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00:00:01,335 --> 00:00:03,754
[cheering]
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00:00:03,754 --> 00:00:09,218
[Michael] I had my first big win
at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas.
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00:00:09,218 --> 00:00:12,095
♪ ♪
4
00:00:12,095 --> 00:00:14,765
[cheering]
5
00:00:14,765 --> 00:00:17,434
God came down and said,
"Michael,
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00:00:17,434 --> 00:00:20,520
the answer to all
of your financial problems
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00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:21,480
are the slots."
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00:00:25,192 --> 00:00:27,152
And as I'm sitting there,
all of a sudden...
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00:00:28,111 --> 00:00:29,112
[bells ringing]
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00:00:29,112 --> 00:00:30,822
...bells start going off.
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00:00:30,822 --> 00:00:33,283
I had hit the jackpot.
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00:00:33,283 --> 00:00:35,369
I won $100,000.
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00:00:35,369 --> 00:00:38,747
♪ ♪
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00:00:38,747 --> 00:00:44,378
And that feeling was just
one of complete bliss.
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00:00:44,378 --> 00:00:47,798
People would come by
and touch me.
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00:00:47,798 --> 00:00:51,969
From that day on,
I was known as Mr. Lucky.
17
00:00:51,969 --> 00:00:54,429
[Mariana van Zeller]
They call it "the big win."
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00:00:54,429 --> 00:00:59,101
The potent rush of money won
versus money earned.
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00:00:59,101 --> 00:01:01,728
And gamblers have been
chasing it for generations.
20
00:01:01,728 --> 00:01:03,146
[screaming]
21
00:01:03,146 --> 00:01:04,564
[Sharon Stone] Yes!
22
00:01:04,564 --> 00:01:07,150
[Mariana] Even Hollywood
has played into this fantasy.
23
00:01:07,150 --> 00:01:08,443
[George Clooney]
I'll raise you 2,000.
24
00:01:08,443 --> 00:01:10,862
[James Gandolfini]
Kinda high stakes for you, no?
25
00:01:10,862 --> 00:01:13,240
[Mariana] America's
legal gambling industry rakes in
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00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:16,660
over $200 billion a year,
27
00:01:16,660 --> 00:01:19,246
but for some bookies
and bettors,
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00:01:19,246 --> 00:01:21,248
it's not enough.
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00:01:21,248 --> 00:01:23,417
[Gambler] I'm competitive
and I like to win.
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00:01:23,417 --> 00:01:24,459
In gambling, it's really clear
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00:01:24,459 --> 00:01:26,837
whether you're a winner
or you're a loser.
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00:01:26,837 --> 00:01:28,505
[Mariana] Black market games
and casinos
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00:01:28,505 --> 00:01:31,049
are popping up
all over the country.
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00:01:31,049 --> 00:01:33,385
[Gambler] A lot of celebrities,
a lot of politicians,
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00:01:33,385 --> 00:01:34,886
and they all want
a private place
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00:01:34,886 --> 00:01:37,764
where they can just act
however they want to act.
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00:01:37,764 --> 00:01:40,100
[Mariana] Where fortunes
are being lost and won...
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00:01:42,185 --> 00:01:43,437
[Man] You're right.
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00:01:43,437 --> 00:01:45,564
[Mariana] ...off the books
and in the shadows.
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00:02:19,681 --> 00:02:23,435
♪ ♪
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00:02:23,435 --> 00:02:27,105
♪ ♪
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00:02:47,626 --> 00:02:48,835
[Mariana] Yeah.
It's quite interesting
43
00:02:48,835 --> 00:02:50,796
that we have to call you
all the way from Mexico.
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00:02:50,796 --> 00:02:53,173
Mexican journalist
Miguel Angel Vega
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00:02:53,173 --> 00:02:56,259
is an old friend and colleague
who's helped me gain access
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00:02:56,259 --> 00:03:00,263
to many criminal operators
throughout my career.
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00:03:00,263 --> 00:03:03,016
Tonight, 300 miles
from Los Angeles,
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00:03:03,016 --> 00:03:05,394
we're due to meet
a cartel associate
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00:03:05,394 --> 00:03:08,230
who's rumored to host
an illegal poker game.
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00:03:08,230 --> 00:03:09,773
What's his connection
to the cartel?
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00:03:26,706 --> 00:03:31,253
[dog barking]
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00:03:43,807 --> 00:03:45,392
[Mariana] Well, thank you.
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00:03:45,392 --> 00:03:47,644
He tells me to call him Tony.
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00:03:47,644 --> 00:03:50,397
Originally from Los Angeles,
he now lives here
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00:03:50,397 --> 00:03:53,233
in an undisclosed part
of Northern California.
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00:04:16,131 --> 00:04:18,967
[dog barking]
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00:04:22,512 --> 00:04:25,974
[Mariana]
Before the game begins,
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00:04:25,974 --> 00:04:28,101
all of the players must disarm.
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00:04:34,566 --> 00:04:35,859
[Tony] Play some games.
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00:04:35,859 --> 00:04:37,319
[Mariana]
Despite Tony's admission
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00:04:37,319 --> 00:04:38,862
that his clients are a mix
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00:04:38,862 --> 00:04:42,699
of ex-cons, cartel associates,
and possibly contract killers...
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00:04:42,699 --> 00:04:43,992
Oh, wow.
You guys start strong, huh?
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00:04:43,992 --> 00:04:45,452
[Player] [bleep] it.
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00:04:45,452 --> 00:04:48,288
[Mariana] ...tonight's stakes
aren't particularly high,
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00:04:48,288 --> 00:04:50,081
just a few thousand bucks.
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00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:53,001
[Mariana] How much money
did you make?
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00:04:57,339 --> 00:04:58,423
[bleep]
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00:04:58,423 --> 00:05:01,051
[players speaking Spanish]
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00:05:01,051 --> 00:05:02,177
[Mariana] So are you seeing more
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00:05:02,177 --> 00:05:04,262
of these underground games
happening?
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00:05:21,154 --> 00:05:23,573
[Mariana] The players tell me
there are thousands
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00:05:23,573 --> 00:05:26,576
of unlicensed casinos
and underworld card games
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00:05:26,576 --> 00:05:29,704
taking place in every city
across the country.
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00:05:29,704 --> 00:05:31,039
Have you ever been
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00:05:31,039 --> 00:05:33,625
to any of those high-rolling
illegal poker nights?
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00:05:38,505 --> 00:05:39,381
[Tony] Yeah.
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00:06:00,735 --> 00:06:01,695
[Mariana] Oh, my God.
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00:06:06,908 --> 00:06:09,452
[Mariana] For years
I've opened these doors
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00:06:09,452 --> 00:06:11,746
and gained access
to all manner of black markets.
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00:06:11,746 --> 00:06:13,164
[gunshot]
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00:06:13,164 --> 00:06:16,334
But these markets typically
offer products or services
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00:06:16,334 --> 00:06:18,795
that are outlawed.
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00:06:18,795 --> 00:06:22,716
And that's what makes
Tony's story so mysterious.
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00:06:22,716 --> 00:06:24,509
Why is
the underground gambling scene
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00:06:24,509 --> 00:06:26,595
booming in the United States
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00:06:26,595 --> 00:06:29,681
when a legal market
already exists?
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00:06:29,681 --> 00:06:33,351
I want to find out who's running
these black market games
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00:06:33,351 --> 00:06:35,395
and what the attraction is.
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00:06:44,112 --> 00:06:47,240
[dog barking]
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00:07:20,190 --> 00:07:22,025
[Mariana] Oh, yeah.
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00:07:22,025 --> 00:07:23,860
There's more people coming.
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00:07:30,325 --> 00:07:33,161
[Mariana] I'm riding shotgun
tonight with Detective Juarez
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00:07:33,161 --> 00:07:36,498
of the Los Angeles County
Sheriff's Department.
95
00:07:36,498 --> 00:07:37,916
His team is conducting
surveillance
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00:07:37,916 --> 00:07:39,084
on a criminal network
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00:07:39,084 --> 00:07:42,629
that operates multiple
underworld casinos.
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00:07:42,629 --> 00:07:43,797
So this is a big player
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00:07:43,797 --> 00:07:45,674
that you guys have been tracking
for a while
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00:07:45,674 --> 00:07:48,385
that runs, you think,
more than one illegal casino?
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00:07:50,595 --> 00:07:52,639
[Mariana] And what can you
tell me about this person?
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00:08:13,660 --> 00:08:17,163
[Mariana] How many
of these illegal casinos
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00:08:17,163 --> 00:08:19,457
do you think exist in LA County?
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00:08:24,212 --> 00:08:25,088
[Mariana] Wow.
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00:08:26,881 --> 00:08:29,384
[Reporter] You're looking at
security tape of SWAT officers
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00:08:29,384 --> 00:08:32,470
serving a search warrant
on an illegal gambling house
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00:08:32,470 --> 00:08:34,597
inside an Anaheim
furniture store.
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00:08:34,597 --> 00:08:35,932
[Reporter]
Dozens of people are busted
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00:08:35,932 --> 00:08:38,727
in an alleged
illegal gambling raid.
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00:08:38,727 --> 00:08:40,520
[Reporter]
Unregulated popup casinos
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00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:42,564
have been magnets
for criminal activity.
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00:08:42,564 --> 00:08:44,149
[Reporter] Sheriff's deputies
are investigating
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00:08:44,149 --> 00:08:45,400
the shooting death of a man
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00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,111
inside an illegal
gambling establishment.
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00:08:48,111 --> 00:08:50,405
[Reporter] A Brooklyn shootout
that killed four people
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00:08:50,405 --> 00:08:53,324
inside an illegal gambling club.
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00:08:53,324 --> 00:08:56,161
[Mariana] Tonight's target
is a type of illegal casino
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00:08:56,161 --> 00:08:57,746
called a casita.
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00:08:57,746 --> 00:09:00,206
Spanish for "little house."
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00:09:00,206 --> 00:09:02,125
Casita profits
aren't solely driven
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00:09:02,125 --> 00:09:04,085
by old-fashioned card games
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00:09:04,085 --> 00:09:07,255
but an upgrade
in electronic gaming.
123
00:09:07,255 --> 00:09:10,633
[electronic whooshes and dings]
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00:09:11,551 --> 00:09:12,761
[Officer] Okay. Stand by.
125
00:09:17,056 --> 00:09:22,854
[Mariana] The team spots
one of the ringleaders, a woman,
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00:09:22,854 --> 00:09:24,564
and decides to pursue her.
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00:09:27,192 --> 00:09:28,318
[Juarez] Copy.
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00:09:43,666 --> 00:09:45,627
[Mariana] Detective Juarez
hopes this woman
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00:09:45,627 --> 00:09:50,298
is going to lead his team
to more casino locations.
130
00:09:50,298 --> 00:09:54,552
And if they're lucky, they'll
take down the entire operation.
131
00:10:16,574 --> 00:10:18,451
[Mariana] The LA County
Sheriff's Department
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00:10:18,451 --> 00:10:20,161
is in pursuit of a woman
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00:10:20,161 --> 00:10:23,373
suspected of running
multiple underworld casinos.
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00:10:57,574 --> 00:11:01,536
[Mariana] Detective Juarez lets
the suspect get away for now.
135
00:11:01,536 --> 00:11:04,747
But nothing I witnessed tonight
surprises me.
136
00:11:04,747 --> 00:11:07,208
[gaming machines burbling]
137
00:11:07,208 --> 00:11:09,127
♪ ♪
138
00:11:09,127 --> 00:11:12,672
Criminals and casinos
have always gone hand in hand,
139
00:11:12,672 --> 00:11:16,092
perhaps most famously when
a mobster named Bugsy Siegel
140
00:11:16,092 --> 00:11:19,053
helped build a city
dedicated to gambling:
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00:11:19,053 --> 00:11:20,513
Las Vegas, Nevada.
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00:11:20,513 --> 00:11:24,767
♪ I'm in love with a girl
that I think is so fine ♪
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00:11:24,767 --> 00:11:29,063
[Mariana] Nevada was the first
US state to legalize gambling.
144
00:11:29,063 --> 00:11:32,192
But, over time, Las Vegas
cleaned up its act.
145
00:11:32,192 --> 00:11:34,777
They kicked out the mob.
146
00:11:34,777 --> 00:11:37,655
Then the corporations took over.
147
00:11:37,655 --> 00:11:42,202
Today, some form of gambling
is legal in almost every state.
148
00:11:44,829 --> 00:11:48,958
And yet the underworld continues
to take a piece of the action.
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00:11:48,958 --> 00:11:51,669
[phone ringing]
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00:11:51,669 --> 00:11:55,173
I want to know how it works,
from the street-level games
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00:11:55,173 --> 00:11:58,468
to the high roller events
I heard about.
152
00:11:58,468 --> 00:12:01,638
But first, I need to find
my way inside the scene.
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00:12:03,181 --> 00:12:04,057
[Mariana] Hey, El.
How are you doing?
154
00:12:07,226 --> 00:12:10,521
[Mariana] I'm about
like five minutes from you now.
155
00:12:10,521 --> 00:12:13,399
We're close to South LA here.
156
00:12:13,399 --> 00:12:15,151
I'm going to meet a person,
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00:12:15,151 --> 00:12:17,111
a contact that has
some connections
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00:12:17,111 --> 00:12:21,658
that run some
of these operations.
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00:12:21,658 --> 00:12:22,742
I think he might be here.
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00:12:31,125 --> 00:12:32,460
[Mariana]
So how does this game work?
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00:12:32,460 --> 00:12:34,128
[Contact] It's just
the typical rules of craps.
162
00:12:34,128 --> 00:12:36,923
You know, 7, 11, snake eyes.
163
00:12:36,923 --> 00:12:38,716
Your money has to be
on the floor
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00:12:38,716 --> 00:12:39,884
for the bet to be good, yeah.
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00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:50,144
[All] Ooh!
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00:12:50,144 --> 00:12:51,604
[Gambler] Another one of you...
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00:12:51,604 --> 00:12:52,939
[Mariana]
Have you seen like more
168
00:12:52,939 --> 00:12:55,942
of these underground
gambling facilities pop up?
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00:12:55,942 --> 00:12:59,070
[Contact] I would
most definitely say that.
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00:12:59,070 --> 00:13:02,323
[Mariana] Do you think we'd
be able to get access to one?
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00:13:02,323 --> 00:13:04,409
[Contact] Those things
are like more hush-hush.
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00:13:04,409 --> 00:13:06,077
If you want to tap in
to certain stuff,
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00:13:06,077 --> 00:13:07,662
there's a way to tap in.
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00:13:07,662 --> 00:13:10,540
[Mariana] I have no doubt
he's right, but at the moment,
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00:13:10,540 --> 00:13:13,376
I'm definitely not tapped in
to the right people.
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00:13:13,376 --> 00:13:17,213
So I reach out to my underworld
contacts across the country.
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00:13:17,213 --> 00:13:24,178
[phone ringing]
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00:13:24,178 --> 00:13:26,347
[siren]
179
00:13:27,557 --> 00:13:28,683
[Mariana] Hey. Hi.
180
00:13:32,395 --> 00:13:34,272
[Mariana] They still,
they're expecting us?
181
00:13:41,487 --> 00:13:42,947
[Mariana]
I got the hood pass. Okay.
182
00:13:49,037 --> 00:13:50,413
[Mariana]
It's becoming clear to me
183
00:13:50,413 --> 00:13:52,457
that the gambling underworld
isn't controlled
184
00:13:52,457 --> 00:13:55,376
by a single criminal network.
185
00:13:55,376 --> 00:13:56,544
What's this game called?
186
00:13:56,544 --> 00:13:58,546
[Man] Four-five-six
is the name of the game.
187
00:13:58,546 --> 00:14:00,631
Cee-lo.
188
00:14:00,631 --> 00:14:02,550
[Mariana] But just like
the old casinos,
189
00:14:02,550 --> 00:14:05,595
gangsters are often
the gatekeepers.
190
00:14:14,395 --> 00:14:16,022
[Mariana] So are these,
a lot of these places
191
00:14:16,022 --> 00:14:18,232
controlled by gangs?
192
00:14:18,232 --> 00:14:21,194
Is there a lot
of gang affiliation?
193
00:14:21,194 --> 00:14:22,070
You're looking at me...
194
00:14:23,738 --> 00:14:24,989
[Mariana]
...with intimidating eyes.
195
00:14:28,201 --> 00:14:30,078
[Mariana]
Oh, I can see your eyes.
196
00:14:30,078 --> 00:14:34,373
The owner of this establishment
tells me to call him Ray Ray
197
00:14:34,373 --> 00:14:37,710
and says he's a college graduate
with a business degree.
198
00:14:37,710 --> 00:14:40,046
But he manages
several dice games
199
00:14:40,046 --> 00:14:43,633
because, quite simply,
they make a ton of money.
200
00:14:43,633 --> 00:14:45,676
Do people have to pay
to come in here and play?
201
00:14:52,225 --> 00:14:54,185
[Mariana] So if there are
so many legal options,
202
00:14:54,185 --> 00:14:55,311
places to go gamble,
203
00:14:55,311 --> 00:14:56,938
why do you think people
prefer to come here?
204
00:15:14,580 --> 00:15:15,790
[Mariana] So is it,
is it dangerous?
205
00:15:15,790 --> 00:15:16,791
Is it a dangerous business?
206
00:15:27,552 --> 00:15:29,720
[laughs]
207
00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:31,597
[Mariana] Ray Ray tells me
this is the reason
208
00:15:31,597 --> 00:15:35,017
why casino security is so tight.
209
00:15:35,017 --> 00:15:36,978
In LA, a lot
of gambling facilities
210
00:15:36,978 --> 00:15:39,981
have to pay the Mexican Mafia
to be able to operate there.
211
00:15:41,149 --> 00:15:42,233
[Mariana] Yeah.
212
00:15:42,233 --> 00:15:44,152
So, is there something
similar here?
213
00:15:44,152 --> 00:15:45,486
Do you have to pay anyone?
214
00:15:53,995 --> 00:15:54,871
[Mariana] Got it.
215
00:15:58,791 --> 00:16:02,587
[Mariana] He refuses to tell me
much more about his operation.
216
00:16:02,587 --> 00:16:05,089
But another one of my trusted
Los Angeles sources
217
00:16:05,089 --> 00:16:05,965
comes through.
218
00:16:07,842 --> 00:16:11,512
[train horn blows]
219
00:16:11,512 --> 00:16:13,222
[bell ringing]
220
00:16:16,350 --> 00:16:18,394
[Mariana] We're meeting,
um, a contact of mine
221
00:16:18,394 --> 00:16:21,606
that I've had here
for, for many years now.
222
00:16:21,606 --> 00:16:24,025
He's an ex-convict.
223
00:16:24,025 --> 00:16:27,361
He's sort of linked
to the Mexican Mafia.
224
00:16:27,361 --> 00:16:29,030
Gang member.
225
00:16:29,030 --> 00:16:31,324
This contact claims
he can get me inside
226
00:16:31,324 --> 00:16:34,744
one of the underworld casinos,
the casitas,
227
00:16:34,744 --> 00:16:37,288
that I've been hearing
so much about.
228
00:16:37,288 --> 00:16:39,415
And it's kind of amazing
just how hard it's been
229
00:16:39,415 --> 00:16:42,126
for us to get access
to these casitas.
230
00:16:42,126 --> 00:16:43,753
But finally, tonight,
231
00:16:43,753 --> 00:16:46,589
it looks like something
is going to happen.
232
00:16:46,589 --> 00:16:47,965
♪ ♪
233
00:16:47,965 --> 00:16:49,592
[airplane overhead]
234
00:16:49,592 --> 00:16:54,138
♪ ♪
235
00:16:54,138 --> 00:16:58,309
♪ ♪
236
00:17:11,030 --> 00:17:15,785
[siren]
237
00:17:15,785 --> 00:17:19,705
[Mariana] For weeks, I've been
crisscrossing the country,
238
00:17:19,705 --> 00:17:21,874
searching for someone
239
00:17:21,874 --> 00:17:25,795
who can get me inside
an invite-only illegal casino.
240
00:17:25,795 --> 00:17:27,296
[train horn blows]
241
00:17:30,591 --> 00:17:33,052
And tonight, one of my sources,
242
00:17:33,052 --> 00:17:36,597
an ex-con with links
to the Mexican Mafia,
243
00:17:36,597 --> 00:17:39,767
finally comes through.
244
00:17:39,767 --> 00:17:41,269
Hey, [bleep].
245
00:17:41,269 --> 00:17:42,853
How are you doing?
246
00:17:48,276 --> 00:17:54,699
♪ ♪
247
00:17:54,699 --> 00:17:58,411
[gaming machines burbling]
248
00:17:58,411 --> 00:17:59,453
♪ ♪
249
00:17:59,453 --> 00:18:02,707
[beeping and warbling]
250
00:18:06,252 --> 00:18:09,213
♪ ♪
251
00:18:09,213 --> 00:18:10,590
[Mariana] Do you say
"welcome to Vegas"
252
00:18:10,590 --> 00:18:12,383
to everybody that walks in,
or just me?
253
00:18:19,974 --> 00:18:21,934
[Mariana] The owner
of this underground casino
254
00:18:21,934 --> 00:18:24,395
tells me to call him B.
255
00:18:24,395 --> 00:18:27,606
He says he owns three locations
like this one,
256
00:18:27,606 --> 00:18:31,569
open 24 hours a day
to keep up with demand.
257
00:18:31,569 --> 00:18:33,279
So this place,
if we weren't here...
258
00:18:39,785 --> 00:18:41,954
[Mariana] This machine
is called a fish game...
259
00:18:41,954 --> 00:18:43,497
[beeping]
260
00:18:43,497 --> 00:18:47,752
...and it's the main attraction
at many of these casitas.
261
00:18:47,752 --> 00:18:51,839
Casinos like this
are also called slap-houses
262
00:18:51,839 --> 00:18:53,424
for obvious reasons.
263
00:18:53,424 --> 00:18:54,717
I can't go as fast as you can.
264
00:18:54,717 --> 00:18:56,260
That's insane.
265
00:18:56,260 --> 00:18:59,138
God, my hands
are hurting already.
266
00:18:59,138 --> 00:19:01,474
These fish games
are simple to play
267
00:19:01,474 --> 00:19:04,644
and are programmed
to deliver a jackpot
268
00:19:04,644 --> 00:19:06,937
when enough money has been paid
into the machine.
269
00:19:16,947 --> 00:19:17,865
[Mariana] Really?
270
00:19:20,409 --> 00:19:22,536
[Mariana] Wow.
271
00:19:22,536 --> 00:19:23,996
Kind of cheating
a little bit, no?
272
00:19:27,625 --> 00:19:28,793
[Mariana] When you didn't have
these businesses,
273
00:19:28,793 --> 00:19:30,002
what were you doing?
274
00:19:32,129 --> 00:19:33,255
[Mariana] How much money
are you making here
275
00:19:33,255 --> 00:19:35,299
compared, how do you
compare it to meth?
276
00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:39,220
[Mariana] You're making
much more money now?
277
00:19:39,220 --> 00:19:40,137
Like what? Double?
278
00:19:42,223 --> 00:19:46,727
[Mariana] B claims he's making
about $240,000 a month
279
00:19:46,727 --> 00:19:48,688
from his three casitas.
280
00:19:48,688 --> 00:19:50,815
So this is way more profitable?
281
00:19:50,815 --> 00:19:51,732
Why is that?
282
00:20:05,121 --> 00:20:09,417
[Woman]
I was gambling every day,
283
00:20:09,417 --> 00:20:11,043
morning, noon, and night,
284
00:20:11,043 --> 00:20:15,756
before work, after work,
even at work.
285
00:20:17,842 --> 00:20:23,973
The casino noise,
it drowns out your life.
286
00:20:23,973 --> 00:20:28,310
The bang, zoom, the lights,
287
00:20:28,310 --> 00:20:31,188
it drowns out everything
that you need to hear.
288
00:20:32,982 --> 00:20:35,526
And I couldn't stop.
289
00:20:35,526 --> 00:20:36,944
I could not stop.
290
00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:42,575
[Mariana] Scientists now know
that gambling affects the brain
291
00:20:42,575 --> 00:20:44,493
much like drugs.
292
00:20:44,493 --> 00:20:47,413
When we gamble,
our brains release dopamine,
293
00:20:47,413 --> 00:20:48,789
the "feel-good" chemical,
294
00:20:48,789 --> 00:20:51,500
and we experience
a jolt of pleasure.
295
00:20:51,500 --> 00:20:54,295
♪ ♪
296
00:20:54,295 --> 00:20:57,840
But gambling is different
than a drug-induced high,
297
00:20:57,840 --> 00:20:59,508
'cause dopamine is released
298
00:20:59,508 --> 00:21:03,053
regardless of whether
we win or lose.
299
00:21:03,053 --> 00:21:06,807
It's the thrill of taking risks
that triggers the pleasure.
300
00:21:06,807 --> 00:21:09,977
Today, an estimated
three million Americans
301
00:21:09,977 --> 00:21:11,770
cannot stop gambling.
302
00:21:14,064 --> 00:21:16,650
[Man] Technically,
I am an addict, you know?
303
00:21:16,650 --> 00:21:19,445
Probably by the book,
I'm probably an addict.
304
00:21:22,865 --> 00:21:24,492
It's literally like a drug.
305
00:21:27,036 --> 00:21:30,873
Once it grips you, it grips you,
and it's hard to let it go.
306
00:21:33,542 --> 00:21:34,835
I think social media
307
00:21:34,835 --> 00:21:37,546
is the biggest factor
in all of this.
308
00:21:37,546 --> 00:21:39,340
-43...
-Yep.
309
00:21:39,340 --> 00:21:40,382
44...
310
00:21:40,382 --> 00:21:42,259
Those guys are
the face of gambling,
311
00:21:42,259 --> 00:21:44,845
and everybody's
following their plays,
312
00:21:44,845 --> 00:21:48,015
everybody is following
their advice.
313
00:21:48,015 --> 00:21:50,059
[Mariana] Social media
is littered with people
314
00:21:50,059 --> 00:21:53,729
who claim to be astonishingly
successful gamblers.
315
00:21:53,729 --> 00:21:55,940
Like this guy.
316
00:21:55,940 --> 00:21:57,107
[Mikki Mase] It's like 408.
317
00:21:57,107 --> 00:21:58,484
[Man] $408,000.
318
00:21:58,484 --> 00:22:00,653
[Mikki] We're gonna try
to make this a million.
319
00:22:00,653 --> 00:22:02,947
[Logan Paul] Tonight?
320
00:22:02,947 --> 00:22:05,783
[Mariana] His social media
handle is dirtygothboi,
321
00:22:05,783 --> 00:22:07,701
but he goes by Mikki Mase.
322
00:22:07,701 --> 00:22:08,911
[Mikki] How much did I win?
323
00:22:08,911 --> 00:22:10,120
[Worker] You won $3.1 million,
give or take.
324
00:22:10,120 --> 00:22:11,121
[Mikki] Thank you, man.
325
00:22:11,121 --> 00:22:12,414
[Mariana] And he's rumored to be
326
00:22:12,414 --> 00:22:16,335
one of Las Vegas'
biggest winners of all time.
327
00:22:16,335 --> 00:22:17,920
[Worker] We're not gonna
allow you to play here.
328
00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:19,213
[Mikki] Why?
329
00:22:19,213 --> 00:22:20,923
[Worker] Because your play
is too good for us.
330
00:22:20,923 --> 00:22:23,050
[Man] He racked it up
for 373,000.
331
00:22:23,050 --> 00:22:24,593
[Mikki] Profit, 200,000.
332
00:22:24,593 --> 00:22:26,554
[Man] He took five grand
and flipped it to 200
333
00:22:26,554 --> 00:22:28,931
before I knew
what the [bleep] happened.
334
00:22:28,931 --> 00:22:31,058
[Mariana] Mikki claims to come
from a long line
335
00:22:31,058 --> 00:22:33,227
of "degenerate gamblers."
336
00:22:33,227 --> 00:22:35,396
He also says he was
a heroin addict,
337
00:22:35,396 --> 00:22:39,984
spent time in juvenile prison,
and worked on Wall Street.
338
00:22:39,984 --> 00:22:41,193
[Mikki] So my number one game
is baccarat,
339
00:22:41,193 --> 00:22:42,653
but it used to be blackjack.
340
00:22:42,653 --> 00:22:44,154
[Man] He allegedly wins
a lot of money at a game
341
00:22:44,154 --> 00:22:46,323
that no one in the history
of casino gambling has beaten.
342
00:22:46,323 --> 00:22:47,825
[Man] In the long term,
you're always gonna lose.
343
00:22:47,825 --> 00:22:49,493
[Mikki] If that was true,
then why am I banned
344
00:22:49,493 --> 00:22:51,829
from the city of Las Vegas?
345
00:22:51,829 --> 00:22:54,373
[Mariana] There's an old saying
about gamblers:
346
00:22:54,373 --> 00:22:58,836
Always assume everyone's
bluffing at all times.
347
00:22:58,836 --> 00:23:00,296
But Mikki promises to show me
348
00:23:00,296 --> 00:23:02,923
a side of the underworld
gambling scene
349
00:23:02,923 --> 00:23:04,884
I can't even imagine.
350
00:23:10,347 --> 00:23:11,849
♪ ♪
351
00:23:11,849 --> 00:23:13,017
[Man] Oh, up top.
352
00:23:14,768 --> 00:23:16,937
[Mariana] I've been searching
for a gambler who can get me
353
00:23:16,937 --> 00:23:20,649
inside the big money,
high roller card games.
354
00:23:22,985 --> 00:23:26,447
Mikki Mase is exactly
this kind of player.
355
00:23:26,447 --> 00:23:29,742
♪ ♪
356
00:23:29,742 --> 00:23:30,618
We're getting close.
357
00:23:33,078 --> 00:23:34,246
He's someone who's fled
358
00:23:34,246 --> 00:23:37,374
the legal, sanitized
Sin City casinos.
359
00:23:40,294 --> 00:23:46,425
In fact, Mikki calls himself
a Vegas exile.
360
00:23:46,425 --> 00:23:48,302
So you're, literally
you cannot go
361
00:23:48,302 --> 00:23:49,470
to any of the casinos in Vegas?
362
00:23:49,470 --> 00:23:51,597
[Mikki] I'm allowed
in two casinos.
363
00:23:51,597 --> 00:23:52,848
[Mariana] Why?
364
00:23:52,848 --> 00:23:53,974
[Mikki] Winning too much.
365
00:23:53,974 --> 00:23:57,144
♪ ♪
366
00:23:57,144 --> 00:23:58,646
They all say
something different.
367
00:23:58,646 --> 00:23:59,688
Some of them simply say,
368
00:23:59,688 --> 00:24:00,856
"Never come back
to our property,"
369
00:24:00,856 --> 00:24:02,149
and hang up the phone.
370
00:24:02,149 --> 00:24:03,984
Some of them say,
"You've won too much
371
00:24:03,984 --> 00:24:06,737
and you're not losing it back,
and you're bad for business."
372
00:24:06,737 --> 00:24:08,364
And some have accused me
of cheating,
373
00:24:08,364 --> 00:24:10,824
but they can't figure out how.
374
00:24:10,824 --> 00:24:12,868
[Mariana] What's the most amount
of money you've ever won?
375
00:24:12,868 --> 00:24:14,620
[Mikki] The most I've ever won
in one session?
376
00:24:14,620 --> 00:24:15,621
[Mariana] Yeah.
377
00:24:15,621 --> 00:24:17,665
[Mikki] $11,526,000.
378
00:24:20,167 --> 00:24:22,920
Every casino gives
like a different bag
379
00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:24,421
when you win in cash.
380
00:24:24,421 --> 00:24:25,881
They give it to you
in hundred-dollar bills,
381
00:24:25,881 --> 00:24:27,966
and they give it to you
like packed in cellophane,
382
00:24:27,966 --> 00:24:29,468
and it slides perfectly
into this bag.
383
00:24:29,468 --> 00:24:31,970
[Man] Are you
[bleep] kidding me?
384
00:24:31,970 --> 00:24:34,932
The [bleep] vacuum seals!
385
00:24:34,932 --> 00:24:36,642
[Mikki] The only way
to acquire one of these
386
00:24:36,642 --> 00:24:38,727
is you have to win
half a million dollars
387
00:24:38,727 --> 00:24:40,187
from the Venetian
or the Palazzo.
388
00:24:40,187 --> 00:24:41,355
[Mariana] All these bags
389
00:24:41,355 --> 00:24:42,523
are half a million dollars
that you won?
390
00:24:42,523 --> 00:24:44,233
[Mikki] Yeah, I have more.
391
00:24:44,233 --> 00:24:46,694
I even cleaned them out
three times.
392
00:24:46,694 --> 00:24:48,779
So we took whatever bags
they had on hand,
393
00:24:48,779 --> 00:24:50,364
and they still ran out of bags,
394
00:24:50,364 --> 00:24:52,449
so, we'd have to use
like pillow cases.
395
00:24:52,449 --> 00:24:53,450
[Mariana] I contacted
396
00:24:53,450 --> 00:24:54,535
several Vegas casinos
397
00:24:54,535 --> 00:24:56,245
about Mikki's claims,
398
00:24:56,245 --> 00:24:59,748
but they told me they refuse
to comment on a guest's status.
399
00:24:59,748 --> 00:25:03,335
[Mikki] As the last few casinos
started banning me, I said,
400
00:25:03,335 --> 00:25:04,712
"I can't gamble
in Vegas anymore.
401
00:25:04,712 --> 00:25:06,088
What else can I do?"
402
00:25:06,088 --> 00:25:07,339
And I have a lot of friends
403
00:25:07,339 --> 00:25:09,341
that I know play
in these private poker games.
404
00:25:09,341 --> 00:25:12,469
And I went and like was
immediately like just enthralled
405
00:25:12,469 --> 00:25:14,012
with the environment.
406
00:25:14,012 --> 00:25:16,765
♪ ♪
407
00:25:16,765 --> 00:25:22,020
Something that movies haven't
even depicted accurately.
408
00:25:22,020 --> 00:25:24,732
Maybe one day a week
consistently I'd play
409
00:25:24,732 --> 00:25:28,444
and I'll throw in like a second
or third game sporadically,
410
00:25:28,444 --> 00:25:29,820
but I will also just stop by
411
00:25:29,820 --> 00:25:31,739
because I like
the free food and the women.
412
00:25:31,739 --> 00:25:34,158
[Mariana] [laughing]
Who doesn't?
413
00:25:34,158 --> 00:25:35,034
[Mikki] Yeah.
414
00:25:38,245 --> 00:25:40,581
In the super high stakes games,
415
00:25:40,581 --> 00:25:43,459
you'll rarely have
like a physical threat.
416
00:25:43,459 --> 00:25:44,418
[gun cocks]
417
00:25:44,418 --> 00:25:45,961
But in the lower level games,
418
00:25:45,961 --> 00:25:50,090
people have been shot
and stabbed during the game.
419
00:25:50,090 --> 00:25:53,427
There's a lot of gangbangers
and drug dealers and pimps,
420
00:25:53,427 --> 00:25:54,928
and those kind of guys,
421
00:25:54,928 --> 00:25:57,639
there's really no telling
what some of them will do.
422
00:25:57,639 --> 00:25:59,850
[Mariana] Tonight Mikki
has promised to get me
423
00:25:59,850 --> 00:26:04,313
inside one of these
invite-only events.
424
00:26:04,313 --> 00:26:06,023
It's a game that hosts a mix
425
00:26:06,023 --> 00:26:09,151
of poker pros
and white-collar professionals,
426
00:26:09,151 --> 00:26:12,070
but also gang members
and cartel associates.
427
00:26:15,699 --> 00:26:18,702
The meeting point is inside
a high-end apartment building
428
00:26:18,702 --> 00:26:19,745
in Downtown LA.
429
00:26:19,745 --> 00:26:24,458
♪ ♪
430
00:26:24,458 --> 00:26:26,794
He's right there.
431
00:26:26,794 --> 00:26:28,462
So if I'm doing a story
about illegal gambling,
432
00:26:28,462 --> 00:26:31,882
this is definitely
the right place to be?
433
00:26:31,882 --> 00:26:36,094
[Mikki] I would say LA is
the mecca of illegal gambling.
434
00:26:36,094 --> 00:26:41,183
♪ ♪
435
00:26:41,183 --> 00:26:42,810
[Mariana]
Hi, how are you? Mariana.
436
00:26:42,810 --> 00:26:47,606
♪ ♪
437
00:26:47,606 --> 00:26:49,858
From the moment
I enter the penthouse apartment,
438
00:26:49,858 --> 00:26:54,196
it's clear that this
is not your typical casino.
439
00:26:54,196 --> 00:26:57,116
About 20 male players,
including Mikki,
440
00:26:57,116 --> 00:26:59,743
are seated
around three poker tables,
441
00:26:59,743 --> 00:27:02,538
while 10
scantily clad poker girls,
442
00:27:02,538 --> 00:27:06,041
as they're called,
service their so-called "needs."
443
00:27:06,041 --> 00:27:08,168
And what are the girls doing?
What's their job there?
444
00:27:08,168 --> 00:27:11,797
[Mikki] Well, their job title
is like server and massage girl.
445
00:27:11,797 --> 00:27:13,841
A lot of the women know
their tips are better
446
00:27:13,841 --> 00:27:15,175
with the less clothes they wear
447
00:27:15,175 --> 00:27:17,302
and the more action they take
in the backroom.
448
00:27:17,302 --> 00:27:19,221
[Mariana]
Which means sometimes sex?
449
00:27:19,221 --> 00:27:20,806
[Mikki] Sure.
450
00:27:20,806 --> 00:27:23,851
[Mariana] Unfortunately, we're
inside for maybe five minutes
451
00:27:23,851 --> 00:27:26,728
when I'm told our cameras
aren't welcome after all.
452
00:27:28,939 --> 00:27:30,315
Okay. Yeah?
453
00:27:30,315 --> 00:27:32,484
They've ushered us
into the bathroom.
454
00:27:32,484 --> 00:27:34,945
I think it's one of the most
frustrating moments for us
455
00:27:34,945 --> 00:27:36,280
just to be so close
to the action
456
00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:39,783
and yet not being able
to actually see it.
457
00:27:39,783 --> 00:27:42,035
Luckily, I convince
one of the poker girls
458
00:27:42,035 --> 00:27:44,830
to take a break and join me.
459
00:27:44,830 --> 00:27:46,415
When you first entered
this world,
460
00:27:46,415 --> 00:27:47,833
was it shocking to you
to find out?
461
00:27:47,833 --> 00:27:49,084
[Poker Girl] Yeah.
462
00:27:49,084 --> 00:27:51,587
I mean, given I came
from like a lower income family,
463
00:27:51,587 --> 00:27:54,506
it's so crazy to see people
gamble with money
464
00:27:54,506 --> 00:27:56,925
that's worth more
than my parents' house.
465
00:27:56,925 --> 00:27:58,969
[Mariana] So how much money,
more or less,
466
00:27:58,969 --> 00:28:00,762
do you make on a good night?
467
00:28:02,431 --> 00:28:03,724
[Poker Girl] On a good night
468
00:28:03,724 --> 00:28:08,770
I can make anywhere
from like 2,000 to 2,500.
469
00:28:08,770 --> 00:28:11,148
The most I've made
in a night is 5,000.
470
00:28:11,148 --> 00:28:12,149
[Mariana]
That's pretty good money.
471
00:28:12,149 --> 00:28:13,609
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
472
00:28:13,609 --> 00:28:15,777
Pretty good
is an understatement.
473
00:28:15,777 --> 00:28:19,823
She says she pulls in
roughly $40,000 a month,
474
00:28:19,823 --> 00:28:21,742
all of it made through tips,
475
00:28:21,742 --> 00:28:25,662
so it's off the books
and presumably tax-free.
476
00:28:25,662 --> 00:28:29,625
[Poker Girl] I've never done
anything extra in these games.
477
00:28:29,625 --> 00:28:30,834
[Mariana] Does that happen?
478
00:28:30,834 --> 00:28:33,086
[Poker Girl] Girls are
full service, for sure.
479
00:28:33,086 --> 00:28:34,838
110%.
480
00:28:34,838 --> 00:28:37,215
Players know the girls that are,
481
00:28:37,215 --> 00:28:40,510
so you kind of get picked less
and you kind of get tipped less.
482
00:28:40,510 --> 00:28:42,804
I think it's kind of like
what you're willing to do,
483
00:28:42,804 --> 00:28:46,183
I guess, for some money.
484
00:28:46,183 --> 00:28:48,143
[Mariana] But the poker girls
aren't the only ones here
485
00:28:48,143 --> 00:28:50,354
trying to earn a living.
486
00:28:50,354 --> 00:28:52,397
And so as a dealer,
you make more money
487
00:28:52,397 --> 00:28:56,234
in the underground scene than
you do in the regular casino?
488
00:28:56,234 --> 00:28:57,653
[Queen] A lot more.
489
00:28:57,653 --> 00:29:00,530
[Mariana]
This is the Queen of Poker,
490
00:29:00,530 --> 00:29:02,532
as she likes to be called.
491
00:29:02,532 --> 00:29:04,618
She's a former Las Vegas dealer
492
00:29:04,618 --> 00:29:07,412
who now pursues
more lucrative opportunities
493
00:29:07,412 --> 00:29:10,123
hosting her own
illegal poker games.
494
00:29:10,123 --> 00:29:11,833
[Queen]
This is my gaming room here.
495
00:29:11,833 --> 00:29:13,710
[Mariana]
Whoa, that's a lot of people.
496
00:29:13,710 --> 00:29:15,253
[Queen] Yeah.
497
00:29:15,253 --> 00:29:17,214
[Mariana] I can go play poker
with my friends if I want to,
498
00:29:17,214 --> 00:29:19,007
and that's not illegal, right?
499
00:29:19,007 --> 00:29:20,759
So what part of it is illegal?
500
00:29:20,759 --> 00:29:24,680
[Queen] The illegal part
is taking the rake.
501
00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:28,767
As the dealer runs the game,
that's where the rake is taken,
502
00:29:28,767 --> 00:29:30,852
which is where the money is.
503
00:29:30,852 --> 00:29:32,020
[Mariana] I'm assuming the rake
504
00:29:32,020 --> 00:29:33,647
is, like, a percentage
of what is being played?
505
00:29:33,647 --> 00:29:37,067
[Queen] Yeah, it's a percentage.
Like at the casino.
506
00:29:37,067 --> 00:29:40,904
[Mariana] But only legal casinos
are permitted to take a rake.
507
00:29:40,904 --> 00:29:45,534
Tonight's host will make
roughly $80,000.
508
00:29:45,534 --> 00:29:48,161
So they're making
a [bleep] ton of money.
509
00:29:48,161 --> 00:29:50,789
[shouting] [bleep]
510
00:29:50,789 --> 00:29:52,666
[bleep] [bleep]
511
00:29:52,666 --> 00:29:55,460
Suddenly we hear yelling
from the other room.
512
00:29:56,670 --> 00:29:59,339
[shouting]
513
00:29:59,339 --> 00:30:01,591
[Mariana] [bleep] Okay.
514
00:30:12,519 --> 00:30:16,606
[siren]
515
00:30:20,569 --> 00:30:27,409
♪ ♪
516
00:30:35,292 --> 00:30:38,045
[Mariana] I've gained access to
my first underground poker game.
517
00:30:45,343 --> 00:30:46,803
[Mariana]
But instead of gambling,
518
00:30:46,803 --> 00:30:49,222
one of the players
is making threats.
519
00:30:53,310 --> 00:30:55,228
[Mariana] Thankfully
the out-of-control gambler
520
00:30:55,228 --> 00:30:58,774
is escorted from the penthouse.
521
00:30:58,774 --> 00:31:00,567
So let's talk about the drama.
What happened?
522
00:31:00,567 --> 00:31:01,943
[Mikki] I don't know anything.
I don't know.
523
00:31:01,943 --> 00:31:03,236
[Mariana] But there was a gun
and there was a knife.
524
00:31:03,236 --> 00:31:04,237
[Mikki] I don't know.
525
00:31:04,237 --> 00:31:05,572
I don't know
about a gun and a knife.
526
00:31:05,572 --> 00:31:06,907
I don't know anything.
527
00:31:06,907 --> 00:31:08,366
[Mariana] You mean you don't
want to talk about it?
528
00:31:08,366 --> 00:31:10,577
[Mikki] No, there's nothing
to talk about, I don't know.
529
00:31:10,577 --> 00:31:11,912
[Mariana] I mean, we all saw it.
530
00:31:11,912 --> 00:31:13,246
[Mikki] Well, I don't,
then you can talk about it.
531
00:31:13,246 --> 00:31:14,498
I don't know.
532
00:31:14,498 --> 00:31:15,499
[Mariana] Okay, but that,
533
00:31:15,499 --> 00:31:16,708
has that scared people,
do you think?
534
00:31:16,708 --> 00:31:17,918
That's why some people left?
535
00:31:17,918 --> 00:31:20,712
[Mikki] I don't know.
536
00:31:20,712 --> 00:31:21,588
[Mariana] Okay.
537
00:31:23,256 --> 00:31:25,967
It seems there's
an unofficial code of silence
538
00:31:25,967 --> 00:31:27,803
around these games.
539
00:31:27,803 --> 00:31:29,721
But rumor has it
that they were fighting
540
00:31:29,721 --> 00:31:33,600
over a $27,000 gambling debt.
541
00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:37,062
Is it difficult for you to get
people to pay what they owe you?
542
00:31:37,062 --> 00:31:39,356
[Queen] Yeah, because
people are not carrying
543
00:31:39,356 --> 00:31:41,525
10,000, 20,000 in their pocket.
544
00:31:41,525 --> 00:31:43,068
You know?
545
00:31:43,068 --> 00:31:47,989
So you have to offer a credit
or marker to keep a game going
546
00:31:47,989 --> 00:31:52,327
and make a good amount of money
that's worth your time.
547
00:31:52,327 --> 00:31:55,080
[Mariana] How much money
are you owed, you think?
548
00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:56,623
[Queen] Half a million.
549
00:31:56,623 --> 00:31:58,708
[Mariana] You're owed
half a million dollars?
550
00:31:58,708 --> 00:32:00,585
Do you think you'll get
any of that money?
551
00:32:00,585 --> 00:32:02,045
[Queen] I'm working on it.
552
00:32:02,045 --> 00:32:04,005
[Mariana] Do you hire a person
that can go and tell them?
553
00:32:04,005 --> 00:32:05,298
[Queen] There's collectors.
554
00:32:05,298 --> 00:32:06,675
[Mariana] Mm-hmm.
555
00:32:06,675 --> 00:32:07,926
[Gambler]
Tell you what we doing.
556
00:32:07,926 --> 00:32:09,094
[Gambler] Back the [bleep].
What we gonna do?
557
00:32:09,094 --> 00:32:10,220
[Gambler] You don't know.
558
00:32:10,220 --> 00:32:11,555
[Gambler]
You don't mother [bleep] know.
559
00:32:11,555 --> 00:32:13,431
[Mariana]
This is what law enforcement
560
00:32:13,431 --> 00:32:15,016
is most concerned about.
561
00:32:15,016 --> 00:32:18,145
Not just the millions
being made off the books,
562
00:32:18,145 --> 00:32:21,148
but the criminal activity
associated with these games.
563
00:32:21,148 --> 00:32:22,983
[Newscaster]
Illegal gambling now accounts
564
00:32:22,983 --> 00:32:27,362
for half of their murders
so far this year.
565
00:32:27,362 --> 00:32:28,655
[Mariana]
Have you ever heard of anyone,
566
00:32:28,655 --> 00:32:30,782
people that are contracted
to be enforcers?
567
00:32:30,782 --> 00:32:32,951
[Mikki] Yeah, of course.
Every day.
568
00:32:32,951 --> 00:32:34,995
[Mariana] Oh, that actually
happens pretty often.
569
00:32:34,995 --> 00:32:36,830
[Mikki] Every day.
570
00:32:36,830 --> 00:32:38,915
Let's say you're at a game
that's ran by the Russians.
571
00:32:38,915 --> 00:32:40,083
[Mariana] Mm-hmm.
572
00:32:40,083 --> 00:32:41,877
[Mikki] And you rob
one of the Russians,
573
00:32:41,877 --> 00:32:44,421
they will bring somebody in
from Russia to find you,
574
00:32:44,421 --> 00:32:47,340
collect the money,
and then they return to Russia.
575
00:32:47,340 --> 00:32:48,550
[Mariana] Holy [bleep],
that actually happens?
576
00:32:48,550 --> 00:32:50,093
[Mikki] Every day.
577
00:32:50,093 --> 00:32:54,055
[engine rumbling]
578
00:32:54,055 --> 00:32:55,265
[tires screech]
579
00:32:55,265 --> 00:33:00,353
[engine revving]
580
00:33:00,353 --> 00:33:02,439
[Mariana] The following evening,
581
00:33:02,439 --> 00:33:06,526
Mikki picks me up
in a McLaren GT,
582
00:33:06,526 --> 00:33:09,154
a car with
a very Mikki backstory.
583
00:33:11,907 --> 00:33:13,241
[Mikki] I had an argument
584
00:33:13,241 --> 00:33:15,577
with the vice president
of one of the casinos.
585
00:33:15,577 --> 00:33:17,537
And so just to show him
some attitude,
586
00:33:17,537 --> 00:33:19,706
I told him I was gonna win
a million dollars that weekend
587
00:33:19,706 --> 00:33:21,374
and then go buy an exotic car.
588
00:33:21,374 --> 00:33:23,627
[Mariana] And you went back
to the hotel and showed him.
589
00:33:23,627 --> 00:33:25,128
[Mikki] I parked it
right in front.
590
00:33:25,128 --> 00:33:26,922
[engine revving]
591
00:33:26,922 --> 00:33:30,133
[Mariana] We're heading to a
so-called "billionaire's game,"
592
00:33:30,133 --> 00:33:33,053
an uber-exclusive poker game
that Mikki plays
593
00:33:33,053 --> 00:33:35,138
in Beverly Hills.
594
00:33:35,138 --> 00:33:37,015
So this is
a totally different ballgame
595
00:33:37,015 --> 00:33:38,642
from the game we went to
the other day, right?
596
00:33:38,642 --> 00:33:43,063
[Mikki] 100%, it's not even,
it's, like, not even comparable.
597
00:33:43,063 --> 00:33:44,522
Some people
might end up buying in
598
00:33:44,522 --> 00:33:48,026
for maybe two or three million.
599
00:33:48,026 --> 00:33:50,654
[Mariana] Mikki tells me
the game regularly hosts
600
00:33:50,654 --> 00:33:55,158
Hollywood A-listers,
real estate moguls, oil tycoons,
601
00:33:55,158 --> 00:34:00,080
and even high level members
of organized crime.
602
00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:02,916
♪ ♪
603
00:34:02,916 --> 00:34:04,042
[Mikki] You'll definitely
recognize them,
604
00:34:04,042 --> 00:34:05,877
and it's not impossible
that a lot of them
605
00:34:05,877 --> 00:34:08,213
could possibly recognize you.
606
00:34:08,213 --> 00:34:09,798
[Mariana]
That's got me a little worried,
607
00:34:09,798 --> 00:34:11,758
because to gain access,
608
00:34:11,758 --> 00:34:15,011
Mikki's told the game runners
that I'm his friend.
609
00:34:15,011 --> 00:34:16,721
No one knows
that I'm a journalist
610
00:34:16,721 --> 00:34:18,974
investigating black markets.
611
00:34:18,974 --> 00:34:20,433
[Mikki] And there'll be
a line of questions:
612
00:34:20,433 --> 00:34:22,894
What's her skill level?
How long have you known her?
613
00:34:22,894 --> 00:34:25,063
To get a gauge if you're
an appropriate character
614
00:34:25,063 --> 00:34:28,358
to be in our secret environment.
615
00:34:28,358 --> 00:34:29,651
This is our secret world
we have.
616
00:34:29,651 --> 00:34:30,735
[Mariana] Mm-hmm.
617
00:34:30,735 --> 00:34:31,736
[Mikki] And so to let
an outsider in
618
00:34:31,736 --> 00:34:33,363
is a pretty big deal.
619
00:34:33,363 --> 00:34:35,991
[Mariana] Unfortunately
the cameras will not be able
620
00:34:35,991 --> 00:34:37,701
to follow us inside.
621
00:34:41,037 --> 00:34:45,542
♪ ♪
622
00:34:45,542 --> 00:34:48,962
Despite all his legal winnings,
I have yet to understand
623
00:34:48,962 --> 00:34:53,383
why Mikki prefers to play
in private, off-the-books games.
624
00:34:53,383 --> 00:34:55,510
Which is my biggest question
about this whole thing
625
00:34:55,510 --> 00:34:57,345
is why are there
illegal gambling dens,
626
00:34:57,345 --> 00:35:01,891
if gambling in general
is more and more legal
627
00:35:01,891 --> 00:35:03,268
in America, everywhere?
628
00:35:03,268 --> 00:35:04,436
[Mikki]
There's a lot of reasons why.
629
00:35:04,436 --> 00:35:05,895
So if we're the ones
controlling the game
630
00:35:05,895 --> 00:35:07,480
and we are essentially
the casino,
631
00:35:07,480 --> 00:35:10,817
we can not only dictate
the rules of the game itself,
632
00:35:10,817 --> 00:35:12,861
but we also get the environment.
633
00:35:12,861 --> 00:35:15,655
♪ ♪
634
00:35:15,655 --> 00:35:17,532
You know, a lot of people
want to party.
635
00:35:17,532 --> 00:35:20,577
We set up for certain women
to be around.
636
00:35:20,577 --> 00:35:22,454
Politicians and movie producers
637
00:35:22,454 --> 00:35:24,706
and actors and hip hop artists
and athletes,
638
00:35:24,706 --> 00:35:26,082
they all want a private place
639
00:35:26,082 --> 00:35:28,668
where they can just act
however they want to act.
640
00:35:28,668 --> 00:35:32,213
♪ ♪
641
00:35:32,213 --> 00:35:35,800
♪ ♪
642
00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:39,596
[Mariana] The US is home
to roughly 700 billionaires,
643
00:35:39,596 --> 00:35:45,226
and tonight, according to Mikki,
I'm looking at a few of them.
644
00:35:45,226 --> 00:35:48,855
I see 10 players seated
around a large table.
645
00:35:48,855 --> 00:35:50,190
I can't name names,
646
00:35:50,190 --> 00:35:54,861
but there are some
recognizable big shots present.
647
00:35:54,861 --> 00:35:59,616
Mikki says that there's
at least $2 million at play.
648
00:35:59,616 --> 00:36:03,370
There's a chef serving
whatever the player wants.
649
00:36:03,370 --> 00:36:05,705
There's champagne
and single malts.
650
00:36:05,705 --> 00:36:06,915
Cigars.
651
00:36:06,915 --> 00:36:08,458
And though I don't see it,
652
00:36:08,458 --> 00:36:12,754
I'm told cocaine
is also on the menu.
653
00:36:12,754 --> 00:36:17,884
Behind the players, about 20
seductively dressed women hover.
654
00:36:17,884 --> 00:36:20,261
And Mikki tells me
that every once in a while
655
00:36:20,261 --> 00:36:21,846
the player will leave the table
656
00:36:21,846 --> 00:36:26,184
and head to a private room
with one of these girls.
657
00:36:26,184 --> 00:36:28,937
And because of the money
in play, tonight's host
658
00:36:28,937 --> 00:36:32,941
could be making hundreds
of thousands of dollars.
659
00:36:32,941 --> 00:36:35,235
It's not just the rake
that brings in money,
660
00:36:35,235 --> 00:36:36,694
it's the tips.
661
00:36:36,694 --> 00:36:39,739
Players tip the bartenders,
the bookkeeper;
662
00:36:39,739 --> 00:36:43,535
each one of the girls can earn
tens of thousands of dollars,
663
00:36:43,535 --> 00:36:47,288
and the house takes
50% of all of it.
664
00:36:47,288 --> 00:36:49,165
As I try to process this,
665
00:36:49,165 --> 00:36:52,293
one of the poker girls
approaches me and says,
666
00:36:52,293 --> 00:36:55,755
"Your face is so familiar.
Do I know you?"
667
00:36:55,755 --> 00:36:59,926
♪ ♪
668
00:36:59,926 --> 00:37:03,888
♪ ♪
669
00:37:04,764 --> 00:37:11,146
♪ ♪
670
00:37:11,146 --> 00:37:12,188
[door slams]
671
00:37:12,188 --> 00:37:14,274
Well, that was insane.
672
00:37:14,274 --> 00:37:17,610
Um, yeah, I mean, it was...
673
00:37:17,610 --> 00:37:19,612
I don't even know
where to start.
674
00:37:19,612 --> 00:37:22,323
Mikki said that the guy
that actually runs this game
675
00:37:22,323 --> 00:37:24,367
went up to him and said,
"So she's with you, right?"
676
00:37:24,367 --> 00:37:26,286
And Mikki said,
"Yeah, she's with me."
677
00:37:26,286 --> 00:37:28,705
"She looks like a cop.
Is she a cop?"
678
00:37:28,705 --> 00:37:30,081
And then that was the moment
679
00:37:30,081 --> 00:37:32,959
that I thought it was
a good idea to probably leave.
680
00:37:32,959 --> 00:37:37,088
And to think that these places
exist and are all around town,
681
00:37:37,088 --> 00:37:38,715
particularly here
in Beverly Hills
682
00:37:38,715 --> 00:37:40,675
surrounded by these mansions.
683
00:37:40,675 --> 00:37:42,177
it's a side of the city
that I've never seen
684
00:37:42,177 --> 00:37:43,762
and I didn't think existed.
685
00:37:56,733 --> 00:37:57,901
[Mariana] This morning,
686
00:37:57,901 --> 00:38:00,778
close to 100
sheriff's department officers
687
00:38:00,778 --> 00:38:04,199
prepare to take down
seven different targets.
688
00:38:04,199 --> 00:38:06,659
They're all linked
to the same gambling operation
689
00:38:06,659 --> 00:38:09,788
Detective Juarez's team
was surveilling.
690
00:38:09,788 --> 00:38:12,415
And I'm in the thick of it.
691
00:38:18,087 --> 00:38:24,594
♪ ♪
692
00:38:24,594 --> 00:38:30,058
♪ ♪
693
00:38:30,058 --> 00:38:32,852
[Mariana] So it's 6:00 a.m.,
694
00:38:32,852 --> 00:38:34,646
we're a block away
from the target
695
00:38:34,646 --> 00:38:36,981
in a armored vehicle,
696
00:38:36,981 --> 00:38:40,235
part of a convoy
of about eight vehicles.
697
00:38:40,235 --> 00:38:43,112
A couple of bulletproof vehicles
like this one.
698
00:38:43,112 --> 00:38:46,491
The LA County Sheriff's
Department is rolling deep today
699
00:38:46,491 --> 00:38:50,119
because of the violent history
of the casinos' security:
700
00:38:50,119 --> 00:38:51,621
the Mexican Mafia.
701
00:38:54,874 --> 00:38:57,168
You see them? They're going
over the fence here.
702
00:38:57,168 --> 00:39:03,967
♪ ♪
703
00:39:03,967 --> 00:39:05,760
[glass breaking]
704
00:39:05,760 --> 00:39:06,844
[dog barking]
705
00:39:06,844 --> 00:39:08,471
So they just broke
through the window
706
00:39:08,471 --> 00:39:11,599
and are going through.
707
00:39:11,599 --> 00:39:12,642
[bark]
708
00:39:12,642 --> 00:39:14,310
♪ ♪
709
00:39:14,310 --> 00:39:15,520
Oh, look.
710
00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:18,815
They just brought somebody
out of the house.
711
00:39:18,815 --> 00:39:22,485
The detainees are a mix
of Asians and Hispanics,
712
00:39:22,485 --> 00:39:25,572
but it's unclear to me
which ones are the players
713
00:39:25,572 --> 00:39:27,782
versus the casino operators.
714
00:39:27,782 --> 00:39:31,286
They're arresting, I think,
the ninth person right now.
715
00:39:31,286 --> 00:39:33,246
So 10 people believed
to be in the house.
716
00:39:33,246 --> 00:39:35,748
Two of them apparently fled,
one of them was caught,
717
00:39:35,748 --> 00:39:38,167
and the other one
is still on the loose.
718
00:39:38,167 --> 00:39:39,210
♪ ♪
719
00:39:39,210 --> 00:39:42,338
[engine rumbling]
720
00:39:42,338 --> 00:39:45,508
♪ ♪
721
00:39:45,508 --> 00:39:49,512
While it's never been easier
to legally gamble in America,
722
00:39:49,512 --> 00:39:53,808
the 10 people here are so
desperate to scratch that itch,
723
00:39:53,808 --> 00:39:56,102
they're playing
at an illegal casino
724
00:39:56,102 --> 00:40:00,148
at 6:00 a.m.
on a weekday morning.
725
00:40:00,148 --> 00:40:01,566
It's a frightening reminder
726
00:40:01,566 --> 00:40:05,403
that compulsive gambling
is called "the hidden addiction"
727
00:40:05,403 --> 00:40:07,655
because, unlike
drugs and alcohol,
728
00:40:07,655 --> 00:40:10,033
there are no physical signs.
729
00:40:10,033 --> 00:40:12,410
[Michael]
In the last year I gambled,
730
00:40:12,410 --> 00:40:17,874
I went through over $1 million
of clients' money.
731
00:40:17,874 --> 00:40:22,045
And when I did that,
I swore to God
732
00:40:22,045 --> 00:40:25,423
that I was gonna pay
that money back.
733
00:40:25,423 --> 00:40:28,635
[Mariana] Perhaps because
of the secrecy and shame,
734
00:40:28,635 --> 00:40:31,638
compulsive gambling has
the highest suicide rates
735
00:40:31,638 --> 00:40:33,723
of all addictions.
736
00:40:33,723 --> 00:40:39,479
[Michael] I remember the night
that I went down to the office,
737
00:40:39,479 --> 00:40:44,859
I had a client's gun, and I took
that gun out of the cupboard
738
00:40:44,859 --> 00:40:48,696
and I was going to end my life.
739
00:40:48,696 --> 00:40:54,410
[Woman] [sighs]
I remember, um... mm...
740
00:40:54,410 --> 00:40:57,121
calling the suicide hotline
741
00:40:57,121 --> 00:41:01,417
and I wanted to kill myself,
I really did.
742
00:41:01,417 --> 00:41:02,794
[phone ringing]
743
00:41:02,794 --> 00:41:04,796
The phone rang...
744
00:41:04,796 --> 00:41:06,673
and it rang and it rang.
745
00:41:06,673 --> 00:41:08,132
[ringing]
746
00:41:08,132 --> 00:41:10,718
And I said,
"God, if you help me,
747
00:41:10,718 --> 00:41:14,639
if you help me,
I will do what's right."
748
00:41:14,639 --> 00:41:16,224
[Mariana] These two
recovering addicts
749
00:41:16,224 --> 00:41:18,810
never gambled
at an illegal casino.
750
00:41:18,810 --> 00:41:21,229
They didn't have to.
751
00:41:21,229 --> 00:41:25,608
It turns out America's
most destructive gambling market
752
00:41:25,608 --> 00:41:28,277
may not be the one
I've been following,
753
00:41:28,277 --> 00:41:31,072
the one that's happening
in the shadows.
754
00:41:31,072 --> 00:41:32,949
It's the one
that announces itself
755
00:41:32,949 --> 00:41:35,576
with bold, flashing lights.
756
00:41:35,576 --> 00:41:36,744
[Les Bernal] Predatory gambling
757
00:41:36,744 --> 00:41:39,872
is America's
most neglected major problem.
758
00:41:39,872 --> 00:41:42,625
Right now you have
advertising and marketing
759
00:41:42,625 --> 00:41:44,335
encouraging citizens to do this.
760
00:41:44,335 --> 00:41:46,129
[Gambler] Blackjack! Blackjack!
761
00:41:46,129 --> 00:41:47,797
[Les] Just to participate
in a business
762
00:41:47,797 --> 00:41:51,342
that ultimately
is gonna get them fleeced.
763
00:41:51,342 --> 00:41:53,010
[Mariana]
Les Bernal is the director
764
00:41:53,010 --> 00:41:55,221
of Stop Predatory Gambling,
765
00:41:55,221 --> 00:41:56,931
a national advocacy network
766
00:41:56,931 --> 00:41:58,891
committed to exposing the truth
767
00:41:58,891 --> 00:42:01,144
about America's
state-sanctioned gambling.
768
00:42:01,144 --> 00:42:03,062
[Les] This is a public policy
769
00:42:03,062 --> 00:42:06,774
that's based on cheating
and exploiting citizens.
770
00:42:06,774 --> 00:42:09,861
This financial exchange is
a lure that you might win money.
771
00:42:09,861 --> 00:42:10,987
All right?
772
00:42:10,987 --> 00:42:12,655
But it's mathematically stacked
against you,
773
00:42:12,655 --> 00:42:14,574
so the longer you
participate in it,
774
00:42:14,574 --> 00:42:16,367
the more money you spend in it,
775
00:42:16,367 --> 00:42:18,453
in the long term,
it's not a question
776
00:42:18,453 --> 00:42:20,496
of if you're gonna end up
losing all of your money;
777
00:42:20,496 --> 00:42:22,081
it's an absolute certainty
778
00:42:22,081 --> 00:42:23,666
you're gonna lose
all your money.
779
00:42:23,666 --> 00:42:25,543
[Mariana] And while I've been
trying to understand
780
00:42:25,543 --> 00:42:28,337
why the black market
even exists,
781
00:42:28,337 --> 00:42:32,550
Les claims the answer
is quite simple.
782
00:42:32,550 --> 00:42:36,179
[Les] You wouldn't have
the massive amount
783
00:42:36,179 --> 00:42:38,723
of illegal gambling
happening today
784
00:42:38,723 --> 00:42:42,769
if it wasn't for
state-sanctioned gambling.
785
00:42:42,769 --> 00:42:44,270
It's normalized gambling.
786
00:42:46,773 --> 00:42:49,025
If you ask anybody in
the illegal gambling business,
787
00:42:49,025 --> 00:42:53,196
"Hey, is it a good thing that
states are promoting gambling?"
788
00:42:53,196 --> 00:42:55,490
to a person,
every single one of them
789
00:42:55,490 --> 00:42:58,701
would say, "Absolutely,
it's great for business."
790
00:42:58,701 --> 00:42:59,911
[Mariana] According to Les,
791
00:42:59,911 --> 00:43:02,371
the biggest difference
between these markets
792
00:43:02,371 --> 00:43:06,876
is that one of them receives
the blessing of state officials.
793
00:43:06,876 --> 00:43:08,419
[Les]
We sell $100 scratch tickets
794
00:43:08,419 --> 00:43:10,755
to people making $7.25 an hour.
795
00:43:10,755 --> 00:43:12,215
That's a government program.
796
00:43:12,215 --> 00:43:14,217
They're encouraging people
to play a product
797
00:43:14,217 --> 00:43:16,511
that has been identified
as addictive
798
00:43:16,511 --> 00:43:19,263
as opioids and cocaine.
799
00:43:19,263 --> 00:43:24,435
The business model is based on
turning citizens into addicts.
800
00:43:24,435 --> 00:43:26,020
[Mariana]
But while the US government
801
00:43:26,020 --> 00:43:29,023
spends more than $1 billion
each year
802
00:43:29,023 --> 00:43:32,276
on treatments for drug
and alcohol abuse,
803
00:43:32,276 --> 00:43:35,363
there's not a single cent
of federal funding
804
00:43:35,363 --> 00:43:38,866
spent on America's
growing gambling addiction.
805
00:43:41,661 --> 00:43:45,289
♪ ♪
806
00:43:45,289 --> 00:43:47,208
[Michael] I had my first big win
807
00:43:47,208 --> 00:43:52,296
at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas,
808
00:43:52,296 --> 00:43:56,384
and it's absolutely the worst
thing that can happen to you.
57518
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