VICTORIA, British Columbia- Provincial lawmaker Rick Kasper is a gambler with a winning streak. But he feels like a loser after his most recent trip to Las Vegas.
One crank on the arm of a Las Vegas slot machine in February lined Kasper's pockets with $1,300.
But back in Canada, the New Democratic Party member from Vancouver Island got a rude awakening when one of his American $100 bills was confiscated by police on suspicion that it is counterfeit.
''It was quite a shock for me,'' Kasper said. ''I mean, I got the money from a reputable hotel.''
When Kasper attempted to deposit the 13 $100 bills at his local credit union, one was red-flagged as suspicious and police were called in.
The questionable bill now is in an Ottawa crime lab.
Kasper goes to Las Vegas twice a year and usually comes back with cash in his pocket.
He is the only lawmaker in British Columbia who, every year since being elected in 1996, has declared gambling winnings as income on his disclosure statements. In 1997, he won $2,500.
Cpl. Jack Gallop, of the Langford RCMP, says it is highly likely that the bill is counterfeit.
If it is, ''Mr. Kasper would be financially liable for the loss,'' he said Friday.
But Kasper, who still has receipts from the Las Vegas hotel that gave him the bill, won't be in any trouble for attempting to pass a false bill.
''In most of these cases, people receive the fake bills quite innocently and they pass them quite innocently,'' Gallop said. ''It's just an unfortunate occurrence.';
To add insult to injury, Kasper will have to pay U.S. tax on his winnings - even on the fake bill.
