K.C. casinos face fines over loss limits

Thursday, June 1, 2000 | 10:03 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Gaming Commission on Wednesday proposed $500,000 in fines against five casinos -- including all four in Kansas City and Harrah's in St. Louis -- after an undercover sting operation resulting in allegations that gamblers were being allowed to skirt the state's $500 loss limit rules.

The commission offered no details about any of the infractions.

Las Vegas-based Harrah's Entertainment Inc. and Station Casinos Inc. operate big Kansas City casinos, along with Hilton Hotels Corp. and Argosy Gaming.

John V. Finamore, Midwest president for Station Casinos, was upset over the lack of information made public.

"We don't know what we're guilty of," he said. "The thing that concerns us is the perception that we're flaunting the loss limit rule."

Station has spent more than $500,000 on computers and employee training designed to monitor loss limit compliance, Finamore said.

"The loss limit rule is very challenging to enforce," he said. "People make mistakes."