Resort pays fine after violating regulation

Friday, July 29, 2005 | 9:23 a.m.

A Strip casino has paid a fine for violating gaming regulations involving money-laundering.

The Nevada Gaming Commission on Thursday approved a settlement in a complaint filed against the Mandalay Bay Resort earlier this month by the state attorney general's office on behalf of the state Gaming Control Board.

MGM Mirage, which owns the resort, agreed to pay a fine of $25,000 -- the minimum amount allowed by statute -- to settle the incident that occurred in March.

MGM Mirage officials admitted to the allegations stated in a one-count complaint signed by Gaming Control Board members July 15.

According to the complaint, a Gaming Control Board audit agent made a front-money deposit of $4,600 to the main casino cage on March 4. The deposit consisted of 165 $20 bills and 13 $100 bills, the complaint said.

When the agent returned March 7 to withdraw the deposit, he was given 46 $100 bills.

The action was part of a routine Regulation 6A audit. Under state regulations designed to prevent money-laundering, casinos are required to return the same currency when holding a deposit.

MGM Mirage, which acquired Mandalay Bay in a deal that closed in April, did not dispute the matter and paid the fine in advance of Thursday's settlement consideration.

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