Casino Trespass

The Voluntary Exclusion Program was created to offer an extra incentive for gamblers to stay away from Maryland casinos, but in many cases it does more harm than good.  There are no second chances for VEP trespass violations, as casino security will call the police in almost every situation where they think a violation has occurred, and the police will respond and write a citation for a criminal offense.  Many defendants that are charged with casino trespass have no prior criminal record and have security clearances, professional licenses and/or immigration issues, which could all be drastically affected by a criminal conviction or even a PBJ.  Benjmain Herbst is a criminal defense lawyer who specializes in representing defendants charged with casino trespass in all Maryland jurisdictions.  He defends clients in Anne Arundel County for Maryland Live cases, Prince George's County for MGM cases and Baltimore City for citations from the Horseshoe, and also represents clients charged in Alleganey County, Worcester County and Cecil County.  Benjamin understands that any type of guilty plea is not good enough, and he will fight to have the citation dismissed.  The ultimate goal is to be eligible for expungement as soon as possible, and Benjamin will do whatever it takes to make this happen.  Anyone who signs up for the Voluntary Exclusion Program is banned from all Maryland casinos, and not just the one where the application was filed.  In addition, the entire property will be off limits.  A banned individual cannot stay at the hotel, attend a concert or have dinner without the risk of being charged with trespass.  Another important aspect of the program is that the ban does not automatically expire.  If you sign up for 2 years you will not be able to go back unless you complete the complex process of removing yourself.  It is better to think of all VEP terms as lifetime bans unless you take the steps to change your status.  Benjamin is available 7 days a week to discuss your trespass citation at 410-207-2598.

Trespass citations are not always the result of some sort of altercation as we have handled numerous cases initiated due to the Maryland Voluntary Exclusion Program.  People who enter the program can and will be charged with a criminal offense if they enter the property before or even after the ban is up.  We have seen cases where people assume the ban will automatically be lifted but this is not the case.  These voluntary exclusion cases are common at the Maryland Live Casino in Hanover and the Horseshoe in Baltimore City, which have numerous ways of locating people who enter their property while on the voluntary exclusion list.  The Anne Arundel County Police are always quick to show up to cite or even arrest a banned gambler at the Live.  Worcester County police officers will are also on standby to show up if an excluded person shows up at the Ocean Downs Casino in Berlin.  The same is true for police in the area of the Hollywood Casino of Perryville in Cecil County and the MGM National Harbor in Prince George's County, which issues about as many trespass citations as Maryland Live.  Keep in mind that the voluntary exclusion program is a statewide program.  If you exclude yourself from one casino you cannot just go to another one in the state, and security has a good chance of locating you even if you are not playing at a table.   We have represented clients who have been cited while in the hotel, buying tickets for shows or even eating at a restaurant or bar.  Casino security can be locate a banned individual by facial recognition or after they use driver's license at the security entrance, ATM, credit card or players card.  Casino staff are also on the lookout for banned individuals who attempt to redeem their chips at the cashier.

Benjamin handles criminal cases in all jurisdictions in Maryland, and has been able to secure dismissals in numerous casino trespass cases.  We understand that facing any criminal charge is a stressful and potentially life altering experience.  While it’s important to have representation from a skilled and experienced lawyer to make sure that permanent consequences are avoided, it is also important to have someone to keep you informed and involved every step of the way.  We never leave our clients in the dark about their cases, and we are always available to discuss any issues that come up during or even after the case is over.  We can also set up a consultation in your area if making a trip to our office is not convenient.  In addition, the firm offers flexible payment plans that allow you or a loved one to secure representation immediately, because nobody facing a criminal charge, no matter how serious, should be without a lawyer.  If you have received a citation or summons by a police officer, contact us at 410-207-2598.