Some foreign high-rollers returning to Las Vegas

Thursday, Dec. 5, 2002 | 11:26 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Many international high-rollers are returning to Las Vegas casinos after the terrorist attacks but those from Latin America are continuing to stay away, says a top official of the Mandalay Bay hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

Arthur Rodriguez, vice president of casino operations for Mandalay Bay, said that after the 2001 attacks, high-limit players in the Far East flew to London or Australia.

But after the hotel bombing in Bali this fall, Rodriguez said "Australians are reluctant to travel."

The statements by Rodriguez were made Wednesday to the state Gaming Control Board, which gave Mandalay Bay preliminary approval for five international gaming salons to accommodate the big-end players who want privacy when they gamble.

Three of the salons in the former Baccarat area can be open to the public but they can be closed if a high stakes player requests privacy.

The 2001 Legislature authorized private room casinos for players who bet a lot of money but don't want the public at the same table or standing behind watching.

Rodriguez said he hopes these international gaming salons will "increase our productivity" in competing with casinos in foreign countries that permit private gambling.

"They are used to gambling by themselves," said Rodriguez, talking about some of the players who don't want to rub elbows with the public. These players, he said, are seeking additional services such as nicer rooms.

"In the Far East, they are quite into services," he told the board.

Mandalay Bay, he said, has offices in Hong Kong and Taiwan and is opening one in Singapore. The company also has agents in Mexico and South America.

Control Board member Bobby Siller said he did not want "to hear you are marketing the place based on terrorism." He said the intent of the law was to draw new customers because of the privacy accommodations.

"It's the new customers we're after," Rodriguez said.

There will be a variety of games in these salons, but no slots.

There will be six surveillance cameras in four of the rooms and four cameras in the smallest salon. And one camera in each room can be operated by Control Board agents at their Las Vegas office. This camera will be able to pan in on a game or tilt to give a wider view of the area.

The Control Board limited the license for two years, the same condition placed on other Las Vegas casinos that have been approved for international salons. He said the board wants to take a look at the issue again at that time.

The state Gaming Commission meets Dec. 19 in Las Vegas to take final action on the application.

Siller also questioned company officials about their policy involving a key employee who has a felony conviction.

An assistant casino shift manager apparently has been involved in a felony but he or she was not identified.

David Arrajj, attorney for Mandalay Bay, said the compliance committee was looking at the case to determine the facts.

Siller said he was not singling out Mandalay Bay but wondered about the practices in other casinos and if key employees were required to report to their superiors if they are arrested or convicted of a felony.

Arrajj said the casino compliance committee will make a change if it feels it needs to. There is an "ongoing investigation" into the present case.

Siller suggested a possible requirement for an employee to notify his or her superiors if convicted or arrested for a felony.