maximum and suffering in multiple ways.
Casino Surveillance and Tracking
Due to the sensitive nature of casinos and all the money involved, many of them will have state of the art technology to track any potential crimes. Video camera footage is extremely common throughout casino floors and often creates huge pieces of evidence if a crime occurs.
Unfortunately, this will make your criminal defense an even bigger challenge. By working with professionals, they can help your case, research your criminal history (if any), and present the best foot forward as a case moves to trial.
While the guilt may feel hard to dispute with casino evidence, you may have the opportunity to negotiate a plea deal and avoid a whole trial. A plea deal could eliminate the need for jail time and result in lesser punishment based on different circumstances.
Alternatively, a defense attorney may have the ability to build a strong defense for you to proceed to trial.
Underage Gambling and Fake IDs
College students in the Wisconsin area may find the idea of a night casino tempting and fun. Unfortunately, for students who aren’t old enough yet, the whole process can result in some serious charges. An underage student who attempts to gamble could get arrested. Students who use fake IDs could also face additional charges.
An aggressive prosecutor could charge a student with using fraudulent documents, gambling underage, and drinking underage if they consume alcohol as well. These serious charges could have life-long implications and result in a permanent criminal record.
A defense attorney can help represent college students and save their reputation. Through proper representation, college students can avoid major life changes and try to bounce back from these mistakes as quickly as possible.
For more information on casino laws in Wisconsin, contact us at Cohen Law Offices. If you currently face any charges, then our lawyer can take a detailed look at your case and use our years of experience to help you in every way possible.
