It is often necessary to obtain a criminal defense attorney, such as from Ace Law Group, when dealing with unpaid casino markers in Las Vegas, Nevada. Even if you are not currently involved in criminal charges regarding these cash advances, legal representation can help avoid further legal action taken against you by the gaming establishment to which you owe the unpaid line of credit in Nevada.
Through the law in Nevada, casino markers are not considered to be a loan. These are more typically considered to be a line of credit with a casino. You must typically fill out an application and receive approval. After this, you can access money from the casino. The amount of money that you can use depends on the facility. You will typically have between 15 and 30 days to pay back this line of credit. This allows you to enjoy the process of gambling without having to carry around large sums of cash. Some gambling establishments will advance you a sum on a written check that will not be cashed unless you fail to pay back this advance.
If you fail to pay your cash advance given to you by the gaming establishment, the casino involved will typically go through a set of steps in an attempt to collect this debt. One of the points of information provided in your application includes your bank account number. The casino will first try to cash out your unpaid marker similar to an electronic check. If there are insufficient funds in your account, the casino will contact you with a certified letter. By Nevada law, you have 10 days to respond to this letter before further action is taken against you. If you do not respond within the allotted time period, criminal charges will be filed and you will no longer be able to deal directly with the establishment to resolve your unpaid line of credit. The District Attorney’s Office will handle all matters regarding this issue so it is important to obtain a criminal defense attorney to protect your rights and help to resolve this matter.
There are a variety of penalties that may occur under Nevada law if you fail to pay your gambling obligations. If the amount involved is under $250, this results in a misdemeanor charge with the potential for hefty fines of up to $10,000. Any amount over $250 is considered a felony and may involve hefty fines combined with prison time of up to 4 years. Some of the most common penalties you could face include:
- Arrest warrant
- Criminal felony prosecution, which may involve fraud, theft, and more
- Potential jail time and other control sanctions
- Fines and related Court costs
- Repayment of advance and possibly additional charges
- Negative ratings on your credit record
It is especially important to obtain a criminal defense attorney once legal charges have been filed. A felony charge on your record, regardless of the specific charge, can hinder current or future employment, living arrangements, and more. An experienced criminal defense attorney can counsel you on your best course of action to result in the minimum sanctions possible in your situation.
The best options for a plea bargain involves hiring a criminal defense attorney who has experience in these types of cases. Every case is different, but there are some general options that can occur in regards to a plea bargain. if this is your first offense, your criminal defense attorney may be able to help you work out a repayment plan without additional legal consequences. There is also the option to have the matter moved out of the criminal courts and into the civil courts. This allows you time to more effectively deal with repayment issues without having to worry about criminal charges and possible jail time. If you have past felony charges or have been accused of writing bad checks before, you may have less options in regard to a plea bargain. Regardless of your history, an experienced Nevada criminal defense attorney can help.
There are certain types of defense that can be used in the Courts in Las Vegas, Nevada, when it comes to dealing with these unpaid gambling debts. The most common defenses involve no intent to defraud and invalid markers. Whether or not you purposely intended to defraud, Nevada law for Las Vegas establishments assumes intent if your bank account did not have sufficient funds when you applied for your line of credit with the gambling establishment and because you did not repay your debt in a timely fashion. However, there are still a few legal angles that can be explored through your defense, especially if you have a positive history of repaying previous lines of credit. An experienced criminal defense attorney can also check your specific line of credit for validity and possible courses of action from that angle.
The criminal defense attorneys at Ace Law Group can help you with your gambling debt. It is important to retain legal counsel as soon as possible in these cases to avoid as much legal action as possible. As soon as you realize you will be unable to pay your gambling debt at an establishment, obtaining an experienced lawyer will help you work out arrangements that may not even need legal action. However, if legal action has been taken against you, obtaining a lawyer as soon as possible can still help you to protect your rights and interests in any legal matters that form against you.