Harrah’s settles complaint over sports book violation

By Richard N. Velotta

Monday, Jan. 11, 2010 | 3:44 p.m.

Representatives of Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. have signed an agreement with the state Gaming Control Board settling a complaint involving the rescission of three sports wagers in violation of state gaming regulations.

According to a stipulation for settlement signed by Harrah’s Western Division President Tom Jenkin, the company will pay the board $100,000, which includes a $75,000 fine and $25,000 to reimburse investigation costs.

Approval of the settlement is expected to be considered by the Nevada Gaming Commission on Jan. 21.

According to the complaint posted Friday by the Attorney General’s office on behalf of the Control Board, sports book personnel at the company’s Harrah's property on the Strip took back three $550 wagers written for an unidentified patron.

Control Board officials Monday confirmed that the patron was Jeff Haney, at the time of the wagers the Las Vegas Sun’s Odds ‘n’ Ends gaming columnist.

The complaint said that on April 12, 2008, Haney attempted to place three bets on professional basketball overnight lines. He presented a Harrah’s player’s club card and a winning sports book ticket from an unrelated sporting event plus $600 to a sports book writer to place the three bets.

The sports book writer generated three $550 sports wager tickets and gave them to him to review. But almost immediately, a sports book supervisor retrieved all three tickets and left the betting window to check the patron’s player rating history.

After reviewing the records, the supervisor informed Haney that the sports book would not accept the three wagers that had just been placed.

The Control Board said the action violated Nevada gaming regulations that say a wager cannot be unilaterally rescinded without written approval from the board’s chairman.

The complaint also said that in the investigation of the matter, it was determined that the sports book supervisor erroneously believed that it was Harrah’s policy to only allow patrons with certain high player rating levels to place wagers on overnight lines. Limiting access of the public to certain gaming activities except in specific areas outlined in legislation is a violation of gaming regulations.

In addition to agreeing to pay the fine, Harrah’s provided additional training to sports book supervisors and staff affirming the policy on acceptance of bets, subject to minimum and maximum betting limits. In addition, Harrah’s has overnight line scratch sheets available to patrons in its sports books and, when possible, posting that information on electronic screens in the book area.

Control Board member Randall Sayre said Haney did not file a player dispute complaint with the board. Because there was no complaint made by the gambler, there was no obligation for Harrah’s to pay the winning tickets.

Sayre said when a player files a dispute complaint, a hearing officer reviews the case and issues an opinion on whether a casino is obligated to pay winnings.