Casino sues former poker manager over thefts

Monday, Aug. 13, 2001 | 10:26 a.m.

The owner of the Orleans and its insurer sued to recover $282,041 in poker tournament fees they said were misappropriated by the Las Vegas hotel-casino's former director of poker.

Coast Resorts Inc. and Great American Insurance Companies, which said it insured the hotel-casino for losses of up to $1 million with a $25,000 deductible, sued David Hriscina in Clark County District Court.

The suit said Hriscina, who was responsible for collecting entry fees for the Tournament of Champions poker tournament, kept $282,041 that should have been returned to the Orleans' casino cage on Aug. 1, 2000, after the tournament ended on July 26, 2000.

The suit said Hriscina was no longer employed by the hotel-casino with effect Aug. 1, 2000, after he confessed to Mike Vento, who was the Orlean's assistant poker manager at that time, that he had taken funds from the tournament's entry fees. Hriscina allegedly also made the same confession to a Gaming Control Board agent, Vic Ingram, after the board was notified.

Hriscina pleaded guilty to one count of felony theft in January for taking the money and was placed on probation for five years.

Hriscina declined comment on the lawsuit.