Couple accused of cheating with spycam to win A$1.2m in Australian casino

A husband and wife from Kazakhstan allegedly used a hidden camera and headphones to fraudulently win nearly A$1.2 million (£593.00; $784,000) at an Australian casino.

New South Wales Police said the pair were caught after casino staff in central Sydney’s Barangaroo neighborhood spotted Dilnoza Israilova, 36, wearing the small, hidden camera on her Mickey Mouse T-shirt.

Later, she and her husband, 44-year-old Alisherykhoja Israilov, were arrested. Police searched them and found “magnetized probes” and a phone mirror attachment allegedly used to rig games.

The couple were accused of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage and remained in custody.

New South Wales Police said the couple arrived in Sydney from Kazakhstan in October and applied for membership at the casino the same day.

Over the following weeks they made a series of visits to the casino (reportedly the Crown on Sydney’s waterfront) and won a total of A$1,179,412.50.

This raised the suspicions of casino staff who allegedly caught them red-handed on Thursday.

Police said the spying devices connected to the couple’s cell phones, allowing them to capture and view images of the table.

They also wore hidden headsets from which they allegedly received instructions on when to bet on card games.

A New South Wales Police spokesperson told the BBC they were not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the alleged scam.

During a subsequent search of accommodation near the casino, police officers found further “gambling equipment”, luxury jewelery and €2,000 (£1,750; $2,320) in cash.

New South Wales police said the couple appeared in court on Friday and were denied bail.

According to Guardian Australia, Ms Israilova will appear in court in February, while Mr Israilov will appear in court on 11 December.