Casino billboards subject of protest

Thursday, March 11, 2004 | 11:04 a.m.

A group of Las Vegas residents fed up with what they consider to be sexually offensive billboards plans to address the Nevada Gaming Commission when it meets in Las Vegas next week.

Lucille Lusk, chairwoman of the Nevada Concerned Citizens, a political advocacy group, said her organization isn't organizing the March 18 appearance, but agreed to issue e-mails on behalf of citizens who say recent advertisements have crossed the line of community taste standards.

Lusk said the group plans to praise the Gaming Commission for showing an interest in addressing the issue, raised in response to a series of ads by the Hard Rock hotel-casino.

Hard Rock officials have said their ads are edgy and designed to capture an affluent market of young adults attracted by that style of advertising. The state Gaming Control Board, which filed a complaint against the Hard Rock, did so for some ads' reference to cheating and drug use, acknowledging that they also featured some suggestive sexual content.