Evolution Gaming Worker Tied to DraftKings and FanDuel Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Cheating
A former card dealer for Evolution Gaming has pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and cheating. The individual, identified as Sebastian Echeverri, admitted to manipulating blackjack games to gain an unfair advantage while placing bets through his own accounts. The scheme, according to Connecticut State Police, resulted in an estimated loss of $47,000 for the gambling platform.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Echeverri, who worked as a dealer for Evolution, which provides online casino games to DraftKings and FanDuel, faces first-degree larceny and cheating charges. In court, he agreed to a plea deal that resulted in a five-year suspended prison sentence and three years of probation. Court records confirm that he avoided jail time under the terms of the agreement.
Related: Marina Bay Sands Casino Dealers Head to Prison for FraudThe investigation began in January 2023 when the Connecticut Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force received a report from the Department of Consumer Protection about suspicious gambling activity. The department flagged what appeared to be a cheating operation involving Echeverri, who was employed by Evolution in Fairfield. The company operates live dealer games for online casinos, allowing users to place bets on real-time card games streamed over video.
Connecticut has allowed online gambling since 2021 for residents aged 21 and older. The system enables users to participate in casino games remotely while being regulated under state law. Echeverri took advantage of his role as a dealer to exploit the system by handling and manipulating blackjack decks for personal gain.
Authorities determined that Echeverri used DraftKings accounts to place uncharacteristically large bets on cards he had previously dealt. Video evidence and internal company records revealed that he altered blackjack hands to create a situation where he would have an advantage while placing bets on his personal accounts. Investigators found that his activities took place between July and December of the previous year.
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The scheme was uncovered after one of his DraftKings accounts was flagged for unusual betting patterns. The company identified that the account was being accessed from the same device Echeverri used to log into Evolution’s internal employee portals.
These portals contained personal employment information, including work schedules and time sheets. The overlap in account access raised red flags for the company, prompting further investigation.
When questioned by investigators, Echeverri admitted to operating the DraftKings accounts and acknowledged that he manipulated cards to give himself an advantage in online blackjack games. State police confirmed that he provided details about how he executed the cheating operation.
Evolution and DraftKings cooperated with the investigation, working closely with state officials to identify and address irregularities in the system.
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