Rio seeks permission to contract with denied applicant

The Nevada Gaming Control Board is set to consider an application by the Rio hotel-casino to contract with a Montana man who was once denied a gaming license.

The Rio is seeking permission to contract with John Antone Bertolero as a consultant on security matters. Since Bertolero was denied a license, the Rio needs permission from the board and the Nevada Gaming Commission before it can hire Bertolero as a consultant.

Bertolero was denied a key employee license by the commission while working as a shift boss at the Maxim hotel-casino in 1980. The commission denied his application based on a prior arrest for cheating at gambling. The Maxim later received permission from the commission to employ Bertolero as a surveillance employee, a position he held for eight years.

In 1990, Bertolero contracted with the Rio as a security expert. He held this contract until last year, when the Rio discovered his prior denial. The Rio suspended his consulting contract until the commission could give its approval.

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