Boyd Gaming to Pay $300K Fine for Detaining, Handcuffing Wrong Fremont Casino Player
Posted on: September 25, 2020, 04:08h.
Last updated on: September 25, 2020, 10:16h.
Boyd Gaming was fined $300,000 by the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) on Thursday for the “wrongful arrest” of a Fremont Hotel & Casino slot player who was accused of stealing another player’s credits.
A security guard handcuffed the suspect for 90 minutes last November while she was detained in a side room. At one point, the guard allegedly grabbed her by the neck and arm.
The guard in question also screamed at the guest, threatened her with jail, and was forced to give up money that belonged to her, Ed Magaw, a Nevada deputy attorney general, told the commission. The officer was “harsh” and “overly hostile,” Magaw added.
The woman eventually handed over $200 of her own money to the casino, so she could leave the downtown Las Vegas gaming property, news reports revealed.
The actions were reviewed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) and on Thursday NGC Chairman John Moran Jr., said he was “very troubled” by the events. He chose to “reluctantly support” the complaint settlement, indicating the amount was not enough.
Fine Higher in Future, Chairman Warns
But Moran also gave a stern warning to other casinos and gaming companies to avoid such actions, noting in the future, the penalties will be higher.
I am not going to support only a $300,000 fine. It’s going to be a lot more,” Moran admonished the gaming industry about any future complaints.
Steve Thompson, executive vice president for operations at Boyd Gaming, told the commissioners that “embarrassment” is not a “strong enough” word to describe how company officials feel about the incident. The “security officer failed at almost everything he was trained upon,” Thompson said.
It appeared, based on a review by a Boyd security chief, that “We had an officer who went into hero mode instead of doing his job,” Thompson said. The security officer and other casino officials also failed to adequately review surveillance video and slot machine records that day, officials revealed.
The apprehended player called the company’s hotline to report the incident three days after it took place. It took several days for the information to get to Boyd’s internal compliance staff. Once there, compliance staff and other officials did their own review. They then spoke with the wrongfully accused player and Boyd’s board members were notified. The company self-reported the incident to Nevada gaming officials.
Boyd Settles
“We have settled with the patron,” Thompson reported to the commission. He did not provide details of the settlement.
A.G Burnett, Boyd’s attorney and a former NGCB chairman, told the NGC incorrect information was initially relayed to Las Vegas Metro officers and NGCB agents that night. Casino employees and officials also disputed the claim and the NGC meeting.
Since the incident, Boyd has modified its company-wide policies on arrests, detainment, and use of handcuffs. Now, a casino manager also needs to be consulted before a guest can be detained by security officers.
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Last Comments ( 17 )
Not surprised because this Boyd outfit does not pay employees very well -- you get what you pay for and they did -- cheapskates
During the 1960s I went to Las Vegas several times, never had a problem. One time I went with some co-workers who got intoxicated on the way there and continued to drink there. I was playing blackjack when three security guards approached and POLITELY asked me to go with them to the manager's office. I did and I found out that my co-workers had created a disturbance. I was asked to quietly take them out of the casino and not return that day. The demeanor of the security staff was exceptionally polite and professional. I have never witnessed any event such as this one in over 70 yrs. It appears that the casino involved has handled the incident very professionally. And the Gaming Commission used very good procedures to resolve the issue.
Only life losers play blackjack. Lol. Complaining about treatment when doing something stupid is laughable.
The company’s hotline phone number? What’s the name of the company?
Interesting that person was detained and no video would have proved them innocent within the 90 minutes. And then, just took their money. So wrong. How much training do the security guards get?
No they won't. This was an isolated incident. I've won tens of thousands playing blackjack and nearly every other game. I have never been backed off or messed with in the slightest. Stop with your scare tactics.
I've been to Vegas over 300 times and I've only seen it happen twice. Both on strip properties. Not sure what the previous commenter is saying. He made it sound like this happens a lot when that IS NOT true. You need to be winning at an incredible pace. Over 10,000 for sure. Security has a tough enough job especially now because you can't identify because of the mask rule so that alone makes their jobs and cops jobs tougher.
Rich has been watching too many mob movies..i worked in the gaming industry for 20 years from dealer up to management position..Rich says he was surrounded by security because he was winning too much. I find that very hard to believe how much was he winning? The only reason that there would have been multiple security was more likely to assure that he would leave the property without any major issues
Problaly a crooked Trump Casino
She is Lucky that happened in Vegas and not at one of those reservation Casino's. They make their own rules and apparently don't have to answer to anybody. I got banned just because I was winning. I had been there earlier in the day it lost so l left and came back later and was winning. They asked me for my ID because they wanted to make sure I was not previously banned. I knew I was not banned so I gave them my Driver's license and they banned me. They could not give me a reason for the ban. The only thing I was told is that the Casino on the reservation and they don't need a reason. They didn't have a problem with me earlier that day when I was losing. They harassed me and banned me because I was winning and they didn't like it. It is bad enough that they ban people all the time for petty reasons like using their outlet to charge your phone or putting money and playing on a machine that the previose player left $.12 in but just because I was winning makes no sense to me because that is the only reason I went back is to win some money. That is usually the reason I go to any casino is to try and win but be careful if you do because you might get banned.
I've been to Vegas hundreds of times in the last 40 years & lost most of the time. But have walked away with 10000 from blackjack table many a times & never been approached once. I've never seen anyone bothered for that matter. I must not be there on the right days.
Rich, you're an idiot. No one gives a crap about your $3 craps action. If you were escorted from a casino, it was because you kept asking the waitresses to reach into your pants pocket for a tip.
i would not took the money...my lawyer would have been notified...asap
Kelly...i have been off and on going to the casinos in Lake Charles,, isle capri, is one of the worst places on how they handle ppl...i play craps al Lot!! They have stop me numerous time while i was winning?? And to the dice from me for no reason at all..they had told me i was throwing the dice to hard? After i had been there for atleast 3hrs already throwing the dice no different then when had started..see they will steel your money and kick you out for no reason at all...they are with out a doubt the MOB.....15YRS ...+.? I HAVE BEEN PLAYING IN LAKE CHARLES...AND BEEN HARASSED MANY TIMES BY THEM..I HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT ATLEAST 3-4 TIMES FOR WHAT????? BECAUSE I WAS WINNING. SOMEONE NEEDS TO PUT THESE CROOKED,MOB LIKE CASINOS IN THERE PLACE..I GO THERE TO HAVE FUN . NOT BE BULLIED AND HARASSED
If you are winning they will harass you, and they may even backroom you. I've seen them do it many times before in different casinos for anyone winning a blackjack, which I do not play! I was once surrounded by security guards only because I was winning at craps and told that I was a dice controller when I was just getting lucky. They 86th me from that casino and tried to take my photo as I was walking to the front doors. I wouldn't let them, and when I got outside and stopped walking, they told me they were going to have me arrested for trespassing. That didn't happen, only because I told them, in that case, talk to my lawyer!