By
Jerry Smith
Staff Writer Updated: 11/13/2023
Jerry’s greatest advantage is his extensive experience on the casino floor. His time as a casino manager taught him everything about what makes a player tick. Besides being a skilled poker player, he has deep knowledge of all live table games and gambling regulations in the US.
Nevada Gaming Regulators
According to recent reports, the Nevada Gaming Control Board is currently in discussions about whether to withhold jackpot payouts to gamblers who have been previously banned and then trespassed on casino property. The board’s deliberations follow a case involving a repeat offender at the Casablanca Hotel Casino in Mesquite.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the board sided with a player who had been permanently banned from the property but managed to claim over $2,000 in slot machine winnings.
The casino’s management contested the payout, citing the player’s history of petty theft, public intoxication, disorderly behavior, and multiple trespassing violations dating from 2011. Despite his ban, the gambler successfully re-entered the casino multiple times, securing jackpot winnings on three separate occasions within a few months.
This issue has become a particular problem along the Las Vegas Strip, where the number of banned casino players who have then gone on to re-enter properties has risen sharply.
Many officials believe that these gamblers are aware that the penalties for trespassing are minor compared to the potential rewards of continued play. This means that they take the risk of re-entering casinos and gambling despite any legal consequences they could face.
The U.S. News reports:
Some gaming officials said the problem has grown worse on the Las Vegas Strip as banned gamblers recognize that paying a small fine for being cited for trespassing is no deterrent to sneaking back into a casino and resume playing the slots.
Christopher Lalli, the Clark County Assistant District Attorney, referred to July records from a specialized court in Las Vegas. He highlighted that out of 87 trespassing cases handled by the court, the typical resolution involved a guilty plea from the defendant and a ban from the casino, often lasting six months.
However, these bans are frequently ignored, with the trespassers returning to the casinos and sometimes hitting jackpots on the slot machines while they are there illegally.
Under current regulations, which have been in place for decades, casino operators are required to pay out winnings, even if the recipient is a known trespasser who managed to re-enter and strikes it lucky.
This policy was originally intended to ensure fairness in gaming but is now being looked at more closely as offenders might view the fines that are imposed as an insignificant risk compared to the possibility of substantial slot machine winnings.
The ongoing debate over this matter demonstrates the need for a balance between a suitable approach to trespassing players and the rights of players to collect their winnings. Industry officials state that the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s decision on the matter could set a precedent that will impact casino operations across the state in the future.
It is claimed that the outcome of these discussions may lead to a policy change that could allow casinos to withhold winnings from those who have been barred from their properties, potentially altering the gaming landscape in the state.
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