Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Gaming chairman steps away from Binion decision

Nevada Gaming Commission Chairman Bill Curran today removed himself from participating in the decision on Ted Binion's future in the casino industry.

The Gaming Commission has set a hearing April 29 on whether to ban the suspended Horseshoe executive permanently from the downtown casino.

Curran, whose previous rulings in the disciplinary case have drawn controversy, said he discovered a "situation" over the weekend with a "long-standing client of his private law practice" that may present a possible conflict of interest for him.

"Neither the nature, nor the possibility of this potential conflict was previously apparent or foreseeable," Curran said in a two-page order.

"Continued participation could compromise the interests of the private client, undermine the perception of impartiality in the resolution of the proceedings herein or allow a situation in which the potential conflict becomes an actual conflict ... and greatly complicate achievement of a fair conclusion therein."

Curran did not explain the potential conflict in his order, and he could not be reached for comment today.

His withdrawal leaves the commission with four members who can vote on Binion's fate. Curran turned the case over to Vice Chairman Augie Gurrola of Las Vegas.

Earlier this month, Curran angered members of the State Gaming Control Board when he issued a order that prohibited them from questioning Binion at a public hearing before the April 29 hearing.

The ruling forced the Control Board, the state's full-time overseer of the industry, to depart from its regular investigative procedures.

At the board's request, Curran then agreed to allow the board to question Binion about his alleged drug use and continued involvement at the Horseshoe at a public deposition last week. That ruling angered Binion's lawyers.

The Control Board contends Binion should be banned from the industry because he violated a September 1994 stipulation to stop using drugs and temporarily stay out of the Horseshoe's operations.

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