Gaming board: Caesars Palace wrong to let player dance on baccarat table

By Cy Ryan

Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010 | 3:01 p.m.

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.