Minnesota Gambling Control Board
1711 West County Road B, Suite 300 South
Roseville, Minnesota  55113
651-639-4000

The five forms of lawful gambling are
raffles, bingo, pull-tabs, tipboards, and paddlewheels.

Crime Alert

 

Know your money     Detecting counterfeit bills

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July 2, 2012 - Lake City Area Organizations.
Be on the lookout for customers turning in winning pull-tab tickets for prizes from a stolen game. The name of the game is Stealing Bases, serial #K829463.  Please review the serial numbers on the tickets carefully before awarding prizes.   Local law enforcement has been notified. Get a description of any suspects, and the make, model and license number of any vehicle they are driving.  Call 911 or your local police department with any information.

 January 23, 2012 - COUNTERFEIT BILL ALERT
In November 2011 at the Tappers site in West St. Paul a $100 bill was used to purchase pull-tabs.  Sellers had used a pen to determine if it was a legal bill, which it did.  When the deposit was made the teller discovered the bill was actually a $5 bill as the watermark shown through.  The bill was washed to look like a $100.  It was turned over to local law enforcement.

The second incident occurred in December 2011 at the West St. Paul Bingo Palace.  Three $100 bills were used and shared the same serial #DB10721005B.  They were originally $5 bills that were washed to look like $100.  The Lincoln watermark and $5 security strip were present in the bill paper.  It was turned over to local law enforcement.

Organizations should alert their sellers to take precautions and scrutinize currency to ensure only valid bills are accepted.  Using only a pen is not enough.  Click here for further information on how to detect counterfeit bills.

If you receive a counterfeit bill:

  • Do not return it to the passer.
  • Delay the passer if possible.
  • Observe the passer's description, as well as that of any companions, and the license plate numbers of any vehicles used.
  • Contact your local police department (or US Secret Service).
  • Write your initials and the date in the white border areas of the suspect note.
  • Limit the handling of the note. Carefully place it in a protective covering, such as an envelope.
  • Surrender the note or coin only to a properly identified police officer or a U.S. Secret Service special agent.

December 7, 2011 - The following game remnants were recently stolen from a car in the St. Paul area.  Please be vigilant in conducting your games.

 

Organizations and pull-tab sellers should be on the lookout for anyone trying to redeem tickets from these games.   Sellers should always ensure the serial numbers on winning tickets match that of the game in play.

 

Get a description of any suspects, and the make, model and license number of any vehicle they are driving.  Call 911 or your local police department with any information.

 

GAME NAME and SERIAL NUMBER

 

Beer Season . . . . . 1501010

Big Mac 7’s . . . . . . .J170895                                               

Booze and Brews  . J512773

Kiss for Luck . . . . . .H483394

Oil Tycoon . . . . . . . H483400

Out of the Park . . . .9991569

Troll N Time . . .  . .  9992202

Rippie . . . . . . . . . . .H524097

August 4, 2011 - A distributor has informed us that four games were stolen from their vehicle in the city of Loretto, Hennepin County on July 21, 2011.

Game               Part Number    Serial Number

Ice Queen       HU42-MN          H606072

Wok & Roll      NA38-MN          J590886

Bananas         31234-MN         H981845 

Bananas         31234-MN         H981866

Organizations and pull-tab sellers should be on the lookout for anyone trying to redeem tickets from these games.   Get a description of any suspects, and the make, model and license number of any vehicle they are driving.  Call 911 or your local police department with any information.
 

June 10, 2011 - The Minnesota Department of Public Safety [Gambling Enforcement Division] and the Redwood County Sheriff’s Office have asked organizations and their employees to be on alert for any persons passing counterfeit $20 bills.

The serial numbers on the bills being used are EL44545520F, EH63497712A, and IJ32607694B. Commonly, the counterfeit bills are being used in playing pull-tabs, and the persons are requesting $100 bills when redeeming winning tickets. The bills are being passed in the Marshall, Lamberton, Walnut Grove, Milroy, Wabasso, and Vesta areas.

Organizations are advised to check their funds to determine whether they are in possession of any counterfeit bills. Plus, organizations and their employees should review their procedures to ensure counterfeit bills are not accepted.

Please contact Bill White, Gambling Enforcement Division (651.207.7530) or Rick Wakefield, Redwood County Sheriff’s Office (507.637.4036) with any information if you find that your organization has accepted these counterfeit bills.

May 24, 2011 - A distributor has informed us that counterfeit bills are being passed in the Mankato area. Organizations should alert their sellers to take precautions and scrutinize currency to ensure only valid bills are accepted.

April 28, 2011 - A timely reminder from the U.S. Secret Service web site - know your money and detecting counterfeit bills.

December 22, 2010 - American Legion and VFW Posts targeted.
There has been a recent wave of burglaries in southeastern Minnesota that has been targeting primarily American Legion and VFW Clubs.  Burglaries were reported in Winona, Caledonia, Spring Grove, and Houston.

The suspects forcefully entered into the establishments after hours and pried open safes. Bar and gambling funds were taken.

Make sure your facilities are secured at night and observe any unfamiliar persons. Funds should be secured in a safe or, if possible, night deposits made to limit cash exposure. The use of cameras may help to deter crimes or aid law enforcement in catching the suspects.

December 9, 2010 - Counterfeit bills - Flash drive presentation of $100 note unveiled earlier this year. To help prevent losses from counterfeit notes, have your employees review the presentation and become familiar with the enhanced security features of the $100 note.
 

For more information regarding counterfeit bills, click here.

November 29, 2010 - Alert on increased burglaries.

The Board received information regarding break-ins and burglaries that occurred during the past weekend.  Based on past experience, it has been noted that these incidences increase in times of economic difficulty and especially during a holiday season.

 

Recent activity was reported in Pelican Rapids, Fisher, Dawson, Browerville, and Long Prairie, Minnesota.  Locking up receipts and start-up banks in a safe saved one organization from losses.  Another organization had the paper work for the games stored in a separate location from the money, so they were able to determine the amount of the loss.  Another organization was not so fortunate, as the game records were stored with the money that was taken, and as a result the organization will have to report the games at ideal profit.

To avoid a loss of gambling funds, gambling managers are advised to review and update, if needed, their current internal operations.  Take steps to ensure that gambling funds are secured not only after business hours but also during business hours.  Instruct gambling employees on the appropriate procedures to follow during business hours to ensure that funds are never left unattended or unsecured...not even for a minute.  Keep paperwork separate from the money so that the amount of a loss, if it occurs, can be determined.

 

If you have a loss, contact local law enforcement and your compliance specialist immediately

The Board has historically approved fund loss adjustments for organizations that secured funds using a safe.  However, the Board has denied adjustments when an organization taped the combination to the safe or hung a key for the safe in close proximity to the safe. Also, hiding funds within a locked room or keeping funds overnight locked in a drawer that is easily pried open have been considered inadequate safeguards by the Board.

Fund losses must be reported to the Board within 60 days of the loss. 

August 31, 2010 - Monticello/Wright County area

The Board has received information that there are $20 and $100 counterfeit bills circulating in the area.  One organization reported that a $20 bill they accepted was only detectable as a counterfeit bill under a black light.  Be sure to advise your gambling employees to look for distinctive watermarks on the bill.  A fake bill will not have the small security strip inside, as modern bills do.

 

If a bill looks suspicious or is a counterfeit bill, contact the Wright County sheriff's Office, investigations unit, at 763-682-7630 or your local law enforcement officials.  Be sure to try to get the name from the identification being used to redeem the prize, a description of the suspect(s), and make, model and license number of any vehicle the suspects leave in, and immediately contact local law enforcement with this information.


 August 20, 2010 - Duluth area

The Board has received information that a person is trying to cash in winning tickets from a Crazy 8's game, serial number 7194653, at sites where Crazy 8's games are being played.  Organizations should advise their pull-tab sellers to double check all winners from those games to verify the serial number and that the tickets have not been tampered with.

 

July 27, 2010 - Tickets stolen.

Between July 21 and 22, 2010, The Black Dog Bar & Grill in Lake Perry Township was burglarized. The Black Dog Bar & Grill is a gambling site for the Crosby Fire Relief Association.

Taken were several pull tabs from 2 deals in play at the site.

 - Bananas         Form #AN 38321-MN   Serial #B793056

 - Reel Big Fish  Form #AG RFV500A     Serial #9935842

 

Organizations should be on the lookout for anyone trying to redeem any tickets from these two deals at their sites. If someone does, please try to get the name from the identification being used to redeem the prize, a description of the suspect(s), and make, model and license number of any vehicle the suspects leave in, and immediately contact local law enforcement with this information.

 

January 4, 2010 - Games stolen from device.
We have a report of two pull-tab games stolen from a pull-tab dispensing device at Morty’s in Glyndon, Minnesota, on December 28, 2009.   Cash was not taken from the device.

 

Games stolen:

  • Pool Shark, part number IG 1067CD, serial number 3202607

  • I Wish, part number IG 1075AP, serial number 3170035

 

Please be on the lookout for anyone attempting to redeem winning tickets from these deals at your sites.   If they do attempt to redeem winning tickets, notify your local police immediately with the name and/or description of the suspect(s) and description and license number of any vehicles they are driving.

 

December 17, 2009 - Games missing.

We have a report of games missing several weeks ago when they were delivered by a delivery service to the wrong location and no one was there.  The pull-tabs were ordered by the Halstad Firemen’s Benefit Association, Halstad, Minnesota.

 

Game Name                            Form Number              Serial Number

I Wish                                       IG-1057AS                   3170491

Deer Tracks                             IG-1058AS                   3170486

Grin & Bear It                          AN-38112-MN             B785294

Mini Criss Cross                      AN-39141-MN             C141612, C141615, C141651

 

Be on the lookout for anyone trying to redeem winning tickets from these games at your sites.    If they do, please note the name or the description of the person redeeming the tickets and/or the license number and description of any vehicle they are driving.  Contact your local law enforcement department immediately.

 

December 10, 2009 - Games stolen.

We have a report of pull-tab games stolen from the Buckhorn Bar in McGregor, Minnesota by unknown suspects.

 

Games stolen:

  • Fore Warned, part number 33876-MN, serial number A886025

  • Black Cherry Slots, part number QSA416-A, serial number 9702380

  • Money Fund, part number GV64-MN, serial number C529018

Please be on the lookout for anyone attempting to redeem winning tickets from these deals at your sites.   If they do attempt to redeem winning tickets notify your local police immediately with the name and/or description of the suspect(s) and description and license number of any vehicles they are driving.

 

July 29, 2009  - Pull-tab deal stolen.

We have a report of a possible Pull-Tab Deal stolen from a delivery vehicle in the Minneapolis area.  Be on the lookout for anyone attempting to redeem pull-tabs from the Luv the Lakz game, Form # IG1023AS, Serial Number #3065895.

If you see pull-tabs from this game, please contact your local police department immediately.

June 23, 2009 - Counterfeit bills appearing in Twin Cities...again.

Be on the alert...whether your organization is located in the Metro area or Greater Minnesota!

Counterfeit $20 and $100 bills were recently detected at a gambling premises in Minneapolis.  The bills are lower denomination bills that were bleached and then reprinted in $20 and $100 denominations.  The counterfeits are on government paper so the pens used to detect fakes will not work.  The only giveaway is the magnetic strip in the paper. Alert your pull-tab sellers to carefully check all $20, $50, and $100 bills they receive by holding the bills up to a light and verifying the denomination on the strip.

From the US Secret Service web site - If you receive a counterfeit bill:

  • Do not return it to the passer.
  • Delay the passer if possible.
  • Observe the passer's description, as well as that of any companions, and the license plate numbers of any vehicles used.
  • Contact your local police department (or US Secret Service).
  • Write your initials and the date in the white border areas of the suspect note.
  • Limit the handling of the note. Carefully place it in a protective covering, such as an envelope.
  • Surrender the note or coin only to a properly identified police officer or a U.S. Secret Service special agent.
March 23, 2009 - Duluth area
Winning tickets--from an unopened Crazy 8's game that were supposedly destroyed in a fire three years ago--were redeemed at sites playing Crazy 8's games during the weekend of March 13 and 14, 2009, in Duluth.  Please remind all employees to check serial numbers against games in play before paying out prizes.
 
If someone tries to pass these tickets, have your employee take the ticket as if they were going to redeem it and have the person fill out a prize receipt if applicable.  Have the employee then keep both the ticket and the prize receipt.
 The game in question was Crazy 8's, manufacturer IG, part number 821B, serial number 7194653.  If any organization has taken in any of these tickets please contact Investigator Michael Adelson at 218-729-1411. 
 
The following is a list of other unopened games supposedly destroyed in the fire.  Please make your employees are aware of these as well as the suspects may also try to redeem the winners from these games. 
Manufacturer    Part Number    Serial Number           Name
 AN                     31637                 2541373                  Grin and Bear It  
 AN                     31941               1996120                   Mumbo Jumbo
 AN                    31941                3996087                   Mumbo Jumbo
 IG                      821B                  7194651                   Crazy 8's
 IG                      9676                  6273942                    Barnyard Invasion

February 27, 2009 - Pull-tab tickets stolen.

A licensed organization in the metro area reported that pull-tab tickets were stolen from a popular game at their site.  The loss was reported to local law enforcement officials.

 

Organizations in the metro area should be aware that someone may try to improperly redeem tickets from this game:

Fun Fair

Form number 449WW

Serial number 7899416.

Please advise your pull-tab sellers to be on the look out for these tickets, and contact your local law enforcement if someone tries to redeem them. 

February 17, 2009 - Bowling alleys targeted.

Bowling alleys, in and around the metro area, have been the target of a string of recent burglaries.  Sites in St. Paul Park, Andover, and Ham Lake were hit. Organizations are advised to take extra precautions in securing their lawful gambling operations and funds. DO NOT lock funds in drawers. Secure your funds in a safe or deposit them daily.
 

October 27, 2008 - Illegal sports boards and video machines.

An increase has been noted recently in illegal sports boards and video machines. Organizations and lessors are being approached by vendors (not licensed distributors) to purchase sports boards and video machines, stating that "This is legal in all 50 states."  Not true.

If your organization is contacted by such a vendor, protect your license by contacting the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division (Department of Public Safety) at 651-201-7500 extension 2, with information to determine whether the machine or equipment constitutes illegal gambling. 

 

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