Complaint filed against Bellagio

Friday, April 26, 2002 | 11:08 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Bellagio hotel-casino is facing a fine of anywhere from $25,000 to $250,000 on a complaint filed by the state Gaming Control Board that the Las Vegas Strip resort violated a money-laundering regulation last November.

Bruce Aguilera, counsel for the Bellagio, said Thursday the casino itself reported the violation to gaming regulators within 20 minutes after it occurred and it has taken disciplinary action against the employee involved.

"There was no money laundering," Aguilera said.

The business has 20 days to answer the complaint and can ask for a hearing before the state Gaming Commission. In most cases, attorneys for both sides work out an agreement on the disciplinary action.

The complaint, drafted by Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Carvalho, said that last Nov. 30, player Edward "Mike" Davis and Casino Shift Manager Pat Laman approached the baccarat cage. Davis asked to exchange $20,000 in cash for older bills since the bills were new and they gave him paper cuts.

Aguilera said Davis is a regular customer and likes to use cash in making his wagers. In this case, Aguilera said Davis got the cash from a bank.

The complaint said the cage cashier, the assistant cage supervisor and the cage supervisor all refused to make the exchange, saying it violated state regulations. Despite the warning, Laman went to an empty blackjack table and exchanged the $20,000 cash for four $5,000 chips.

Davis then took the chips and returned to the cage where he received cash for the chips.

The complaint said this violates the cash transaction regulation. In amounts of $3,000 or more, the regulation says the casino must return the same bills as were deposited with the cage.