Robber takes $1.5m from casino

An armed bandit has escaped on a motorcycle after stealing at least $1.5 million in casino chips from the Bellagio and may have pulled a similar stunt across the town less than a week ago, police said.

The thief took Bellagio chips ranging in value from $100 to $25,000 and authorities plan to watch for anyone trying to cash high-denomination chips at the Italian-themed casino with a wall of famous fountains along the Las Vegas Strip.

Police say a man wearing a jumpsuit and a motorcycle helmet with white stripes walked into the casino with a gun, robbed a craps table then sped away on a motorcycle.

The culprit, however, might find it hard to redeem his loot at any other casino except Bellagio.

Chips are unique to casino properties and are generally not interchangeable, although state regulations allow casino companies to redeem chips from sister properties with some restrictions.

Absher would not say if MGM Resorts properties are among the Las Vegas casinos that embed radio frequency devices in chips.