Ohio Poker Dealer Jason Saliba Pleads Guilty to Stealing Chips Out of Pots
Former JACK Cleveland Casino poker dealer Jason Saliba changed his plea on Tuesday to guilty on charges related to stealing chips out of cash game pots.
Saliba was charged in November with 14 casino gaming law violations, a fifth degree felony. He also faced a misdemeanor theft charge. The now fired Ohio casino employee originally professed his innocence, but the defense and prosecution have been discussing a plea deal for the past few months, according to the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts.
Poker Dealer's Punishment
Saliba appeared in court Tuesday morning where he entered a guilty plea to nine gambling violations, a plea the court accepted. He was advised of his constitutional rights prior to doing so.
The Cleveland area resident will avoid jail time. He was informed of his non-prison sentencing, which includes minor fines and a lifetime ban from JACK Casino, which boasts one of the most popular poker rooms in the area. Saliba is also prohibited from contacting his former employer.
Saliba was indicted Oct. 28 after a player in the poker room noticed the dealer stealing chips out of a pot during a Sept. 6, 2024 low-stakes cash game. The patron then alerted poker room staff of this discovery. Casino staff reviewed surveillance footage which confirmed the player's accusations. The Ohio Casino Control Commission was then alerted and opened an investigation.
Staff watched additional surveillance footage and discovered five other instances where the poker dealer had apparently stolen chips from cash games. Investigators now say Saliba stole chips 14 times — hence, the 14 original charges — over a one-month period. But the amount of the theft was less than $1,000.
Ohio law states that a theft is classified as a misdemeanor if the amount stolen is under $1,000 and a felony if $1,000 or above. Saliba, who resides in a western Cleveland suburb, faced up to 12 months in jail for the felony charge and up to 180 days in jail for the misdemeanor charges, but the case closed with Saliba serving no jail time, the felony charge dropped, and counts 10-16 also being dropped.
