Our favorite gambling attorney is coming on the show. We’ll be recording in a couple of weeks. This is your chance to submit questions for Bob. As well as your questions we will be talking about any recent cases, and how they effect players going forward. Post your questions below or send them to [email protected].
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Has anyone ever systematically examined gamblers’ track records in challenging Nevada casinos via either the Gaming Control Board (that righteous flaming sword of gambling justice!!!) or the civil courts (which are, unfortunately, in Nevada)? Anecdotally, it seems to me that one’s chances are pretty poor, and the actual merits of one’s case don’t matter much. (Of course, your profession is to improve that situation somewhat.)
Also, does an average Joe have any real recourse when he feels that a Nevada casino has committed a crime against him? Vegas in particular seems to be a “company town” where the cops work for the casinos, not the general public.
I’m curious the penalties for fake ID’s in a casino. Common sense tells you that it is not legal to show a fake ID to a police officer,, but what about a casino? Especially if it is for AP purposes and not underage gambling purposes. Or could a casino just take it from you and then give it to a cop and then they would arrest you? Or would a casino just take it from you and then kick you out without any legal recourse?
Wilbur, from a legal standpoint, casino security can’t arrest you for anything. They act like cops and talk like cops, but they have no police powers. They can, of course, call the police if they think you’re committing a crime. Whether they can detain you or not is a delicate question. There is a specific Nevada law that says they can detain you if they suspect you of cheating “for the purpose of notifying a peace officer.” A, er, liberal interpretation of that rule (what constitutes “suspicion of cheating”) has led to many “backrooming” incidents in the past. So since Nevada is one immense company town, as a practical manner, casino pseudo-cops often DO have police powers from a practical standpoint. That’s also due to people not insisting on their rights when confronted by casino security.
Thanks for you answer Kevin. This was my thinking somewhat also.
Also this may be a question for Bob N. Has there ever been a case of casino patron abuse where the video tapes of the incident have “mysteriously” disappeared? It would seem if the casino knows they are in the wrong they could do this quite easily. And if the videotape favors them they would protect it with kid gloves. I assume you could ask the police or Gaming to do this, but they basically work for the casinos.
What happens in Vegas if they arrest you for trespassing in a casino?
Does the cop take you out side, write you a ticket and let you leave or do they take you to jail and for how long?
If you’re from out of state do you have to fly back out there for a court case?
I’m a bit worried because I have a common look and am often mistaken in casinos for other people who have been backed off or 86ed before.