Can Casino Owners Gamble in Their Own Casino?

Can casino owners gamble in their own casino?

We answered this question several years ago and assuming you're referring to Nevada, the answer is a qualified "no."

Michael Lawton, our contact at the Gaming Control Board, tells us that casino owners, directors, and officers are forbidden from playing table games and slots and from placing sports bets at their own property or any affiliated one. There are, however, exceptions for poker and off-track pari-mutuel betting, which explains why Jackie Gaughan was a regular fixture in his own poker room at the El Cortez.

Furthermore, regulations state that no race book or sports pool employee may place bets other than on OTB pari-mutuel wagers.

And if you’re a key employee of a gaming licensee and want credit in your own house, forget it. Casinos are forbidden from extending such credit “whether or not such credit is evidenced by a player card, wagering account, or credit instrument.”

As for other states, the only one we can cover with certainty is New Jersey, where a state law bars holders of key-casino-employee licenses from gambling anywhere in Atlantic City.

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Llew Sep-26-2023

NJ

Sorry, but that law changed decades ago. When I dealt poker at the Trop,
I played regularly at the Taj, and vice versa. Key licensed employees (dealers, floorpersons, and up) were - and still are - prohibited from gambling in their own house. 
Haven’t dealt in several years but, as far as I know, this is still the case.

Kevin Rough Sep-26-2023

Pennsylvania

When casinos first opened in Pennsylvania, employees of casinos were prohibited from gambling anywhere in Pennsylvania.  This included playing the Pennsylvania Lottery.  That didn't last very long.  Casino employees currently can play the Pennsylvania Lottery and gamble at other casinos.

Kevin Lewis Sep-26-2023

It varies

...from state to state. In New Joisey, the Gaming Control Commission has some actual power--and teeth, to the extent that they have a fulltime monitor on the floor of every casino. In contrast, in Nevada, the Gaming Commission is a sad bunch of servile lackeys. This isn't usually much of an issue one way or the other, though, as why would the owner of a slaughterhouse want to jump into the pen and line up with the hogs?

Kenneth Mytinger Sep-26-2023

Here's an old tale

... from the Gold Coast, when Michael Gaughan owned it.

He liked to work the sportsbook, telling writers to take an early break, etc. and freely handing out drink tickets.

He also would roam the pit, and liked to lean over a BJ dealer to examine the dealer's hole card.  If it was favorable for the players, he would wave across the table, saying "everybody hold!"

Presumably he's doing the same kind of stuff now, at The Point ...

King of the Bovines Sep-26-2023

It all depends...

Maybe yes, maybe no.

In Washington State, card room owners, salaried personnel and on-duty licensed staff could play poker, but any jackpots would have to be split amongst the other players at the table.

That same group cannot play table games.  (And why would the owner want to play blackjack at his casino?  Then again, I have stories on how they're sometimes not too bright...)

Non-table games dealers are usually barred from playing blackjack et al, but can gamble elsewhere.

Sports book employees cannot wager in-house, but every 'regular' employees can.

It seems like everything is made up, and the points don't matter, but there is a little common sense involved.

Question of the Day - 26 September 2023

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