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February 10, 2012

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Gaming Commission doles out $1,000 fine to Las Vegas casino

By Cy Ryan (contact)

Thursday, April 22, 2010 | 5:51 p.m.

Sun Coverage

CARSON CITY – The Nevada Gaming Commission has agreed to impose a $1,000 fine against Fred’s Tavern 2 in Las Vegas for failing to pay a customer $300 it owed for more than five months.

The commission accepted the settlement that was signed by Kurt L. Schoen, head of the company that runs the business.

The state Gaming Control Board ordered the casino in March 2009 to make the $300 payment as part of a dispute with a customer. Regulators contacted the casino several times, saying it had to make the payment to Michael Pascarella within 20 days.

James Doucette, operations officer for the casino, told the board he had mailed the check, but Pascarella never received it. In August, Doucette delivered the check to the board.

Commissioner Joseph Brown voted against the settlement, saying the commission should take action against Doucette for lying to state officials. But he was informed the settlement didn't cover the behavior of Doucette.

Commissioner John Moran abstained from voting because his law firm had ties to the club.

In other action, the commission approved financier Edward A. Johnson to acquire one-third from Ryan Sprott and Robert Neal Pomroy in DLJMP HRH VoteCo, LLC, which holds 84.4 percent of the Hard Rock Hotel-casino in Las Vegas.

Johnson said he will be at the hotel for one or two days a month. Casino president Randy Kwasniewski shot himself to death in his home in March.

The Hard Rock has an estimated 2,300 employees and lost $197 million in 2009.

The commission took up the Johnson case but there was no discussion before the application was approved.

Also, the commission rejected a proposed settlement with a pub owner in Reno who struck a man who fell on his head and hit the rim of a car. The victim, Jens Morrison, nearly died, officials said.

Justin S. Moscove was found guilty of a gross misdemeanor battery charge and placed on probation for up to 36 months. He was ordered to pay the victim $276,106.

The state Gaming Control Board and Moscove agreed to a penalty that his license be limited for the time he was on probation and when that was completed, he would have to apply for a new gaming license at his Flowing Tide Pub and Grill.

Commissioner Moran called the proposed settlement a “wrist slap” and called the incident a “fairly serious” offense. Other commissioners agreed.

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