The post Vegas Teaching Assistant, Underage Student Met at Sam’s Town Casino for Dates, Cops Report appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The hookups reportedly included romantic stopovers at Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall and at the Galleria Mall.
The teaching assistant, Jerusalem Garcia, 20, was charged on August 23 for contacting or attempting to contact a minor for sex, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. She’s posted bond and is scheduled to appear in local court on September 30, the DailyMail.com reported.
Garcia didn’t engage in sex with the student, but the couple would cuddle and kiss, sometimes in a bed, according to police reports. It’s unclear if the two checked into the hotel at Sam’s Town or just hung out in secluded sections of the gaming property.
Garcia told police the boy got her aroused, but they didn’t have sex due to his age, believed to be in his teens.
Garcia knew when [the student] became aroused because he seductively grabbed her buttocks by squeezing them with his hands,” according to a police report. “Garcia would allow this to happen until she became aroused and in the mood for sex. She then would have urges to have sexual intercourse with [the student] but refrained due to [the student]’s age.”
The 12 to 15 dates took place over three months after the two met at a party on May 26.
They exchanged messages on Instagram. Her messages included such confessions as “I love you,” “I’m scared of the relationship,” and “I’ll stick with you forever,” according to the Review-Journal.
They first dated at the Galleria Mall in June and the last date they had was at Sam’s Town.
Garcia told police that it’s a “loving relationship,” according to an arrest report.
Garcia was booked at the Clark County Detention Center for her inappropriate contact with the student. Since the relationship was revealed, Garcia was placed on leave by the school district.
The boy, who attended Eldorado High School, wasn’t identified.
The inappropriate relationship came to light after the boy’s ex-girlfriend informed authorities about him seeing the teaching assistant, according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS.
The boy would drive Garcia to the destinations because he had access to a car and she didn’t, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Because he drove, it appears he’s at least 16 years old, but LVMPD officers didn’t reveal his age.
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]]>The post Casino Crime Roundup: Robbers Mistakenly Steal Dinner Leftovers Rather Than $130K Jackpot appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The victims were targeted at the Rivers Casino Des Plaines and followed to their Fox Lake, Ill. residence on February 10.
When the victims reached their home, about 38 miles from the gaming property, one of the robbers pulled out a handgun and grabbed a paper bag from the male victim, who was pushed to the ground, according to the Lake and McHenry County Scanner. The bandits then ran away before getting into a nearby vehicle.
But the suspects failed to look inside the bag. The female victim had placed the cash in her walker while the bag stolen by the robbers contained leftover food.
Police were alerted and after finding out the license plate number on the get-away vehicle, identified the two suspects.
Michael Britton, 27, of Chicago, was arrested on August 28. He was charged with armed robbery, aggravated robbery, and robbery of a victim over 60, according to the Fox Lake Police Department.
The defendants made off with her leftover steak and lobster as opposed to the $130,000,” Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Theis was quoted this week by the Scanner.
When Britton appeared in court recently, Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak said about the victims, “I guess in their own way, [they] outsmarted the bad guys.”
The second suspect, Aramie Kent of Maywood, Ill. is still being sought. A judge signed a warrant for his arrest. A third suspect spoke to the couple at the casino and was part of the robbery scheme, police said. She also is on the lam.
An assault at the Tropicana Atlantic City led to a woman falling unconscious and a man being threatened by a knife on Sunday.
The female victim was kicked and punched in the head during the struggle. There’s no update on her current medical condition.
Security guards helped to break up the attack which led to the arrests of Damian Pineryo, 35, of Hazlet, NJ, and Keila Diaz, 47, of Freehold, NJ. Both were charged with aggravated assault. Diaz was also charged with simple assault while Pineryo was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and terroristic threats.
The incident began in the Quarter, a portion of the casino with restaurants and retail stores.
It wasn’t immediately known what led to the fight. It’s also unclear if others involved will be charged, according to the Daily Voice.
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]]>The post Casino Crime Round Up: Oyo Hotel Broken Elevators Cause Complaints appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>Hotel visitors also posted complaints on social media sites regarding the broken elevators.
Many visitors to the Tropicana Avenue gaming property were forced to use the stairs after most of the elevators were out of service on Wednesday.
At one point, none of the elevators were operational and guests had to walk up stairs,” according to one complaint. “This was an issue as the reporting person stated their spouse was handicapped.”
Nor did some of the hotel’s elevators have proper permits during recent inspections, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Also, in August and on last Saturday some of the elevators were the site of trapped passengers, the report added.
Others were made non-operational after passengers got trapped in the elevators on Aug. 30 and Sept. 7. No injuries were reported.
On July 8, Clark County officials received a complaint about non-working elevators at the hotel. Prior malfunctions were posted on social media sites between March and July.
Previously, the casino-hotel had problems with air conditioning.
A man was apprehended this week after he allegedly used a device to cheat on a slot machine at Washington State’s Northern Quest Resort & Casino.
Don Hitchcock, 51, was charged on Tuesday. He appeared in Spokane, Wash. court after he was caught misusing a massage gun, according to Washington TV station KHQ.
He was ordered to stay away from gaming properties. He confessed to using the massage gun on the slots, the report revealed.
During five visits over the last couple of months, Hitchcock used the device to interfere with the coin platform on the slot machine, police said. Coins dropped from the payout space due to his actions.
A motorist drove into Papa’s Casino in Moses Lake, Wash. on Wednesday.
The unnamed man suffered bloody injuries and eventually made his way into a gaming property restroom, authorities said.
The unnamed 69-year-old motorist apparently was afflicted with some kind of medical issue before driving into the building, according to Spokane TV station KAYU. He was transported to Samaritan Hospital where he was examined and given treatment. He’s expected to recover.
No word on the extent of his injuries. He wasn’t charged as of earlier this week.
The casino building’s exterior was damaged from the crash. Police didn’t release a repair estimate.
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]]>The post Robbery of Washington State Casino Winner Leads to Couple’s Arrest appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The would-be victim won $1K at the Auburn, Wash. gaming property on August 30. He took the payout in cash and stuffed the money into his wallet.
At about 3:16 a.m., he was walking back to his vehicle that was left in a parking garage. when he was approached by a woman who started to flirt with him.
Suddenly, a man appeared and pulled out a tire iron, ordering the victim to hand over his wallet, according to the Auburn Reporter.
Responding quickly, the victim was able to reach a hammer that was inside his nearby truck.
As the confrontation escalated, the male suspect dropped the tire iron and pulled out a knife. The victim, sensing danger, turned over his wallet.
The two suspects quickly fled in a car. The victim wasn’t injured.
Police were able to identify the suspects because they had presented IDs that were scanned by casino staff at the casino entrance. A surveillance camera in the garage also got a picture of the license plate on the couple’s getaway car.
The couple had tailed the man on the gaming floor after he won the money and the woman’s flirting appeared to be part of the robbery scheme.
Earlier this month, officers charged the suspects, Tahiri C. Ponce, 31, of Winlock, Wash., and Arturo Alejandro Perez-Nava, 32, of Elma, Wash., with first-degree robbery.
They were arrested at Tacoma, Washington’s Emerald Queen Casino on September 6. It wasn’t clear if they were planning a similar scheme at that casino.
Both remained in custody as of earlier this week. Bail for Ponce was set at $25K. Perez-Nava’s bail was set at $250K. Ponce has confessed to her role in the Muckleshoot casino robbery, police said.
The casino is located about 30 miles south of Seattle.
A records check by local police revealed that Ponce recently was convicted of burglary and theft, and is facing a pending assault case. Perez-Nava has a pending burglary and theft case, a report from Washington TV station KIRO added.
Those convictions and potential convictions could lead to more time in prison for both of the defendants.
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]]>The post Woman Allegedly Stole $200K Worth of Items from Drugged Guests at Vegas Hotel appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>Cassandra Tovar, 31, was stopped by a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officer last Friday after driving a car on the Las Vegas Strip without a license plate. She appeared to be intoxicated, police said.
When the officer routinely ran her name through a computer system, the cop soon realized she had a pending warrant for a far more serious crime. She was wanted for her role in allegedly stealing $200K worth of items from two men staying at the luxury hotel after three women allegedly drugged them.
The theft dates back to April 23, 2023. That night, Tovar and the other women allegedly met two men at a hotel bar before they went upstairs to a hotel room.
Once inside, one of the women reportedly offered one of the men sex. The price was $1K “each.” One man responded that he refused to pay for sex but didn’t tell the women to leave.
“They continued to converse outside on the balcony and [one woman] brought him a drink in a shot glass. They encouraged [the victim] to drink it,” according to a police report quoted by Las Vegas TV station KLAS.
After [he] drank it, … he passed [out] and did not remember anything else.”
Hours later, the men woke up and three women were gone along with the men’s expensive watches, diamond bracelets, and fancy clothes.
The men alerted the LVMPD. Officers arrived at the hotel and arranged for a lab test, which revealed the suspicious drink included “various controlled substances,” according to a police report.
Officers then checked hotel surveillance cameras where video footage showed a car that turned out to be owned by one of the three suspects who was later located by police. When speaking to officers, she confessed to stealing the items and drinking with the two men, according to the LVMPD.
A search of the woman’s residence revealed luxury watches, diamond bracelets, and clothes all taken from the hotel room, police said.
Officers also were able to identify Tovar as a second suspect, though they couldn’t locate her until the September 6 traffic stop.
After her arrest, Tovar was booked at the Clark County Detention Center where she currently remains with bail set at $20K.
She recently appeared before Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Daniel Westmeyer who ordered her to show up for a court hearing in November.
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]]>The post Taylor Swift Endorsement of Harris is Historic, but Sinatra Recalled for Backing Reagan appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>None other than Las Vegas legend Frank Sinatra announced multiple endorsements of Ronald Reagan throughout the 20th century, including during Reagan’s campaign for governor of California and later, during his run for the US presidency.
Sinatra, who was well known for his unabashed support for Democrat John Kennedy in the 1960s, also became co-chairman of the Californians for Reagan organization when Reagan, a Republican, was running for governor in 1970.
Ten years later, Sinatra and fellow Las Vegas headliner Dean Martin were at Reagan’s side when he officially announced his presidential run.
While some believe he was an official supporter of the 37th president, it’s misleading to say Las Vegas legend Elvis Presley ever endorsed President Richard Nixon.
The myth started after Elvis posed with Nixon for a photo during a White House visit in 1970. He asked the president for a meeting and requested a badge to be a federal agent.
A truly historic celebrity endorsement took place much later when Oprah Winfrey announced her backing of Barack Obama in 2008. Oprah’s backing helped push forward his presidential campaign. Similarly, this week’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris by pop superstar Taylor Swift generated significant attention and may impact the race.
“Taylor Swift’s post-debate endorsement of Harris … will certainly move the needle given her influence/fan base. Indeed, I do not think it is an overstatement to say that Swift’s endorsement is the most consequential celebrity endorsement in political history,” Robert Jarvis, a professor at the Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center and gambling law expert, told Casino.org
Shortly after Tuesday’s debate, Swift announced in her online post, “I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election.”
I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos. I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz …”
It was also revealed on Thursday that Americans won’t see another debate between Trump and Harris. Harris’ campaign wants one, but Trump said no.
Trump said he won this week’s debate though many observers said Harris was the victor. Trump and his supporters also bashed the ABC news anchors who moderated the debate for allegedly being biased in favor of Harris.
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]]>The post Two Former Aria Resort Workers Sue MGM After Millions of Dollars Disappear — Report appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>Erendira Dominguez and Allison Lopez deny they stole the money and filed the legal action in Las Vegas federal court on Monday.
In the lawsuit, the pair claim they were discriminated against due to their gender and Hispanic heritage. They also allege they suffered “mental anguish, emotional distress, pain and suffering, humiliation, [and] harm to reputation,” because of the actions by their employer.
The two started working at the Aria in 2009. On Aug. 30, 2023, both were suspended from their jobs before being fired in December 2023. Dominguez was a coordinator and Lopez was a manager in Aria’s marketing department.
Between 2021 and 2023 their jobs had them book hotel rooms for Las Vegas Golf Adventures, which provides golf packages for guests staying at the hotel, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
In 2023, a new vice president of national marketing at the Aria claimed that Lopez had been booking rooms for her personal use. It was estimated that “millions of dollars” was unaccounted for, the report revealed.
The lawsuit filed by Lopez and Dominguez calls the claims baseless speculation, the Review-Journal reported. The pair contend they didn’t have access to the relevant company account and were unable to withdraw money or transfer funds from that account.
MGM Resorts and the Aria were “unable to determine” what happened to the missing money, according to the legal action and neither woman was ever charged by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD).
In their lawsuit, both Lopez and Dominguez are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as lost wages. Beyond that, they claim the false allegations have hurt their reputations and they are now “blacklisted” from getting another job in the casino sector.
In their jobs, the two women reported to senior executives at the Aria. The senior executives were men, none of whom were suspended, according to the lawsuit.
Only the Hispanic female plaintiffs had to endure that adverse treatment,” the lawsuit stated.
One male executive eventually was reassigned to an MGM Resorts property in Ohio, the report revealed. A second male executive quit his job and was given severance pay.
A trial date for the lawsuit has yet to be set. The two women have asked for a jury to hear the case.
Casino.org reached out to MGM Resorts for a statement on the lawsuit. A company spokesperson said MGM had no comment.
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]]>The post Hurricane Francine Forces Some US Casino Operations to Close appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Hurricane Francine had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
“After landfall, the center is expected to cross southeastern Louisiana tonight, then move northward across Mississippi on Thursday and Thursday night,” the NHC predicted on Wednesday afternoon.
The nasty weather led Kinder, La.’s Coushatta Casino Resort to be closed for part of Wednesday and Thursday.
To ensure the safety of our guests and associates during Hurricane Francine, Coushatta Casino Resort will temporarily close, effective Wednesday … at 2 am,” the gaming property said in a statement. “We look forward to seeing you when we re-open on Thursday … at noon or when conditions are deemed safe to do so.”
On Wednesday, the Silver Slipper Casino Hotel, located in Bay St. Louis, Miss., temporarily shuttered its table games, the Jubilee Buffet, Blue Bayou, valet service, and the gift shop. Normal operations will likely resume on Thursday.
The Bridges Golf Club at Hollywood Casino, also located in Bay St. Louis, also closed temporarily on Wednesday.
In Gulfport, Miss. a curfew was to take effect starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, according to Mayor Billy Hewes. It’s likely to be lifted at 6 a.m. Thursday. Restaurants, stores, and other businesses will close their doors.
During this period, people’s movement will be restricted, and no one will be allowed on public streets or property except for emergency personnel,” according to the mayor’s statement.
Also, in Bay St. Louis and Waveland, curfews will be in place between 10 p.m. Wednesday until 5 a.m. Thursday, according to the Sun Herald.
New Orleans may face floods as four to eight inches of rainfall are likely, CNN reported. Flights were canceled at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
A flood watch was put into effect for the Louisiana coastline, too. A storm surge warning was issued for Lakes Borgne and Pontchartrain, both in Louisiana, according to weather forecasts.
Tornado threats were possible in Mobile, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Huntsville, Ala.; Tallahassee, Fla., and Tupelo, Miss., AccuWeather reported.
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]]>The post Reputed Sex Worker Allegedly Steals $40K from Vegas Casino Visitor appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The suspect, Monica Falcon, met the man at the unnamed Las Vegas casino on June 12, police said. They then went back to the man’s residence.
When the man woke up the following day, Falcon had left the apartment.
Some $600 in cash was stolen and his bank balance was at negative $6,500 even though it had been $17K before the two met. The man’s cryptocurrency account had also been accessed and showed a $17,500 withdrawal while an additional $4,912 was taken from a Venmo account.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers were contacted by the victim, who had a fuzzy recollection of the night’s events. He did, however, tell officers that he would recognize Falcon if he saw her.
After speaking with the victim, police reviewed surveillance footage taken at the casino and identified Falcon as the suspect. She refused a request to speak with officers at police headquarters and was later arrested on a warrant in August.
Falcon was charged with theft with a value of $25K or greater but less than $100K, according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS. If convicted on the charge, she could face a prison sentence, fines, and be ordered to make restitution to the man.
It’s unclear if any of the missing cash was recovered by LVMPD officers.
Falcon is scheduled to appear in local court on December 4.
It’s unclear as to whether the victim and Falcon had sex while the two were in his apartment, nor did the LVMPD say if the night’s events included a “trick roll,” which is a term commonly used to describe when a sex worker steals items of value or cash from a client.
Trick rolls are frequently reported to LVMPD officers and often take place at hotels after a suspected prostitute meets a possible client on a casino floor or at a bar. Often, the sex worker drinks with the customer before they head up to the client’s hotel room or residence.
A check of courtroom documents revealed that Falcon has previously been charged with soliciting, engaging in prostitution, and trespassing. It’s not known if the prior charges are still pending.
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]]>The post Teenager Faces Up to 27 Years in Nevada Prison for Murder at Luxor appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>Clark County Judge Jacqueline Bluth handed down the sentence to Emma Kusak, now 19, in July, Las Vegas TV station KLAS reported on Monday. Kusak must also pay more than $15K to the victim’s family.
Kusak can apply for parole in nine years. She will receive credit for time she spent in jail.
This summer, Kusak pleaded guilty to second-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon under a plea agreement. Originally, Kusak was charged with open murder, robbery, and grand larceny of a motor vehicle.
She fired a gun and wounded Charlie Satrustegui, 36, of Glendale, Calif. twice in the head while the two were in a Luxor hotel room on June 29, 2023.
She then stole his wallet, cell phones, keys, and his car, police said.
Hours after the shooting, she called the police to report the incident. Satrustegui was found dead in the hotel room when police arrived.
Kusak was booked at the Clark County Detention Center on July 26, 2023, the very day she turned 18.
When speaking to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers, Kusak claimed the shooting wasn’t intentional, and said Satrustegui appeared to be planning to attack her during an argument. To defend herself, she picked up his handgun from a table and shot him, according to an arrest report.
I didn’t mean to do it,” Kusak told cops.
The two had been drinking and consumed approximately eight vodka shots the night before the incident. They went to sleep at about 1 a.m. before Satrustegui woke up about two hours later and told Kusak she was coughing excessively.
She went into the bathroom and began to cry. When she returned to the bedroom later that night, the two began to argue.
Eventually, Satrustegui wanted Kusak to leave the hotel room, according to Las Vegas TV station KVVU.
Emma said she didn’t mean to shoot him and didn’t want to shoot him, but she had nowhere to go and didn’t want to go back to jail. Emma said she impulsively shot Charlie,” the LVMPD arrest report stated.
Satrustegui and Kusak first met on a dating app, Bumble, two months before the homicide. The two texted each other until they met at the Luxor where Satrustegui had booked a room.
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]]>The post Nevada Residents Flee From Davis Wildfire, Many Find Housing at Casino Hotels appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>Several properties are offering those impacted by the wildfire discounted rates. The Row in Reno is charging evacuees $59 a night and waiving its resort fees.
J Resort and Grand Sierra Resort are also offering discounts to evacuees. In addition, the Nugget Casino Resort, in Sparks, is charging $100 a night with the special code EVAC24.
Called the Davis Fire, the wildfire started at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Davis Creek Regional Park. Flames scorched much of the park and damaged park buildings.
Driven by continuing winds, the fire spread northeast in Washoe Valley and now involves approximately 4,703 acres. None of it was contained as of Monday with some 600 firefighting personnel in the area.
At least 14 buildings were damaged by the wildfire and there was a “moderate” amount of smoke in the Reno-Sparks region, officials added. The threat of fire also led to the temporary closing of the Sky Tavern Lodge and Mount Rose Ski Tahoe ski resorts.
Also, as of Monday, local schools were shuttered while Mt. Rose Highway and Old US Highway 395 between East Lake Boulevard and Bowers Mansion Interchange, were closed.
NV Energy reported that some 17K customers in the region lost power. As of Monday night, that number was lowered to 3,100 customers, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.
Due to the wildfire, the air quality in northern Washoe Valley, south Reno, and Virginia City was listed as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” Children, the elderly, and those with chronic ailments are particularly at risk.
Washoe County and the Red Cross of Nevada opened an evacuation center with food and shelter at Washoe County Senior Services, 1155 East 9th St., in Reno. Small animals can be taken to the shelter while larger animals and livestock can be taken to the UNR Equestrian Center at 1290 Valley Road in Reno. The Silver Saddle Ranch in Carson City is accepting animals, too.
Authorities have yet to reveal the cause of the wildfire.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo (R), issued a state of emergency in response to the fire.
I implore all residents to follow the directions of local authorities assisting in the evacuations. Our firefighters and emergency management teams are fully engaged and working tirelessly to mitigate this threat and prevent further losses,” Lombardo said in a statement.
“We are praying for the thousands of Americans under mandatory evacuation orders out West,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday in reference to the wildfires in Nevada and elsewhere. “We urge everyone … in the affected areas to remain vigilant and heed the warnings of local officials, especially those who have been ordered to evacuate.”
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]]>The post New York State Casino Evacuated Temporarily After Chemical Smell appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The evacuation began at 1 p.m. Officials found nothing suspicious at the property and was allowed back into the Islandia, NY gaming property at about 2:45 p.m.
Three employees were checked out at a local hospital as a precautionary measure, according to Newsday.
The three employees had taken part in what was described as a “welfare check” of a hotel room when they noticed the strange smell.
Emergency crews were alerted and searched the property. Responding units included Suffolk County police officers, firefighters, and EMS staff.
Nothing hazardous was located, according to News 12 Long Island and there’s no word on what caused the suspicious odor.
Out of an abundance of caution, the hotel and casino were evacuated by local law enforcement,” Michael Bonakdar, general manager of Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel, said in a statement.
“After a brief evacuation, it was determined that there was no threat to the public, and all patrons were able to re-enter the casino.”
One guest, Matthew Morano, 49, of Fire Island, NY told Newsday, he had felt a little dizzy. An EMT crew examined him.
They just wanted to check me out,” Morano said. “They offered me to go to the hospital, but I don’t need to take up a spot. I’m OK.”
At about noon, he had checked out of his seventh-floor hotel room.
He remained in the lobby until 1:30 p.m.
“All the sudden, medics started coming in with stretchers,” Morano recalled. “There was a big scene around here.”
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]]>The post Pastor Arrested at Strat After Weapons, Drugs Found in Hotel Room – Report appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>David McGee, 61, of North Carolina, was arrested on August 20 at the Strat Hotel, Casino & Tower, Las Vegas TV station KLAS reported on Friday.
He reportedly missed an August court date for medical reasons and is scheduled next to appear in court on December 19.
His August 20 arrest led to rumors that the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) responded with counter-terrorism-type force to the hotel.
When asked by LVMPD officers if he had any weapons in the hotel room, he said “Yes, I have a gun in my guitar case,” KLAS reported.?There were other firearms in the hotel room, too, according to KLAS.
The weapons led police to investigate if McGee could be planning some kind of mass shooting, which turned out to be not the case, authorities said.
Since the 2017 deadly mass shooting in Las Vegas, the LVMPD often investigates situations where hotel guests have firearms with them in their rooms.
Last month, he flew into Las Vegas in a private plane to locate his missing daughter, according to KLAS. She’s believed to be homeless and living in a tunnel somewhere in Las Vegas, the report revealed. He’s been in touch with her, KLAS added.
Pray for me as I go get my daughter from the worst [and] scariest place for my daughter in America… the Las Vegas tunnels,” McGee said in a Facebook post last month.
Officers also investigated the presence of fentanyl.
McGee advised [the detective] that he brought the fentanyl from North Carolina on his private jet to Las Vegas and paid approximately $1,000,” according to a LVMPD arrest report. “McGee stated that he was a user of fentanyl and intended to distribute the fentanyl to his daughter when he locates her.”
It’s unclear if he’s been unable to rescue his daughter from Las Vegas tunnels since his arrest.
McGee is a pastor affiliated with North Carolina’s The Bridge Fellowship.
The Bible-based church closed in 2023.
But church programs continue to be offered online and via radio broadcasts.
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]]>The post Carnival Glory Onboard Casino Is Site of $100K Cheating Scam – Report appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>Two dealers, a cashier, and guests participated in the scheme, according to a Friday report from the UK-based Cruise Mummy news outlet.
In total, some $100K was involved in the scam which took place over a couple of years, the report added.?An unnamed casino manager and six unidentified supervisors reportedly were fired.
The involved dealers weren’t identified. But they were described in reports as experienced casino dealers from Peru. Also, they had worked on the cruise ship for two years.
They were assisted in the plot by repeat guests on the ship. The guests and dealers spoke in Spanish while onboard so others didn’t understand what they were saying.
The two dealers were accused of stealing casino chips. The chips then were stuffed in the suspects’ shirts and vests, the report added.
The dealers also allegedly made inaccurate payments for roulette games. Sometimes, cash chips were mixed in with colored chips, and they even added chips, Cruise Mummy reported.
There were other illicit actions involving blackjack games, the report revealed. For instance, the two dealers paid bets to losers, and didn’t collect on bets that should have been forfeited, according to Cruise Mummy.
The apparent wrongdoing was discovered when a supervisor witnessed a losing blackjack player at a table still getting payment, the report revealed. That apparently led to an investigation and authorities reviewed surveillance video captured by ship cameras.
It appears cruise line employees connected to the scam never were charged by police. No word if any of the money ever was recovered.
The allegations were brought to the media’s attention by an anonymous crew member. Word of the scam first was reported by Cruise Law News.
The improprieties aboard the Carnival Glory come as Carnival Cruise Line’s procedures became disorganized given less rigorous training due to the COVID pandemic, the report revealed.
Employee manuals weren’t readily available to ship staff. Also, there was insufficient oversight and not enough checks on casino floor activity.
The 952-foot, 110,000-ton?Carnival Glory began taking passengers in 2003. It recently was refurbished.
Carnival Glory carries up to 2,980 guests. The crew is made up of 1,150 employees.
Casino.org reached out to Carnival Cruise Line for comment. No immediate statement was provided.
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]]>The post Jackpot: Two Players Win $1M on Dragon Link Slot at Wynn — On Same Weekend appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The initial winner played a Dragon Link machine at about 6 p.m. on August 24. That person collected $1,191,881 at the Wynn. Some 18 hours later, another person sat down at another Dragon Link slot at the Wynn on August 25. That player collected $1,005,405.
Both players chose not to release their names. The casino did say that both are regular visitors at the Wynn.
Neither winner revealed how they will spend their newly found fortunes.
This is the second time Wynn Las Vegas has paid out two jackpots totaling more than one million dollars within a 24-hour period, the first time occurring in 2023,” according to a Wynn statement quoted by the Sacramento Bee.
Dragon Link slots are made by Aristocrat Gaming.
A visitor from Michigan won more than $630K on a slot machine at Michigan’s Island Resort & Casino on Thursday.
Deanna Juday of Wautoma, Wis. collected $630,084.36 on an International Game Technology’s Whitney Houston Slots game after making a $3 bet.
Juday claimed she had a hunch she was going to win a jackpot this week, according to a company statement. Some of the money will go to helping others, she added.
With this win, Island Resort & Casino is the first US casino to pay out a top-level, wide-area progressive jackpot on IGT’s Whitney Houston Slots.
Whitney Houston Slots are located in 38 US properties, which share the wide-area progressive.
A local player visited the Rampart Casino in Las Vegas on August 28 and left with a $454K jackpot won on a Monopoly Cash Wheel wide-area progressive machine.
The unnamed visitor was playing the machine for about 10 minutes when she won.
There’s no word on how the money will be spent.
A mystery guest from San Francisco recently won $1,137,093.42 at Nevada’s Grand Lodge Casino at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe.
The lucky player went to the casino on August 22 and bet $10 on the Five Times Pay version of the Wheel of Fortune Gold Spin Deluxe.
The gaming property is located in Incline Village, near Lake Tahoe.
A California woman named Ginger T. hit a $255,422 jackpot at a Mesquite, Nev. gaming property last month.
She was playing a Wheel of Fortune slot machine on August 19 at the Casablanca Resort, Casino, Golf & Spa and hit a gold spin jackpot.
Justin Moore, CEO of Mesquite Gaming, recalled in a statement that “everyone in the casino could feel her excitement when she realized how much she’d won.”
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]]>The post Casino Crime Roundup: Battery Explosion Forces Evacuation of Kansas Casino appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The 10 p.m. incident began at the Mulvane, Kan. gaming property when a lithium battery in a radio malfunctioned, according to Kansas TV station KWCH.
The explosion led to smoke, which was noticed by a casino security guard who alerted Mulvane Fire Rescue.
The sprinkler drenched the fire and pretty much put it out,” Mulvane Fire Rescue Deputy Fire Chief Lowell Ester told KWCH.
The radio was located on a chair in an office and contained “Enough combustibles in it that it got hot fast enough that it kicked the sprinkler head [on],” Ester explained.
The incident caused water damage to the casino offices, but no injuries were reported.
The casino is owned and managed by Boyd Gaming.
A U-Haul rental truck was driven into a wall at Arizona’s Vee Quiva Casino following a Thursday night police chase.
Police apprehended the two occupants of the truck after they jumped out and began to run.
The incident began on US Route 60 in Mesa, Ariz. after authorities spotted a woman who was wanted by police for a pending arrest warrant. Officers tried to stop the vehicle but it sped away before it came to rest after crashing into the casino building.
The names of the suspects weren’t immediately available. Their charges weren’t released by police on Thursday night.
The woman had been incarcerated before the incident.
The Vee Quiva Casino is located on the Gila River Indian Reservation.
A man was arrested earlier this month after he allegedly pulled out a knife and ran after a woman at a Montana casino.
Tyler Little Dog, 28, was charged with assault with a weapon after he chased his estranged girlfriend at the unnamed Missoula, Mont. gaming property, police said.
Police seized a large knife from the suspect after arresting Little Dog.
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]]>The post Fontainebleau Las Vegas Guest Used Crude Flamethrower to Activate Hotel Sprinkler appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The suspect, Gavin Hamilton, 26, was quickly apprehended. He was booked on Monday for assault with a deadly weapon, arson, and drug possession charges, according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS.
The puzzling incident began when Hamilton and hotel maintenance workers confronted each other in a hotel stairway. When one of the workers came closer to Hamilton, he allegedly activated the sprinkler system with the flamethrower.
He lit an unspecified liquid substance and aimed it via a three-foot-long hose toward the workers, authorities said. He had carried the device in his backpack.
After his arrest, Hamilton told police the flamethrower was constructed out of bongs and a methamphetamine (meth) pipe, as well as butane.
It appears that no one was injured during the incident.
Hamilton claimed to have been trying to escape from two people who he said were in the stairwell, police said. There’s been no word about whether police confirmed the presence of other people, or why they might have been after Hamilton.
When speaking to LVMPD officers, Hamilton claimed he activated the sprinkler system because he wanted to open a locked stairwell door. The door failed to unlock with his actions, authorities added. It’s unclear why he needed to exit the stairwell.
KLAS reported that LVMPD officers responded with a “counterterrorism”-type response but didn’t reveal how many police units responded to the incident or if responding officers included anti-terrorism units or a SWAT team.
Hamilton allegedly failed to show up to local court in connection with another matter earlier this week and remains in the Clark County Detention Center as of Wednesday.
Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Amy Ferriera set Hamilton’s bail at $34K. If he’s convicted on the charges, he could face a prison sentence.
The Fontainebleau Las Vegas is located on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip. Hamilton was a registered guest at the hotel.
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]]>The post Casino Crime Roundup: Off-Strip Shooting Leaves One Man Dead appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The couple was in the vehicle when an assailant fired several shots into the car’s passenger-side window. The unnamed man passed away at the crime scene, which was identified as a location on East Sahara Avenue.
The victims were located by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers at about 1:40 a.m. Tuesday. The woman, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, was transported to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
As of late Tuesday, LVMPD homicide officers were still searching for the suspect, but have yet to release a description of the shooter or a motive for the shooting.
The deceased man will likely undergo an autopsy by the Clark County coroner’s office, which will identify the cause and manner of death and confirm the victim’s identity.
A couple was arrested last week after they left a baby alone in a Bally’s Atlantic City hotel room, authorities said.
Jequan Campbell and Teeah McCall, both of North Carolina, were charged with endangering the welfare of a child after a housekeeper discovered the baby in a crib on Friday night. No one else was in the room at the time, police said.
The housekeeper went to the room to drop off some items at about 9 p.m. When no one answered the door, she entered the room and discovered the child asleep in a crib. The housekeeper alerted hotel security who contacted Atlantic City police officers.
The adults were in the gaming property’s casino when the child was discovered, according to Atlantic City radio station WPG.
The incident was reported to the New Jersey Department of Child Protection & Permanency.
Campbell, 33, also was carrying a gun at the time he was apprehended, and was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of hollow-point ammunition, according to BreakingAC.com.
He was booked at the Atlantic County Justice Facility. McCall was released from custody on a summons to appear in local court.
A person drove their SUV into a southside entrance of Michigan’s Gun Lake Casino early Wednesday.
The occupant of the vehicle may have been injured in the crash, which occurred at about 3 a.m., according to Michigan TV station WOOD.
The Wayland, Mich. casino’s south parking lot was closed as of early Wednesday. Local police have yet to release details on the crash.
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]]>The post Casino Crime Round Up: Victim Shot Outside of Detroit’s Greektown Casino appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The gunfire broke out after an argument escalated into armed violence, according to Detroit radio station WWJ.
Local cops were notified at about 2:20 a.m. The unnamed 40-year-old victim was discovered near Saint Antoine and Monroe Street in Detroit.
He was transported to a nearby hospital. He was treated and later released from the hospital.
The suspect was wearing a black, white, and green jacket, a white t-shirt, black pants, and black and white gym shoes, according to the news report.
A pedestrian recently was walking from Harrah’s Joliet Hotel & Casino when a suspect pulled out a gun and robbed him.
The victim initially struggled with his assailant. But Domonique Jamar Lee Loggins, 34, of Joliet, Ill., and other then other suspects grabbed the man’s iPhone, backpack, and $1.5K in cash before fleeing.
The victim ran after the robbers and attempted to subdue them. But they were able to escape.?Police located the victim near the corner of Jefferson Street and Bluff Street in Joliet.
Soon, Loggins was apprehended on charges of aggravated robbery, theft, and battery, according to online jail records. He was booked on August 25 in the Will County Adult Detention Facility where he remained as of Sunday.
Between May and September 2023, was incarcerated in the Will County Adult Detention Facility for an unrelated arrest for unlawful use of a weapon, Patch reported. That case has yet to go to trial.
A man pled guilty last week in connection with a Mississippi casino death.
Jimaurice Pierce changed his prior plea to guilty on a conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire charge.
The 2022 incidents took place at the Scarlet Pearl Casino in D’Iberville, Miss., as well as at two nightclubs, according to AL.com, a regional news site.
The casino shooting led to the death of Nicholaus “Nick” Craig, of California, who was in a car when he was wounded in the gaming property’s parking lot.
He stopped at the casino with his girlfriend on the way to visit his family in Mobile, Ala. to celebrate his birthday.
In total, six suspects have been charged with four different shootings. Two victims died and six others were injured. In addition to the casino and nightclub violence, another incident took place at a Walmart in Mobile, AL.com reported.
A man was arrested last week in connection with having someone else collecting the suspect’s winnings at an Iowa casino.
On Dec. 17, Marcus Hill, 51, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, won an unspecified payout from a slot at Wild Rose Casino in Jefferson.
Another person in the casino collected the jackpot and filled out federal forms, authorities said.
It turned out Hill owed $12,207 to the state of Iowa. He was charged with gambling-avoid setoff and third-degree fraudulent practices.
Hill was booked in the Greene County Jail on August 26, according to Raccoon Valley Radio.
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]]>The post Pro Poker Player Faces Up To 15 Years in Prison After Admitting Wrongdoing — Report appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>He faces as much as 15 years behind bars for money laundering and operating an illegal gambling business, according to the Nevada Current. He also could be forced to pay up to $500K in fines when he’s eventually sentenced.
Prosecutors claim he gambled $148M between January 2022 and December 15, 2023 at an unspecified Las Vegas casino.
LeForbes lost about $12.3M in close to 50 visits to Resorts World, the Current?reported.
But authorities didn’t say if the $148M gaming total was at Resorts World or another gaming property.
LeForbes also reportedly presented a bad check for $2.5M to Resorts World, according to the?Current.
In addition, LeForbes used hosts at the unnamed casino to find him customers, Las Vegas TV station KSNV reported. He also was paid in casino chips from gamblers, the report added.
LeForbes additionally operated an illegal sportsbook for at least five years in California, according to KSNV.
Last month, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) revealed it wants to financially penalize Resorts World Las Vegas after the casino allegedly let illegal bookmakers gamble without saying from where the money came.
Among those named in the NGCB filing was California bookie Mathew Bowyer, 49. In August, he pled guilty to operating an illegal gambling business, money laundering, and subscribing to a false tax return.
He reportedly “transferred or directed the transfer” of at least $9.3M to Resorts World Las Vegas, according to ESPN.
Among Bowyer’s customers were pro athletes, and Ippei Mizuhara, the man who translated for MLB Los Angeles Dodgers star player Shohei Ohtani. Mizuhara stole some $17M from Ohtani to pay off massive gambling debts. Ohtani is seen as a victim.
Also, the NGCB filing named Edwin Ting and Chad Iwamoto. They both were convicted of illicit gambling. Ting is “known to have ties to organized crime,” the NGCB statement revealed.
Federal prosecutors haven’t charged Resorts World Las Vegas, the Current reported. A casino spokesperson has said the gaming property is cooperating with authorities.
MGM Resorts is paying $7.5M for violations at both MGM Grand and The Cosmopolitan, according to the?Current. Each signed a non-prosecution agreement with federal authorities, the Current revealed.
LeForbes also owes $1M to The Venetian, the Current has reported.
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]]>The post Jake’s 58 Casino Accused Shooter Charged in New York State appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>Nashawn Legros, 24, of Wyandanch, N.Y., was indicted for second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, unauthorized use of a vehicle, as well as two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, according to prosecutors.
Legros’ bail was set at $1M by New York State Judge Richard Ambro during the court appearance.?Legros remains behind bars and is to next appear in court on Friday.
The May 31 incident began when Legros was in a car parked at the Islandia, N.Y. gaming property. He spotted the intended victim walking toward the casino entrance.
Legos got out of the car and approached the man while he was still in the lot. Legos pulled out a gun and shot him in the chest and stomach at close range, authorities said.
The victim made it inside of the casino before collapsing and received emergency care from casino staff and civilians before being transported to the hospital for emergency surgery,” prosecutors revealed in a statement.
Following the gunshots, Legros got back into the vehicle and drove away from the casino. He later ditched the car in a nearby Long Island town.
Legos was identified by police and arrested in Riverhead, N.Y. on Thursday.
The victim wasn’t identified by police, but was described as a 38-year-old Wyandanch resident.
This defendant’s alleged crimes not only threatened the victim’s life, but also the lives of everyone else in the casino parking lot at the time. That is unacceptable,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said in last week’s statement.
Authorities have yet to detail a motive in the shooting. No one else was injured.
Islandia is a village located about 50 miles east of New York City.
The violent incident led casino officials to undertake a review of their safety procedures.
“We’re going to revamp and refresh everything we have, do new training for our workers and work more closely with the Suffolk County Police Department who … did a great job,” Phil Boyle, president and CEO of Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting, told News 12 Long Island earlier this year.
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]]>The post Reno Casino Suicide Under Investigation, Follows California Homicide appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The victim was discovered in recent days at the casino. He also was linked by police to the prior killing of a woman in a Yuba City, Calif. apartment.
The woman, identified as Catalina Aceves of Live Oak, 38, was found dead on August 25.?Local police located Aceves during a welfare check following a request from Reno police officers, who investigated the man’s death.
The man was identified but police were withholding his name until family members were notified.
Our initial investigations suggest that this is a murder-suicide,” the Yuba City Police Department said in a statement released last week. The case remains under investigation, according to California TV station KCRA.
“The relationship between the two people and the circumstances leading up to the event are currently under investigation,” Yuba City police were additionally quoted by California’s Appeal-Democrat news outlet.
Officers are “actively working to gather more details,” Yuba City officers added in the statement.
No one else was involved in the deadly incident, according to the Sacramento Bee. There is no threat to the wider public, officers added.
It appears both the woman and man underwent autopsies. Details hadn’t been released as of this week.
No official word on Aceves’ cause and manner of death.
Reno is located about 133 miles east of Live Oak.
A GoFundMe page was set up recently by Aceves’ family.
“Cathy was a cherished mother, daughter, sister, aunt and best friend,” Aceves was eulogized on the site. “She was a happy, soulful, and spiritual woman who was a guiding light to everyone that had the pleasure of having her in their life.”
As of Saturday, the online fundraiser raised $19,750. The initial goal was $5K.
“This [fundraising] page has been created to raise money for the funeral services, as well as any extra going to her son, Isaac,” the site added. “She was taken from us far too soon at only 38 years old.”
Nationally, a 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, provides round the clock free and confidential support for people in distress. It offers prevention and crisis resources for individuals and health care professionals. It’s made up of a national network of local crisis centers.
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]]>The post LVMPD Sergeant Arrested for Las Vegas Strip Abusive Arrests – Report appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>LVMPD Sgt. Kevin Menon, 42, was booked on several counts and placed in the Clark County Detention Center.
Based on online jail records, he may have been released as of Saturday.
Initial bail was set at $27K, according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS. He was scheduled to appear in local court on Saturday.
It appears Menon’s arrest is linked to a larger inquiry where officers collided into individuals who were visiting Las Vegas, KLAS reported.
That led to a struggle and the tourists then getting arrested, unnamed sources told KLAS.
Menon reportedly was put on leave in May from the LVMPD and his police powers were suspended after the allegations came to light. He’s still receiving his salary.
He’s been an LVMPD officer for 10 years. Menon was working as part of the Tourist Safety Division, Convention Center Area Command. That command patrols the Las Vegas Strip.
He was arrested on several charges. One of the charges against him is a single count of battery on a protected person.
He’s also charged with a single count of oppression under color of office with force, as well as eight counts of oppression under color of office, according to Las Vegas TV station KSNV.
Often, that count is charged if authorities allege an officer unlawfully and maliciously, and under pretense or color of official authority, arrests or detains a person against the person’s will. Also, when the officer injures the person, property, or rights of another person, or commits oppression, according to online sources.
Menon was also charged with two counts of subornation of perjury, according to the report. Subornation of perjury is often charged when someone induces another person to lie under oath, according to online sources.
If convicted, Menon could face a prison sentence. He’s yet to enter a plea on the charges.
The LVMPD investigation into the allegations is continuing, according to news reports. No word if other arrests are possible. Nor is it clear how many were victimized in the scheme.
So far, authorities haven’t revealed why the officer or officers participated in the alleged activities.
Upon getting sworn in as a police officer in 2014 after training, Menon was quoted by KLAS, “It’s taught me more than I could ever imagine.”
I feel ecstatic or electrified right now,” he added in the earlier statement. “It’s absolutely unbelievable.”
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]]>The post Two Dozen Union Members Arrested at Virgin Las Vegas During Labor Protest appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The picketing began on Harmon Avenue before demonstrators sat down in the hotel’s porte-cochere, an entrance which is used by vehicles.
The demonstration was organized by the Culinary Union as it attempts to reach a contract with the Las Vegas hotel.
In a statement, the Culinary Union described the demonstration as “an act of nonviolent civil disobedience.”
The union represents some 700 hospitality workers employed by the Virgin Las Vegas. They are seeking a five-year contract. The last contract expired in June 2023.
Among those taking part in the picketing were Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge and President Diana Valles.
We took negotiations to the streets this evening to send a clear message to Virgin Las Vegas that it’s time to do … right by their workers,” Pappageorge said in a statement.
“The last main table negotiations with the company took place in early July, but unfortunately the company continues to stand by its proposal of $0 in raises for the first three years” of a five-year contract.
“The company hasn’t offered more than zero in wage increases for the first three years of the contract since the first day of negotiations and it’s disappointing that we haven’t seen real movement,” he added. Management’s proposal and treatment of workers is “unacceptable,” Pappageorge said.
“I picketed outside Virgin Las Vegas because I feel like they aren’t serious about making things right with us,” Pamela Holmes, an usher at Virgin Las Vegas, said in a statement. “It feels wonderful to see all the union members come out and support us this evening on the picket line and be in solidarity with us. I know that all the union workers in this city have our back and we won’t give up fighting until we win the best contract ever.”
Isabel Gonzalez, a guest room attendant at Virgin Las Vegas echoed that sentiment, saying “I want to send a message to Virgin Las Vegas that we are here, we are union, we are gonna stay union, and we want a contract now. Everyone else on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas has a new contract and fair raises. Why won’t the company do what’s right by us?”
In May, the Culinary and Bartenders Unions organized a two-day strike against Virgin Las Vegas, which is owned by JC Hospitality, LLC. It was the first Culinary Union strike in 22 years.
The hotel released a statement to Casino.org on Thursday.
“Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is disappointed by the Culinary Workers Union 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 plan to picket our property this afternoon. We have made every effort to negotiate in good faith and prioritize the well-being of our team members.? At the end of our last negotiating session on July 11,?we informed the Union that we were willing to meet again as soon as the Union was ready to do?so.?Since?then,?the Union has not contacted us with any potential meeting dates.? It is disappointing to us and all of our stakeholders that the Union is spending time trying to gain leverage through the media rather than working cooperatively and constructively to bring these negotiations to a mutually satisfactory conclusion.? Our operations will be unaffected by the picket,?and we remain committed to providing exceptional service.”
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]]>The post Teens Set Off Fire Extinguisher, Steal Chips at MGM National Harbor appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The young bandits got hold of a fire extinguisher and sprayed the gaming floor at about 2:45 p.m. Saturday. They then grabbed gaming chips before trying to escape from the gaming property.
A short time later, two 16-year-old and one 18-year-old male were apprehended in connection with the crime, according to the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).
All are being charged as adults, DC News Now reported. If convicted, they could be incarcerated in adult prison.
None of the three suspects were identified in local news reports. Other suspects also took part in the robbery but they haven’t been identified or captured as of early this week.
No one was injured in the incident and it’s unclear how much the stolen chips are worth. It’s also not known if the chips were recovered by police officers or casino security guards.
Saturday’s incident infuriated casino visitors who reside in other states.
I think it’s just shocking and it’s shameful where our society is going with kids. [They] think they can do whatever they want and feel no accountability and it seems to be getting worse,” Steve Shafer of Alabama was quoted by DC News Now.
“It’s disappointing and shocking,” Laura Yates of Texas added. “I can’t believe they were so brave to walk in there and do something like that with no regard for anyone’s safety.”
Following the incident, the PGPD announced it’s offering a $2,500 reward for information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the suspects.
In December, MGM National Harbor’s gaming floor was the scene of a similar theft. Seven suspects made their way into the casino and swiped casino chips from a gaming table.
Two suspects were apprehended. Five others avoided capture at the time of the holdup.
Some of the casino security guards suffered minor injuries in an apparent scuffle with the suspects, according to Washington DC TV station WTTG.
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]]>The post Atlantic City Hotel Murderer Faces 21+ Years Behind Bars appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>Andrew J. Osborne, 35, of Philadelphia, will be forced to live behind bars for 21 years before he can be considered for parole, prosecutors said.
He must serve 85% of his sentence under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act before he can appeal to the parole board for release, prosecutors said.?
The sentence was handed down last Thursday by New Jersey Judge Bernard E. DeLury, Jr.
The incident began when Osborne stabbed Brian Wilkinson, 47, of Egg Harbor Township, NJ. The two were in Wilkinson’s guest room at the Ocean Casino Resort.
Wilkinson was wounded in the head and neck and his naked body was found on the floor of the hotel room hours after he was stabbed. A T-shirt and underwear were found near the body, according to BreakingAC.com.
Local news reports never revealed a motive for the deadly attack.
Hotel surveillance video showed Osborne, who was wearing some of the victim’s clothes, in an Ocean Casino elevator after the stabbing occurred. After the killing, Osborne and his wife got into a silver Hyundai Accent hatchback and returned to Philadelphia.
Osborne was apprehended three days after the Sept. 23, 2022 attack, and charged with first-degree murder and third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Earlier this year, he was convicted of aggravated manslaughter after he admitted stabbing Wilkinson to death inside the hotel room. The Ocean Casino Resort hotel has 1,860 guest rooms in a 20-acre complex situated along the Atlantic City boardwalk.
A former professional MMA fighter, Osborne retired from the ring in 2017 with a record of 7-11-1 over several years of fighting.
Wilkinson was a bookkeeper and previously worked for a construction company, according to NJ.com.
An obituary released by the family on the site said “Brian’s death was very tragic and sudden and will be sadly missed by everyone that knew him.”
One acquaintance, Heather L., shared that sentiment, posting “Condolences to Brian’s family and friends. I went to school with Brian and he was truly a good person. He will be missed by many.”
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]]>The post Las Vegas Attempted Murder Lands Female Bartender in Jail appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>Johanna Davila, 50, was charged with attempted murder and conspiring to commit murder following a July 12 shooting scheme, according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS.
She remained in custody this week. Her bail was set at $35K and she’s scheduled to appear in local court on Sept. 4.
The victim was identified as the owner of the nightclub located on?East Lake Mead Boulevard in the Sunrise Manor neighborhood. He was attempting to acquire Davila’s share of the club and the two were supposed to have a business meeting on July 13 about the acquisition, authorities said.
But hours before the meeting, the unnamed victim was traveling to his residence after working at the nightclub.
He noticed that a van was behind his vehicle as he drove in the Sunrise Manor neighborhood.
When he reached the corner of ?North Linn Lane and East Owens Avenue, bullets were shot in his direction. Five bullets struck his car.
None of them struck his body and he escaped suffering any injuries.
The incident was reported to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD). Officers searched the area and later found video from surveillance cameras.
While watching the video, officers saw a car which was registered to Davila. It was spotted near the crime scene.
Davila and a second suspect were questioned by police. Davila was searched and officers found a gun in her purse. Bullets were inspected. They were similar to those found at the shooting scene, police said.
It was also revealed that she allegedly followed the victim for almost five hours waiting for the right time to shoot at him, police added.
At first, Davila told police she was at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, when the victim’s car was struck by bullets.
Her story later changed and she told police she was in the area of the shooting. But she said she wasn’t connected to the shooting. Later, police found sufficient evidence to charge her.
She now faces the two counts. If convicted of the crimes, she faces imprisonment.
As of Thursday, the second suspect, an unnamed man, wasn’t charged. He denied involvement in the shooting. But LVMPD officers believe the man conspired with Davila in the shooting, KLAS reported.
No word on the extent of damage to the victim’s car.
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]]>The post Casino Crime Round Up: Renaissance Hotel Roof Catches on Fire in Las Vegas appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The fire started near the building’s roof and the two floors below were evacuated temporarily.
Clark County Fire Department (CCFD) crews and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers arrived at the property at about 7:50 p.m.
Smoke and a small debris fire on the roof was quickly extinguished, fire officials said.
No flames made their way into the building. No one was injured.
Fire officials didn’t release a damage estimate to repair the building.
The cause of the fire was still under the investigation on Friday, according to Las Vegas TV station KVVU.
Hotel check-in was interrupted. By 9 p.m. check-in resumed. But the check-in process was delayed into the evening hours.
Numerous CCFD crews responded to the hotel. Twelve engines, four truck companies, four battalion chiefs, three rescue units, three support units, and two investigators went to the fire scene. Las Vegas Fire and Rescue crews also responded.
The Renaissance Hotel is located near Paradise and Desert Inn roads. The Las Vegas Convention Center is nearby.
Temporary restraining orders forced the closure of five illegal gambling properties in Selma, Alabama, officials announced this week. A total of six gaming sites also were searched.
The five closed locations were identified as:
1391 E. Highland Ave., Suite 114
113 Dallas Ave.
1824 Highway 14E
1 Hickory Road
2584 Highway 80W
These facilities are operating with complete disregard to Alabama law,” Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement.
The investigation into the operations was undertaken by the office of Dallas County Sheriff Michael Granthum.
“I applaud Dallas County Sheriff Granthum’s dedication to combat this blight, and willingness to invite our team to assist in addressing these criminal enterprises,” Marshall added.
The law is clear. Gambling is illegal in Alabama and the Attorney General’s Office will continue to enforce the laws of this state.”
Also taking part in the investigation was the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office.
Each of the five locations also was searched by officers. So too was a sixth location, 2535 Lewis Street.
The search warrants for the six sites were approved by a local judge after evidence was presented to the court.
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]]>The post Numerous Eight-Liner Machines Shut Down After Texas Raids, $17K Seized appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The owners and managers of the businesses haven’t been charged, DeSoto police said in a statement, but they are under investigation for a misdemeanor charge of keeping a gambling place, police added.
The four businesses are located within about one mile of one another, according to Texas TV station WFAA.
They are identified as:
The searches came about after police collected evidence on operations at each of the businesses. The evidence was reviewed by a local judge who approved search warrants.
The investigation into suspected gambling will continue in other DeSoto locations.
This is just the first wave of warrant searches conducted against area establishments suspected of illegal gaming, and violators should know that we are monitoring other reports of alleged illegal activity and will be coming for them next,” DeSoto Police Chief Joe Costa said in the statement. “This type of activity hurts our community and our residents, and will not be tolerated,” he added.
DeSoto’s Fire and Development Services departments will also inspect each of the businesses to ensure they meet fire regulations, certificate of occupancy rules, and building permit codes, the police department revealed.
Eight-liners resemble slot machines. Depending on the type, a player “wins” if a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal row of objects line up.
Texas courts, state legislators, and local officials recently have attempted to clarify if eight-liners are legal in the state.
Over the years, Texas courts have had to determine if certain prizes being given out on these machines are legal,” according to a Texas government website.
State officials have noted there is a “fuzzy animal” exception, which permits limited use of eight-liner machines.
The loophole is traced to a 1993 Texas Supreme Court ruling. Amusement games that award low-value prizes or tickets may be considered legal under that court decision.
Players can use the machines for entertainment purposes but no prize can be given out that has a value of more than $5. To get around the law, some businesses will give winners groceries or a form of debit card for a retail store.
Recently, eight-liners are increasingly found in many Texas communities, especially in South Texas.
On a related front, Texas may soon once again consider if a limited number of destination casino resorts will be allowed in the state.
Prior attempts to approve casino legislation have died in the state legislature.
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]]>The post Oregon Man Stabbed 15 Times After Winning $2K, Suspected Robber Charged appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The resident had collected about $2,000 while playing lottery machines at Montana’s Bar in Portland shortly before the violent assault, according to Oregon TV station KATU.
He appeared to have met the would-be suspect, Pablo Andres Figueroa, 61, while at the bar.
After scooping up the loot, the victim walked to his residence located in an apartment building. He was unaware that Figueroa was tailing him the whole way back. When Figueroa reached the building, he made his way through a security gate.
As the victim entered his apartment, Figueroa pushed the door and threw him to the floor, authorities said. Figueroa then allegedly began punching the victim in the face and ordered the victim to hand over the cash.
The victim turned over some of the money, but Figueroa wanted more of it.
Frustrated, Figueroa then took out what was described as a pocketknife and slashed the victim in the arms, chest, and face. The repeated stabbings halted when the victim pretended he was dead, apparently remaining motionless on the floor.
Local police were alerted and began to search for the suspect. Figueroa was eventually found in the building’s garbage room. Officers searched him and found $624. They also discovered blood on his pants and pocketknife in a litter box near the victim’s front door.
Figueroa was charged with attempted murder, robbery, assault burglary, and unlawful use of a weapon. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in a court appearance on Monday.
He’s scheduled to return to court on Tuesday. If convicted on the charges, he could face a prison sentence.
Police did a records check on Figueroa and found out that he was convicted in Arkansas and California for various charges, such as battering a spouse, threatening a crime with intent to terrorize, and failing to comply with sex offender reporting requirements.
A 2022 case is also pending in Oregon’s Multnomah County for unauthorized use of a vehicle and possession of a stolen vehicle. He was also arrested in Oregon’s Washington County in 2021 for identity theft and drug charges.
Last Friday, he failed to show up for a court appearance.
The victim is expected to recover from his injuries. Police didn’t provide details on the extent of his wounds.
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]]>The post BetMGM Winner Hits $6.4M Jackpot, Sets US Online Record appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>“It is the largest jackpot in the history of the legalized online casino industry in the United States,” BetMGM,?the iGaming and online sportsbook platform of MGM Resorts International, said in a statement on Tuesday.
The mystery player won “The Big One” jackpot while trying their luck on the Fruit Blaster game.?
Fruit Blaster is a five-reel slot game where winners get various symbols such as oranges, cherries, lemons, and plums.
There’s no word how the winner will spend their newly won millions. Some of the cash, no doubt, will be used to pay taxes on the winnings, but the rest will surely make life easier for the charmed person. The winner couldn’t be reached for comment.
“BetMGM and one lucky player made iGaming history,” Adam Greenblatt, CEO of BetMGM, said in Tuesday’s announcement.
“It’s been a summer filled with anticipation watching the progressive jackpot grow quickly to record levels,” Greenblatt added.
The amount in the progressive jackpot reached $4M in February. That was a record for the company.
The amount continued to increase over the following months.
“BetMGM congratulates the winner on this historic jackpot,” Angus Nisbet, vice president of gaming at BetMGM, commented on the payout.
“It’s these — you never know when moments — that make progressive jackpots especially thrilling,” he added in the statement. “In addition to the jackpot, we hope the player enjoys their trip to an MGM Resort in the near future.”
Players can compete for the progressive jackpot by playing online in New Jersey on BetMGM, Borgata, Wheel of Fortune Casino, and Party Casino.
The Big One progressive jackpot on BetMGM in New Jersey was reset after this week’s payout. It was at $1.2M as of Tuesday.
Last year, BetMGM Casino platforms paid out $138M. That represents a 32% jump when compared to jackpots paid in 2022.
Money won by BetMGM Casino players on Entain’s games, such as Bison Fury and MGM Grand Million Megaways, were more than half of the total paid out in 2023.
BetMGM’s online casino games are available to players in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The platform’s online sportsbook is operational in 22 states plus Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.
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]]>The post Venetian, Palazzo Hospitality Workers Announce First Tentative Contract appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>Members of the Culinary Union applauded and cheered Tuesday morning with the announcement of the tentative agreement, which covers more than 4,000 hospitality workers. Union members will soon hold a ratification vote on the proposed contract.
Details on the agreement have yet to be released.
On Tuesday, Maureen Kimbro, a Culinary Union member and housekeeper at the Venetian/Palazzo, said in a video interview released by the union, “I am so ecstatic.”
I am very excited,” she added. “How things change if we actually voice our concerns and have a group of people that back us up. It makes a lot of difference.”
Kimbro has worked at the hotel for almost eight years.
“We made it happen guys,” she added. “We got it. First-time contract for Venetian.”
“We’re the last one on the Strip and we made it happen,” Kimbro said.
Over the past several months, Culinary Union negotiations have led to many contracts at independent properties and those properties owned by large companies.
In November, Culinary Union members successfully negotiated with Wynn Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, and MGM Resorts International, averting a threatened strike.
Workers at these properties were given a 10% wage increase in the first year of the agreements. They also got 32% in raises over the life of the deals. There were other gains for union members, too.
When announcing last year’s new contracts, Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge said “the average Culinary Union member earns about $28 an hour (including their benefits) under the previous contract, and by the end of this new five-year contract, the average Culinary Union member will be earning about $37 an hour (including their benefits).”
It’s not immediately clear if the workers at The Venetian/Palazzo achieved similar salary increases.
When reached for comment, The Venetian and The Palazzo released a statement that said in part, “We look forward to ratification of the agreement and to a positive and productive relationship working alongside both The Joint Executive Board and our Team Members.”
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 are Nevada affiliates of the national Unite Here union and represent 60K workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of the casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. Members include bartenders, bellmen, cocktail and food servers, cooks, guest room attendants, kitchen workers, and porters.
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]]>The post MMA Fighters Brawl on Seminole Hard Rock Gaming Floor — Video appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The unscheduled bout took place shortly after the two watched Friday’s Professional Fighters League (PFL) match in the casino’s Hard Rock Live arena.
Vettori, 30, of Italy, initially attempted to punch UFC light heavyweight Tuco Tokkos, according to a report from MMA Mania. Allen, 28, of South Carolina, and Vettori then got into a struggle and repeatedly threw punches, including a few blows to each other’s face.
At one point, Vettori appears to have fallen onto a roulette table, according to news reports.
The violent outburst attracted a large crowd of onlookers, many of whom recorded the exchange on their cell phone cameras.
Neither of the fighters suffered significant injuries, according to news reports, and no arrests were made.
Here’s one summary of the night’s incident.
Vettori tried to swing at Tuco Tokkos and missed. Michael Johnson then moved everyone out of the way and then Brendan Allen stepped in and hit Vettori with a 1-2, which made him fall into a roulette table,” MMA Mania reported.
The fight later was commented on by Las Vegas-based UFC CEO Dana White, who said on X, it “had to be [the] fight of the night if it was at PFL.”
Later on Friday night, Vettori said in a social media post, “One armed Vettori is unbeaten. Ain’t never missing s**t.”
“Basically he gets popped right on the spot then hide behind his guys get popped again in the chaos then 10 people in between and I think its over they let him he rushes me get caught again in the end All of this one armed Proper sucker,” Vettori added.
Allen and Vettori had been scheduled to fight at April’s UFC 240 before Vettori suffered an injury and had to cancel, MMA Junkie reported.
Instead of fighting Vettori, Allen fought Chris Curtis. Allen won by a split decision.
Vettori decided to lambast him in a social media post.
“Allen wtf u calling for the title man you look like dog s**t got rocked every single round and prayed you were getting the takedown just to hang in there. That s**t was embarrassing.”
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]]>The post Casino Crime Roundup: New Details Revealed About $352K Theft at Grand River Casino appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>Roberto Carlos Gonzales Miranda and Roberto Orellana recently were indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit theft from a gaming establishment on Indian Lands, and transportation of stolen money, according to South Dakota TV station KELO.
The pair undertook a scheme at the Grand River Casino located in Mobridge, SD, in February.
The plot began when a woman telephoned a manager of the casino’s cashiers’ cage.
A man then got on the phone and said he was a collections contractor for the United States Postal Service. He claimed the casino owed $700K and that if the money wasn’t paid immediately, there would be more fees or fines owed, the report said.
Meanwhile, a third suspect claiming to be the manager’s supervisor sent the manager a text message ordering him to “empty the vault and deposit the cash at a Bitcoin ATM in Aberdeen, South Dakota,” according to KELO.
The casino employee scooped up $352K from the vault and got into a vehicle with the money. The person then drove to Aberdeen where he was instructed to deliver the money to two individuals in a gas station parking lot.
The casino is owned and operated by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
A man was arrested in Tulsa, Okla. following Friday’s holdup of a man who, hours earlier, won money at a gaming property.
The suspect, Terry Brown, was charged with armed robbery with a firearm after being a convicted felon.
The incident began when Brown allegedly pulled out a firearm and robbed the victim. He stole an undisclosed amount of cash won at the unnamed gaming property, as well as car keys and a phone, according to Tulsa TV station KTUL.
The holdup took place at about 6 p.m. Friday at a residence located near 44th Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.
A second suspect accompanied Brown when he robbed the victim, police said. He’s still believed to be at large.
The two suspects were videotaped by a security camera, the report said.
The victim’s sister-in-law reported the robbery to the Tulsa Police Department (TPD) and gave police a description of the getaway vehicle and the suspects.
A short time later, a vehicle matching the description was spotted by a TPD helicopter and stopped by officers on North Quaker Avenue. Terry Brown, an occupant in the vehicle, matched a description given of the robbery suspect, police said.
Brown was booked for the crime and his case was turned over to local prosecutors.
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]]>The post Casino Crime Roundup: Jamaica Casino Robbery appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The crime unfolded at about 10 a.m. Friday, when the solitary bandit approached the helpless victim and pulled out a firearm before ordering the woman into a nearby office.
He then stole (Jamaica) $2,060,000 and a smartphone from her, according to a report from The Gleaner, a local news outlet.
The suspect then fled and remained on the lam over the weekend. There’s been no word on if the victim was injured during the robbery.
The unnamed casino is located on Young Street in Spanish Town, in St. Catherine parish.
The St. Catherine North police department is leading the investigation.
If he’s caught, charged, put on trial, and convicted, the suspect faces a prison sentence for the robbery.
A drunken man was arrested at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh on Friday after allegedly assaulting both a state trooper and someone else during a brawl, Pennsylvania authorities said.
Christopher Okeefe, 39, of Moon Township, Pa., was charged with aggravated assault, making terroristic threats, evading arrest or detention on foot, resisting arrest, two disorderly conduct counts, and public drunkenness.
The incident began at about 9 p.m. when Okeefe got into a fight on the casino’s gaming floor. He allegedly struck someone with his belt during the ruckus, according to Pennsylvania TV station WPXI.
Pennsylvania state troopers assigned to the casino then attempted to apprehend him, but he was able to flee into the casino’s parking garage. Troopers spotted Okeefe a short time later before eventually apprehending him. On his way to Allegheny County Jail, he allegedly assaulted a state trooper.
Sometime during the violent episode, Okeefe also made threats that were overheard by state troopers.
After arriving at the jail, Okeefe was booked on multiple charges before his case was turned over to local prosecutors.
Police didn’t reveal what led to the initial fight and didn’t say if anyone else involved in the fight was charged.
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]]>The post Casino Crime Round Up: Shooting Close to California Casino Leads to Several Arrests appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>The two victims were walking near the Bear River Casino Resort in Loleta when the bullets were shot. The men avoided injuries from the early morning gunfire.
They alerted the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 3:40 a.m. The two victims reported that the shooters were in a silver, two-door sedan and a black pickup truck.
Two of the suspects were traced a short time later to a residence on Carroll Road where there were several firearms, authorities said.
One of the suspects was identified as Fernando Martinez, 26, of Visalia, Calif. He was charged with violating parole and resisting arrest.
The other was Robert Ellis, 33, also of Loleta. He was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and having an unregistered firearm.
In addition, later on Thursday, Madison Carroll, 23, also of Loleta, was charged with brandishing a firearm and discharging a firearm.
As of Friday, deputies were continuing to investigate the shooting. It’s unclear why the men opened fire on the pedestrians.
The casino is located about 275 miles north of Sacramento. It’s operated by the Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria.
Visitors and others at California’s Eagle Mountain Casino were forced to evacuate the building following a gas leak on Thursday night.
No one suffered injuries during the incident.
Everyone was allowed to return inside the tribal gaming property by about 10 p.m. Thursday.
It’s unclear what caused the gas leak. Local firefighters responded to the Portersville, Calif. casino and provided assistance. The local gas company also sent crews to the site.
The casino is located some 160 miles north of Los Angeles. It’s operated by the Tule River Tribe of California.
Eagle Mountain Casino relocated to Portersville from its smaller location in May 2023.
An unidentified man stole vouchers from a Lake Charles, La., gaming property visitor on July 30.
A woman playing at the casino said her vouchers were on top of a gaming machine. The suspect snuck up behind her and stole the vouchers.
They were valued at several hundred dollars.
Lake Charles Police Department Lt. Brenda Treadway revealed the theft took place at about 12:49 a.m. on July 30. She didn’t identify the name of the casino.
The suspect was photographed by casino surveillance cameras. The suspect is wanted for questioning for another incident at the same Louisiana casino.
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]]>The post Man on Las Vegas Strip Endangers Puppy When He Allegedly Forces it to Relieve Itself appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>On Monday, an unnamed dog trainer spotted a man later identified as Tommy Chen of California putting the dog in danger on a 99-degree sidewalk.
Chen disregarded the good Samaritan’s warnings to stop the dangerous behavior. So, the man alerted Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers who were on routine patrol in the area.
He relayed to cops that Chen was “forcefully holding a small dog to the ground,” according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS. When officers went to investigate they found that Chen had his right hand and backpack on the dog’s back, KLAS reported.
The puppy was on its side and was pinned to the sidewalk. The dog was in discomfort and was yelping.
Officers ordered Chen to “let the puppy go” and he allegedly resisted, leading to his arrest. When searching the backpack, police found a semi-automatic pneumatic weapon that fires .68 caliber pepper pellets, authorities said.
Chen told police he wanted the dog to relieve itself so he could go back to a nearby casino.
Chen was arrested on several charges, including carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, resisting public officers, and depriving an animal of sustenance/shelter/medical care. He was booked and posted bond on Tuesday. His case was turned over to local prosecutors and he was to appear in court on Thursday.
There’s been no word on whether the dog was taken to an animal shelter nor is it known if the puppy suffered any serious injuries.
This summer has seen record temperatures in Las Vegas, putting both people and animals at risk of heat sickness. The record-breaking Las Vegas heat contributed to the loss of 63 human lives as of July 30, according to the Clark County coroner’s office.
Dogs can suffer heat exhaustion when the animal’s temperature reaches over 103. Heat stroke occurs when dog temperatures reach?104 or higher. There is special concern about dogs being left in cars.
According to PetMD, the symptoms of heat exhaustion in dogs include:
Signs of heatstroke include:
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]]>The post Resorts World Las Vegas Faces Large Fines for Alleged Money Laundering By Gamblers appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>Resorts World could end up paying millions of dollars in fines for illicit money laundering, according to the NGCB.
The NGCB allegations were in a 12-count, 31-page disciplinary complaint against Resorts World and related companies.
Resorts World … allowed a culture that welcomed certain individuals with suspected or actual ties to illegal bookmaking, histories of federal felony convictions related to illegal gambling businesses, and ties to organized crime,” according to a NGCB statement.
“The NGCB investigation revealed acceptance among Resorts World executives of a culture where information of suspicious or illegal activity is, at a minimum, negligently disregarded, or, at worst, willfully ignored for financial gain,” the statement added.
Among those named in the NGCB filing was California bookie Mathew Bowyer, 49. Earlier this month, he pled guilty to operating an illegal gambling business, money laundering, and subscribing to a false tax return.
Bowyer is facing a prison sentence of between 30 to 37 months when he appears in court next year.
He reportedly “transferred or directed the transfer” of at least $9.3M to Resorts World Las Vegas, according to ESPN. He also reportedly lost at least $4M at the gaming property.
Among Bowyer’s customers were pro athletes, and Ippei Mizuhara, the man who translated for MLB Los Angeles Dodgers star player Shohei Ohtani. Mizuhara stole some $17M from Ohtani to pay off massive gambling debts.
The illicit gambling mostly occurred while Scott Sibella was president of Resorts World, according to the Nevada Independent. He wasn’t named in the filing.
In May, Sibella pled guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act when he was head of MGM Grand Las Vegas. Later, he was fired from Resorts World.
Thursday’s filing also named Edwin Ting and Chad Iwamoto. They both were convicted of illicit gambling. Ting is “known to have ties to organized crime,” the NGCB statement revealed.
In a second NGCB complaint, Nicole Bowyer, Mathew Bowyer’s wife, was named. She allegedly profited from Mathew Bowyer’s gambling, as an independent agent.
Ms. Bowyer received payment from Resorts World despite surely knowing that her husband’s source of funds derived, at least in part, from illegal activity,” according to the NGCB statement. Nicole Bowyer has allegedly failed to cooperate with the NGCB investigation.
In a statement released on Thursday, Resorts World said it was “actively communicating” with the NGCB “to resolve these issues so we can move forward and focus on our guests and nearly 5,000 team members,” the Independent reported.
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]]>The post Atlantic City Teens Arrested for Armed Robbery at Tropicana Casino appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>Last Friday night, the teens approached an unnamed man before one of the boys pulled out a large knife and held it up to the victim’s back, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Atlantic City Police Department.
The teens ordered the man to turn over his possessions and assaulted the man before fleeing. There’s no word on the extent of his injuries or details on what was stolen.
Local police were alerted about the robbery at about 8 p.m. Friday. Tropicana security guards and Atlantic City police officers quickly got images of the suspects from casino surveillance cameras, which were distributed to officers.
Each of the suspects was apprehended a short distance from the casino, which is located on the Boardwalk.
Atlantic City Officers William Harned and Julian Monsalve spotted three of the teens on South Texas Avenue. The boys tried to flee, but the officers caught up with them and they were apprehended.
Another teen was apprehended nearby on Atlantic Avenue while the fifth teen was spotted on Arctic Avenue.? He ran away, but the officers eventually stopped him.
That suspect tossed a bag after seeing the cops. Inside was a large knife, which Atlantic City Police Department Capt. Kevin Fair said police believe was used in the robbery.
Items belonging to the victim were recovered when police searched the teens.
One suspect was 15. The others were 14. All five teens were arrested for robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, simple assault, terroristic threats, theft, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy. Each was placed in juvenile detention centers. None of the suspects was injured during their arrests, according to initial news reports.
Their cases will be heard in New Jersey juvenile courts.
None of their names were released by police officers due to their young ages. Each resides in Atlantic City.
It’s not clear if the suspects had targeted the victim or if the holdup was random.
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]]>The post Casino Crime Roundup: Mohegan Sun Robber Found Guilty appeared first on Casino.org.
]]>Edward L. Taylor, 33, of Bridgeport, Conn., was convicted following a criminal trial in New London Superior Court.
Taylor and a second man also dragged the victim several yards as he held onto their vehicle in an effort to recover the stolen money.?The victim had been pumping gas when the robbers approached him. He suffered minor injuries as he was dragged by the vehicle.
The guilty charges are first-degree robbery, second-degree robbery, and first-degree larceny.
Forensic staff found Taylor’s DNA on the victim’s clothing. The victim was not identified in news reports.
Taylor will be sentenced on October 22 by Judge Shari A. Murphy, according to New London State’s Attorney Paul J. Narducci.
The Mohegan Sun casino is operated by the Mohegan Tribe. The casino is located near New London.
A man was charged earlier this week after he allegedly apprehended a woman from California’s Tachi Palace Casino Resort. She was last seen getting into her vehicle with a man at the California tribal gaming property, authorities said.
The elderly woman was reported missing on Monday. She later was found unharmed in Paso Robles, Calif., by deputies tracking her cell phone signal, according to California TV station KFSN. Paso Robles is some 75 miles southwest of the casino.
Dustin Lemaster, 33, was nearby and later arrested by the Paso Robles Police Department. He was charged with kidnapping, extortion, and elder abuse. Lemaster was booked in the Kings County Jail. His bail was set at $240K.
Lemaster reportedly met the victim inside the casino, according to Yourcentralvalley.com. It’s unclear when their meeting turned into a kidnapping or why the suspect allegedly apprehended her.
Tachi Palace Casino Resort is operated by the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria. The casino is located in Lemoore, Calif, some 172 miles southeast of San Jose.
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