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Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010 | 3:01 p.m.
Map of Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace
3570 S. Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas
CARSON CITY – Allowing a player to climb up, walk and dance on the top of a baccarat table at Caesars Palace isn't a suitable method of operation, the state Gaming Control Board says.
A complaint filed by the board against Caesars Palace says a customer was playing baccarat in the high-limit baccarat room on Oct. 10, 2009. On three separate occasions, the man climbed onto the baccarat table from his chair, walked on the table and made a bet before returning to stand on his chair, eventually sitting down, according to the complaint.
On the second occasion, the player performed a dance on the table before returning to his chair, the control board said. The three incidents took place over a 45-minute period, according to the complaint.
The complaint, drafted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Michael Somps, said no one at Caesars did anything to stop the behavior.
“Caesars failed to immediately recognize a potential compromise to game protection and patron safety and failed to immediately take any remedial action,” Somps said in the complaint, which doesn't indicate whether the player won his bets.
The board is asking the state Gaming Commission to impose a fine on Caesars and to take action against its license. The case is expected to come before the commission at its September meeting in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, the commission on Thursday accepted a $10,000 fine from Treasure Island for its mishandling of a dispute with a mini baccarat player in November 2009.
The board, which filed the complaint in July, said a player bet $500, but after seeing his cards, picked up his money and started to leave the Las Vegas Strip casino.
Casino security stopped the player, searched him and removed money and chips from his pockets. A casino manager then took five $100 chips away from the customer, who then was escorted out of the casino.
The complaint said state gaming authorities and police should have been notified instead of casino security handling the case. Treasure Island agreed to a settlement of the complaint.
Commissioner John Moran said it appeared the player “was taking a shot at the casino” in trying to evade going through with the bet after seeing the cards. But Deputy Attorney General John Michela said the casino failed to notify law enforcement or control board agents.
The commission also accepted a $2,497 fine from Brandywine Bookmaking LLC for accepting 185 horse race bets without a license at two casinos. It has a license to operate sports books at Whiskey Pete’s Hotel and Casino in Primm and the Pioneer Hotel and Gambling Hall in Laughlin.
The commission was told the acceptance of these wagers was an oversight. The $2,497 was the total amount of horse racing bets.
The commission also accepted a $2,000 settlement from Half Shell Seafood and Gaming in Henderson for a switch in stock among owners that wasn't approved by the state.
The complaint said Raymond T. Stratton transferred his 25 percent interest to the James K. Johnson Gaming Properties Trust and James Charles Wayne, and Trevett J. Williams transferred 15 percent of his 25 percent interest to the trust and Wayne.
Transport yourself to the opulent and excessive Roman Empire at Caesars Palace. But the ever-changing Caesars Palace is far from ancient. The hotel and casino is constantly raising the bar for what visitors can expect in a Vegas resort experience.
Caesars Palace features 3,348 rooms and suites in five towers, including the new luxury boutique Nobu Hotel and Restaurant, which opened Feb. 4, 2013, in the totally remodeled Centurian Tower. Caesars features 129,000 square feet of gaming space, including the Strip’s largest poker room and a 250-seat sports book. Other amenities include about two dozen restaurants, a four-level shopping mall, four pools, a spa, Pure and Poetry nightclubs and Pussycat Dolls.
Dining options include restaurants from world-renown chefs Guy Savoy, Wolfgang Puck, Bobby Flay, Gordon Ramsay and, on Feb. 4, 2013, Nobu Matsuhisa.
You never know what characters you’ll run into at Caesars with regular performers like Jerry Seinfeld, Bette Midler, Elton John and maybe even the emperor himself.
Why would the Commission care a Casino lets someone dance on THEIR table? A bit ridiculous. The Commission is suppose to keep the betting honest, not control the behavior of the customers.
Not surprising that the casino took no action. Evidently, the guy was a high roller who was losing big time. The fine imposed by the commission is probably peanuts compared to what the guest lost. Casinos are very hesitant to upset their big players... especially these days.
Thank God they did'nt have xxx on the table.
This is why this city is no fun anymore. When any of my friends from out of state visit just once, I can't even talk them into returning. If we force the casinos to suppress patrons' merriment, we pretty much force them to alienate a substantial chunk of their target market. If I wanted to sit in stale, despondent, heavily regulated environments where liability-terrified figures scurry around quashing any attempt to enjoy being human, I'd find a way to end up back in school... or just go to jail. Regulatory agencies are a necessary evil, but over-zealous regulators need to get out of this country. There are plenty of places in this world that tolerate draconian foolishness, and those places shouldn't be here.
Uh yeah...you don't need to jump up on the table, walk across it and place your bet.
Gimme a break stingray....there's something called having fun and enjoying yourself in the casino and another acting like a jackass and walking across a table.
This is why the city is no fun anymore?....lol.
"Allowing a player to climb up, walk and dance on the top of a baccarat table at Caesars Palace isn't a suitable method of operation, the state Gaming Control Board says."
I assume this happened on private property, all present were consenting adults, and no one was hurt. Gaming Control Board needs to be reminded again of what limits the Constitution puts on it.
"Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual." -- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Isaac H Tiffany (1819)
The control board will argue that a gaming license is a priviledge. So it therefore has a right to regulate walking and dancing on tables. I think its lame and the control board should mind their own damn business on this issue.
Ever expanding powers that the GCB will force on its licensees without any laws to support them.
Why doesn't the Gaming Control Board do something about the rip off 6/5 BJ rules, and Sever Based Slot System rip off, and tightened slots. These are the true crimes being committed in this city.
TomD, I wasn't condoning walking on tables or bemoaning that people can't walk on tables, but nice try at reducing a legit appeal to absurdity.
Let's just get specific to this one scenario. I'm saying that, if someone wants to be a jackass and walk across a table, and none of their fellow patrons take any issue with it, that's said jackasses problem if he/she gets hurt. Since we have liability laws in this country, it should be up to the casino to decide if they want to accept that possible issue. Eventually, different casinos would take different stances, and their patrons would match for the most part.
Ultimately, what I was really touching on is that the casinos should not be forced to parent everyone in their jurisdiction for potential liabilities. That really just becomes a slippery slope wherein all the novelty of this locale is slowly eroded, and we just end up with a massive, tricked out, over-priced strip mall where you can gamble and drink booze outside the bar. If my friends are any indicator, that trend furthers that passports will be issued and business will go elsewhere. I think this city's been castrated and lost enough business already... without more of these scares.
Great quote, KillerB!
what do they do with the fines collected?
Why is this even a news story? Doesn't Caesars have rules and security to enforce it? It sounds more like an internal matter.
stingraynm -- gracias. Since Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, he's a credible source.
Good points in your posts.
"what do they do with the fines collected?"
tom_duh -- the state claims to be facing a severe revenue shortage. Do the math.
"I heartily accept the motto, 'That government is best which governs least'; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically." -- Henry David Thoreau 1849 "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience" (who spent time in jail for refusing to by a license to preach as local law required)
If I tried to dance on any table at Caesar's, I would have been arrested for the low roller I am. But high rollers have rights that low rollers do not. Enuf said.
With the state of business in Las Vegas and Nevada as a whole I would think they would let a "high limit" player dance on top of the Gaming Board members if they were playing enough. Since the casino owns the table and no player made a complaint why is this the business of the Board to start with? Maybe follow the money and their budget cuts?
OMFG!
How much do these gaming control board people make to be stupid?
I just saw an ad on Alaskan Airlines for Camp Vegas, showing people up on the tables dancing. WTF???
So, the guy dancing on the table falls...followed shortly by lawsuit. Hmm, who is stupid?
"On the second occasion, the player performed a dance on the table before returning to his chair..."
Apparently he wasn't in "Vogue" and lacked the "Hustle" to "Moonwalk" his "Boogie-woogie" to the appropriate "Jitterbug" spot, so now those moralistic Gaming folks insist he should have taken a "Break". So much for good-footin it!
So it's okay for scantily clad women to dance in front of the tables at the Pussycat Lounge but not players??
Hmm, dancers at the Pussycat Lounge who are hired to perform their job in a controlled dance, or some clown dancing drunk across the table, tripping on the big stack and face planting on the floor. You're right - how do they see a difference?
Was it that Terrence Watanabe guy who got stuck for over $100 million playing at Harrah's? Sounds like something that guy would have pulled.
Of course there are limits to what a whale (most likely an Asian whale) can get away with.
Stumbling drunk in Harrah's = OK.
Stumbling drunk and gambling in Harrah's = OK.
Stumbling drunk and needing another marker in Harrah's = No problem.
But "dancing" on a baccarat table in Harrah's. That's a no no according to the gaming control board? Come on now.
I am sure Mr. Loveman has quietly fired or reassigned all employees in the high limit pit who allowed this travesty and breach of hotel operations to occur.
Funny how this type of nonsense always seems to occur at Harrah's properties...
Check out my insightful LV blog:
http://jimmyhoofa-lv.blogspot.com/
Perhaps this guy was hired by Harrah's to build publicity...goodness knows there dumpy properties need the exposure.
Do you think it was my last spin on top of the roulette wheel at the Circus Circus that made them finally crack down?Or was it my sitting on a donkey at a blackjack table at the Excaliber?
I can understand why the TI didn't call Gaming. It's because they never ever want to show up for anything. Unless you have a major felony wrapped up in a bow tie Gaming doesn't respond. That's why the casinos take it upon themselves. I've caught cheats tampering with slot machines with video of it and Gaming says they aren't coming or doing anything about it. For the most part the Gaming Agents are useless.
They have donkeys at Ex? I thought those were horses they rode in the big show.
Newman;What do u expect,it's a recession?
Did the guy take off his shoes at least? There goes my dream of dancing on the crap table between rolls..
It's the Gaming Control Board's opinion that what happens on green felt is their business.
I was in the Tropicana last month, it was quiet in the casino and a family was walking through, and their little boy ran around to the back of a blackjack table and was simply standing there. No one was doing anything about it until a manager saw what was happening and made sure that little boy got quickly moved out of the area.
The manager commented that they could, of course get fined for that violation, even for the just the fast moment it existed.
Different scenarios, but I think the regulators have authority over this particular circumstance and are doing the right thing regarding their enforcement of it.
That's my two cents worth.
Jimmyhoofa, funny thing, I read Caesar's (A Harrah's property Watanabe frequented) and the first thing I thought of was Watanabe too!
What does anyone expect from Harrah's and its Management...unwilling, untrained, unknowing, but overpaid! A JOKE---Gaming should nail them, but they won't, and you can make book on it!
They allowed this because the management staff in the Baccarat Room have no experience. They probably have never even dealt a card in their life. Harrahs has gone into the toilet operationally, they may be great financial strategists, but horrible operators.
"Different scenarios, but I think the regulators have authority over this particular circumstance and are doing the right thing regarding their enforcement of it."
denro -- you just pointed out the profound Nazi attitude of this government. Read my Jefferson quote above.
Sure, kids shouldn't frequent gambling tables, and families should feel free to frequent casinos -- wotthehell else is one supposed to do around here, that's where all the flashy lights are -- but to fine anybody for a non-hurt situation where no one is to blame is just a profoundly stupid, police state kind of thing.
"This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it." -- Abraham Lincoln, first inaugural address, 1861
I agree with the poster who stated the 6:5 BJ is the real crime being committed in Vegas. Quite awhile back I made a promise to myself I wouldn't stay where there was 6:5 BJ...so, the El Cortez has been getting my business - and that's just fine, as I like downtown.
But it is okay for Harrah's to have left thousands of their hotel rooms as "public fire safety traps" as a result of Harrah's illegal remodels? What about the ASBESTOS that Harrah's freely exposed their construction workers, hotel employees and Hotel Guests to during the course of many of their illegal remodels, remodels that spanned more than a decade - I guess that this doesn't matter either to the Nevada Gaming Commission. The publics' safety is obviously not a concern of the Nevada Gaming Commission, God forbid them upsetting Gary Loveman & the rest of Harrah's Management Team.
In 2006 Harrah's at Harrah's Hotel exposed a multitude of people to ASBESTOS on several now documented illegal remodels - I know because I was there. In 2006 & 2007 Harrah's again exposed construction workers, hotel employees and hotel guests to asbestos at the Flamingo Hotel during the course of both legal & illegal remodels. Harrah's own ASBESTOS ABATEMENT CREW at the Flamingo was forced to take shortcuts by Harrah's construction management team which was headed by Mike Whitehead, Tom Adams, Leon Vermillion, George Kirkwood, Kirk England and others. At Caesars in 2007 Harrah's management had Roman Empire workers scrape asbestos off of hotel room ceilings with nothing more than a dust mask, a scraper and a hose - a willful disregard for the safety of all involved. Harrah's has been willing to compromise everyone's health all for the benefit of their precious bottom line.
Clark County DA David Roger knowingly lied in court in front of Eric Goodman when he said that Roman Empire Development, a subsidiary of Harrah's Entertainment Inc. was the responsible entity for Harrah's illegal remodels. RED was formed in December of 2006 - I worked on the Rio's illegal remodel in early 2005 to November of 2005 and then on several illegal remodels at Harrah's, Flamingo, & O'Sheas as well before RED even existed. Our esteemed "CORRUPT" DA David Roger did not interview any witnesses to Harrah's willful criminal acts - other than a recorded interview with Chuck Gillenwater which was buried. No one was interested in finding the truth, except for Joan Whitely. Tom Adams & Mike Whitehead are running a construction business in town called Copperstone Construction Inc, either one could shed much light on Harrah's willful illegal activities and those responsible. The Clark County Fire Department seized a Ford Contracting Log Book in the basement of Harrah's in (I believe) February 2007, where is the book now? Why did neither the Clark County Building Department or Clark County Fire Department either request records from Harrah's or interview workers/employees/management? Multiple individuals made voluntary statements to the Clark County Fire Department - I did to Brian Kern, who I found to be willing to do his job unlike either Chief Smith or Chief Page.
Question: How did the Gaming Control Board find out about this incident?
Also, Snooper take your whining, ranting, way to long blogs to another forum.
Maybe the guy was so shocked that he actually won at a Harrah's property, he couldn't contain himself. I'm sure we would all be tempted, too, to dance on a table with a win at a Harrah's!
not bad Det_Munch
Noindex,
Obviously, you don't have much to say...I do and if you don't like my blogs simply don't read them from now on - I didn't write it to please you!
Regulators did us all a favor by limiting the degree to which behavior can become outrageous. This allows for a cultural expression to develop in a controlled fashion. The alternative would be continual one upmanship of obnoxious, dangerous, game integrity questioning, and brand wreaking stunts that will not serve Nevada's best interests. I'm not suggesting this is not already the case in some instances but there is more to the NGCB's thought process than merely this one player's tango.
How did the Gaming Commiss. find out about the dancing incident? I would guess a complaint was made by another patron. I believe if the incident occurred just once, then it can be blown off has a bit of fun. But if other players were having their game disrupted then hence the complaint.
But you could say any craps table suffers from rowdy patrons. However, the issue here is one of outside interference on the game and the table, not a health and safety issue.
hey KillerB, the US constitution references nothing about gambling and games of chance... and NO casino is private property, not even an exclusive high-roller/high limit player's area... you want a "Privelege" of a gaming license, then you submit to control and regulation of the authorites charged with these duties. How does anyone here know if other players at the table had their chips knocked over or onto the floor? what about the dealer's "bank" not being disturbed-then they stop to fix it up and pick things off the floor where cameras can not see, and theft occurs... what if he fell down? of fell onto another patron" it sounds a little much, but, if you let Caesars get away with it, then you're going to find it going on all over the city.
If you can't dance on a table in Las Vegas of all places for the love of all things holy, the whole valley needs to dig down deep and remember where she is and what she's for.
Of course this is a "no-no" slap on the wrist for Harrah's and the article points out the bookmaking firm paid a two grand fine on a seperate 180 some incidents.
Dear Gaming board;
I posted the message below when your unemployment was just over 10%. Now it's almost 15%, keep up your great work (sarcasm) and your unemployment will continue to rise.
"Do you people understand the terrible economic times you are facing? Is it time to clamp down or back off and allow tourist to have FUN? Keep on supporting all the communists and liberals and unemployment might exceed 20%."
Maybe it was the union dealers that get cussed at, spit on, smoke blown in their face and are sittng on the game trying to work while some drunk a## customer is dancing on the table AND COULD POSSIBLY FALL ON THEM. BTW- Harrah's is scraping more asbestos off the ceiling in Caesars right now. and no- it was not Terrance Wantanabe that danced on the table-he was always to F'ed up to dance! It is the Gaming Control Boards job to investigate behavior that puts an unfavoralble image to LV-if you can believe that with all the whores - pimps- check hustlers and pure scum that has taken over the casino's. The corportations want every dollar in every line of business-next Harrah's will build a Harrah's Mart right on the property. They already have every vendor imaginable in the employee's area tryiing to sell phones, shoes, farmers market --and yes --they will take it right out of your paycheck--such a deal!!!I hope the Gaming Control Board starts doing its job!! CORPORATIONS WILL BE THE DEATH OF MIDDLE AMERICA! STOP CORPORATE SLAVERY TODAY!
"Keep on supporting all the communists and liberals..."
That's a good one. LOL
_________________________________________
"CORPORATIONS WILL BE THE DEATH OF MIDDLE AMERICA!"
The other extreme.
Pretty funny stuff, guys.
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