The Nevada Gaming Commission has fined MGM Resorts International $100,000 following a complaint that security guards prevented gaming agents from observing a high-stakes roulette game at the Aria.
Under Nevada regulations, gaming areas must be open to the public. The agents were standing five to seven feet from the roulette table on October 13, 2013, when a floor supervisor informed them a player did not want them watching the game. When they didn’t move, security guards blocked their view, according to the complaint.
Ellen Whittemore, an attorney for MGM Resorts, did not dispute what happened, but didn’t agree it was a violation of gaming regulations. Commissioner Randolph Townsend suggested that guidelines be clarified as to how close an observer can stand to a gaming table so “somebody is not breathing down the neck” of a player. “Is it five to seven feet, 10 feet or 25 feet?” he asked.
The complaint against the Aria said there had been two similar violations in 2010 and 2012. Whittemore said that after the 2012 complaint, the casino took steps to reinforce to staff that gaming areas must remain open to the public. And after the most recent complaint, she said, added steps have been taken to educate employees.
