[teddyFBI]

Maybe i'm wrong, but isn't it possible that the short deck HELPED the players, rather than hurt them, odds-wise?

It doesn't say what game was involved, nor whether the missing card(s) were helpful or detrimental to the player. It's possible that there were disclosure requirements that required the casino to report the short deck, and that they could be fined for improprieties irrespective of whether the short-deck helped or hurt the players.