Casino Marker (Bad Debt) Cases

In Nevada, you can be criminally prosecuted for writing, also called “drawing and passing” a check without sufficient funds in your bank account. This is commonly referred to as a “bad check.” Under this same law, you can, and WILL be prosecuted, for a Felony offense, if you sign for a line of credit, known as a "casino marker," from a Las Vegas casino and don’t promptly pay the money back. Nevada is one of the only jurisdictions where this kind of gambling debt is collected through the filing of formal criminal charges. As Nevada is a tourist driven and gambling heavy economy, this crime is taken very seriously. A Felony conviction for this type of incident can carry with it a sentence in prison. Additionally, someone who carries a professional license, such as a doctor, lawyer, nurse, accountant, real estate agent, even a standard business license, exposes themselves to the real risk of losing their professional license(s) should they be convicted of such a charge.

Because these types of cases are taken so seriously, they demand a serious defense and need to be addressed promptly. The District Attorney's Office will apply for and obtain a warrant for your arrest if you don’t handle the issue correctly and quickly. Many times, a warrant will issue without the person charged having knowledge of it. Once the Court signs an arrest warrant, it is entered into a National Law Enforcement Computer database. Thereafter, when a member of law enforcement “runs” your name or identifying information, in a vehicle stop for example, the warrant is seen and the person can be arrested in any State at any time. You would then be held in custody and extradited to Nevada to face the charges.

If you think you may owe a Casino Marker in Las Vegas, or elsewhere in Nevada, you should not contact the police, the casino you owe the money to or the District Attorney without first contacting a lawyer. You should immediately contact a competent Criminal Defense lawyer attorney who knows this intricate and unique area of law. If you try to contact the DA, the police or the casino without counsel, anything you tell them can be used against you in your case and they may just attempt to arrest you on a warrant.

Call Attorney Josh Tomsheck, of the Law Firm of Hofland & Tomsheck, today for a Free Consultation on how best to handle your Casino Marker or Bad Check case. Josh is a Former Chief Deputy District Attorney in Las Vegas and is a Nationally Board Certified Criminal Defense Lawyer recognized as a Specialist in Criminal Trial Advocacy by the State Bar of Nevada. There is no one better equipped to handle your bad check case. Call today to schedule an in person appointment or telephonic consultation. (702) 895-6760 - - time is of the essence.