A SOPHISTICATED gang of roulette cheats fleeced tens of thousands of pounds from gaming venues in swindle that could have come straight from the film Casino.

Three men and at least one woman practised a trick commonly called "top hatting".

Despite being banned from casinos across the country, they evaded detection for years by using fake identities.

The men were finally brought to justice by Scotland Yard's gaming unit after officers spent months identifying the group. They were convicted under the 1845 Gaming Act of "cheating at play" - the first time on record that the offence has been used in an English court.

Scotland Yard used its own graphic artists to create an animated film of exactly how the gang carried out the swindle.

The film, which played a part in all three men pleading guilty, showed "top hatting" - dropping chips on to a gaming table split second after the roulette ball has dropped - in slow motion.

The trick, which requires months of practice, involved one of the men acting as a distractor and another as the claimant.

Just as the roulette ball drops, the distractor would lean forward with a cash note to put off the dealer while hiding gaming chips in his hand.

As he distracted the dealer, he would spot the winning number and place the chips belonging to his colleague on the same figure on the table.

casino inspector, security staff and other players all being distracted at the vital point when the ball drops.

Detective Constable John Wedger said: "The trick relies on incredible timing and sleight of hand and the ability to see the roulette ball in a split second.

"You can see the actions only when you slow down the CCTV film from the casino cameras. The actual offence takes less than a tenth of a second.

That's around Pounds 2,000 profit for less than a second's work. This was a well thought-through, skilful scam."

Hong Kong-born Kwong Lee, 42, of Mitcham, Surrey, Martin Fitz, 45, of Hendon, and Shuhal Miah, 36, of Bethnal Green, all admitted to cheating at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court.

Lee was given a 180-hour community punishment order and fined Pounds 170. Fitz

was given a community rehabilitation order and Miah received a 12- month conditional discharge The deception relies on the dealer, and was ordered to forfeit

Pounds 880. The men, all unemployed and with gambling addictions, developed the swindle as a speciality and mainly targeted the high- turnover casinos in the West End.

They were convicted of offences at the Barracuda in Baker Street and the Gala in Russell Square in 2003 and last year. Police know the group used at least one woman accomplice but have been unable to identify her.

The gang used aliases and, in some

cases, disguises to trick their way into casions from which they had been banned. When Fitz was arrested, police found he had seven driving licences.

Police say the deception is evidence of the growing sophistication of criminals.

Inspector Ben Bhangoo, head of the gaming unit, said: "We are coming across more and more international criminals operating in casinos in London.

We are the only gaming unit in the country and we have been successful in driving many cheats abroad. We can make it very difficult for them to operate here but it is equally difficult to prosecute them for some of these offences."

The unit has identified about 30 conmen operating in London. Officers believe that detection will become more difficult when deregulation of gambling is introduced, allowing walk-in entry to casinos instead of membership.

HOW TOP HATTING GANG DROVE CROUPIERS TO DISTRACTION (1)Just as the roulette ball drops, one of the men - the "distractor" - diverts the dealer's attention with a cash note as he hides high-value gaming chips in the same hand.

(2)With the dealer momentarily put off, the distractor spots the winning number and drops the chips belonging to his accomplice on the same number on the table.

(3)His accomplice then claims the winnings.

SHARP TRICKS

Card marking Cheats mark the cards. One conman grew his thumbnail to a point so he could make tiny indentations. He was caught but never convicted.

Card crimping Similar to card marking, but crimpers use tiny folds.

Scanners The Met's gaming unit arrested three gamblers who allegedly stole Pounds 1.3million at roulette at the Ritz last year using a computerised scanner hidden in a mobile phone. Not enough evidence to prosecute.

Hidden cameras The unit recently recovered a minute camera hidden in a gambler's cuff. An associate in a nearby room or car sees the pictures and passes on information to another player.

Card counting System of remembering which cards are dealt to predict which will come up. Not illegal.

(c)2005. Associated Newspapers Ltd.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.