Regulators lecture Park Place on AC woes

Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003 | 10:49 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state Gaming Control Board is concerned about the number of infractions for underage gambling and drinking at casinos in Atlantic City owned by Park Place Entertainment Corp. of Las Vegas. Board member Scott Scherer told executives of Park Place on Wednesday there have been a "large number" of violations for minors gambling.

Bernard E. DeLury Jr., executive vice president and secretary of the corporation, said that state police in New Jersey were "more aggressive" than in other places where casinos are located. He said the corporation takes the issue seriously.

Where there have been violations, he said employees have been disciplined and the casinos seek to bring criminal charges against the minors or their parents. In addition, it carries on an educational program for teens to tell them of their responsibilities.

The plans "are good but not fail-safe," DeLury said.

Scherer said it "doesn't seem the plan is working." He said it was not as effective as other casinos. After the hearing, Scherer said there were five violations dating back to 2002 involving underage drinking and gambling.

The underage issue was the only thing raised as the board recommended a refinancing deal for the corporation and the licensing of DeLury, who is general counsel for the company in charge of governance, new development and surveillance. Board members said DeLury had a clean background and presented no problems for licensing. The corporation owns or manages 29 casinos around the world.

The board Wednesday approved a number of other corporate restructurings and refinancings involving casino owners. The state Gaming Commission will meet Dec. 18 to take final action.

In one deal, the board approved a restructuring of the corporations that own Fitzgeralds hotel-casino in downtown Las Vegas. Owner Don Barden said the hotel-casino has been refurbished and more work is to be done. He said it is "doing very well" and the room occupancy rate is 85 percent and "we expect it to go up when the economy improves."

After an extended discussion, the board recommended that Hotspur Casinos Nevada Inc., the landlord of the Rampart Casino in Las Vegas, be approved to receive part of the profit from gambling in addition to its lease payments.

A number of corporations in foreign countries are involved in Hotspur.

The board said the deal would not be effective until it licenses Shiraz Lalji, who heads the top corporation, Hilfreich Stiftung of Zurich, Switzerland.

The board agreed, however, to license Thaddas L. Aston, who is president of Hotspur Casinos Nevada, saying he has a clean background. Aston said the casino profit last year was $1.2 million.

Also recommended for licensing were Kimberly Becker Riggs, Ernest A. Becker V, Brian T. Becker and Sallie Elizabeth Becker for 25 percent each in Eagle Rock Gaming for a license in Las Vegas for a slot route, manufacturer and distributor company.