bookie to gamble

The Great Bookie Robbery it wasn't. The security camera footage of yesterday's gunpoint hold-up of Crown Casino's high-roller room could have been made for a World's Worst Armed Robbers television special.
The robber checked into the first-floor Mahogany Room about 4.30am with a membership card. The name and details were entered on the Crown computer system alongside a history of his previous gambling transactions. The cards are only issued after candidates have completed a 100-point identity check.
In full view of the observation cameras, the man, wearing a black bomber jacket, dark T-shirt and dark pants, played a VIP electronic gaming machine. He was not wearing gloves and left many fingerprints.
After about 30 minutes he made his move. He walked to the cashier's desk, produced a handgun and demanded money.
The cashier handed over, according to Crown, "a substantial, six-figure sum". But the robber had nothing to stash it in. By the time he had filled his pockets, an alarm had been triggered.
When the robber got to the bottom of the exit escalator, security staff were waiting. Cornered, the offender again brandished his gun. The security men backed off under instructions to avoid a public shootout.
There was no getaway car waiting. Instead, the robber jumped into a cab at the Whiteman Street rank. The taxi driver became so concerned about what the man was saying he triggered his security camera, adding a close-up to the footage.
"We're not dealing with Albert Einstein or a person who is terribly worried about being identified," Crown spokesman Gary O'Neill said later. "I don't think we're dealing here with somebody who sat down and planned this over a long period of time."
At Flemington the robber got out of the taxi, leaving behind a wad of cash. He was last seen in Racecourse Road. Police were quickly on the scene, but were unable to find a suspect with bulging pockets.
Police said last night they were following up the identification details from the membership card, which included an address.
Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Bernie Jackson said it was not known if the handgun was imitation or real. "Nothing at this stage indicates anything that triggered it, he was in there for some period of time . . . and had been betting in the casino."
The man was described as being of European descent, in his late 40s, 175 centimetres tall, solidly built and had scruffy, dark hair.
The two Mahogany Room staff confronted by the robber received trauma counselling.
Mr O'Neill said Crown would review any security issues arising from the police investigation, but he praised the way casino staff had performed. He said no casino used metal detectors or body searches to prevent weapons being brought in.
Between 20 and 30 gamblers were in the members-only room, which runs 24 hours a day, when the robbery occurred.
Mr O'Neill said there were about 5000 Mahogany Room members, who were invited to join after establishing a minimum amount of gambling turnover. Members received rewards, such as free accommodation or restaurant meals, according to how much they gambled.
In the privacy of the ornately decorated enclave, named after one of casino founder Lloyd Williams' racehorses, high rollers can play for tens of thousands of dollars a hand.