Is It True That "No One Dies in a Las Vegas Casino?"

Is it true that "no one dies in a Las Vegas casino," which I've heard is the way the gaming industry and local media deal with people dying on the casino floor or in hotel rooms? It's hard to believe that no death would be covered somewhere at some point by some media outlet.

We posed this question to a retired casino executive who knows a thing or two about death in casinos. Here's what he had to say.

Due to the various positions in casino management I’ve held over the years, I’ve seen and heard of numerous deaths that have taken place within casinos -- slot areas, table-game pits, restaurants, hotel rooms, etc. I’ve witnessed (mostly by means of videotape and security reports and once in person) heart attacks, strokes, choking on food, drowning, alcohol poisoning, suicides, and murders, plus people simply expiring (many deemed terminal by their doctors come to Las Vegas for one last fling).

The truth is, plenty of people, both patrons and employees, pass away in casinos every year. The vast majority are due to pre-existing health conditions.

Based on the number of deaths I know about, compared to the number that the public hears about, I’ve come to the conclusion that an unwritten and unspoken rule, maintained by everyone from casino management and media to paramedics, is that no one dies in a casino, as you say in the question. This is my opinion, but I believe it to be true; it's widely known, which is why I'm writing this answer. I think it stems from the early days when the Mob, trying to keep a low profile in their new candy store (Las Vegas), declared, "Nobody gets whacked in the casinos."

In addition, Las Vegas is considered the adult playground for the world and any mention of death could put a damper on the festivities. The Gaming Commission has rules about casinos advertising anything that’s not casino-friendly.

These days, if a person dies on the casino floor, paramedics perform CPR (even if the victim is already deceased) until they're out of the building. Only at the hospital are they pronounced DOA. Casino patrons typically see patients wheeled out in a hurry on gurnies, hooked up to equipment, so they assume the person is still alive.

If it’s a suicide or murder, the area is blocked off from the public by security guards. If it’s viewable by the public, it’s shielded with cubicle-type barricades or blackout sheets and no information is released until the investigation is completed and a coroner’s report is issued -- in other words, until it cools off and it’s not considered newsworthy.

The only death situations that ever got any real media attention were highly public shootings, such as the motorcycle gang war at Harrah’s in Laughlin. What I’ve noticed is that the local press covers such stories, but only after the Associated Press sends them out nationally.

Here are some ancillary things I know about death in casinos.

The security department won’t close out a report on a suicide or murder victim until they get confirmation from the hospital (even if the person was dead when they left the casino).

The families of suicide victims often claim that a casino employee, upon finding the body in a hotel room, took items (money, watch, ring, etc.) from the deceased and want some sort of cash settlement.

Casinos get complaints from people who were actually saved/revived by a security employee about bruises or broken ribs due to that employee performing a "life-saving" maneuver such as the Heimlich or CPR.

Media outlets rarely report suicides. Unless the person is famous for some reason, it's not considered news. Also, I've heard that it's another unspoken rule, in order to help prevent "copycat suicides." This is true throughout the country, not just in Vegas.

No part of this answer may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher.

Have a question that hasn't been answered? Email us with your suggestion.

Missed a Question of the Day?

Have a Question?

Tomorrow's Question

Has Clark County ever considered legalizing prostitution?

Comments

Kevin Lewis Sep-29-2024

BOING

Christmas season in Tahoe, many years ago, at the Stardust. I'm playing blackjack at a full table. The guy at third base bets $10 of his last $20, gets a hard 11, and doubles down for his last $10. The dealer has a hard 17, and she flips over the guy's double card---a deuce. She takes his money. I hear a popping sound, like a balloon, and everyone--I mean EVERYONE, with the exception of me, dives for the floor. The player at third base slumps forward onto the table, blood gushing from his head. The dealer starts screaming, "OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD!!!" Casino security/paramedics come rushing up, they cart away the guy's inert body. End of blackjack game, 'tis the season to be jolly.

I found out later that the guy came to in the ambulance. He had indeed shot himself in the head, but the bullet had apparently just bounced off! He was treated at the ER and discharged the next morning.

Is it a good or bad thing if you can't even successfully shoot yourself in the head? Eight lives.

Barbara Krull Sep-29-2024

BOING

Great story Kevin.  You should write a book!

Brent Peterson Sep-29-2024

Numbers

Are there any unofficial numbers of the deaths that take in a casino? It would be interesting to know how many are covered up each year.

Michael Mendoza Sep-29-2024

might you have mistaken casino?

I've been playing craps in Tahoe for over 40 years..don't recall a Stardust casino..lodge yes, no casino.

asaidi Sep-29-2024

Bad for buisness....

It's just like the rumor that "nobody dies in Disneyland".  It's bad for publicity.  Unless the person was famous (like John Entwistle from The Who), no one wants to stay at a casino or in a hotel room where someone has died.

Llew Sep-29-2024

DOA

I am a first responder.  Years ago, an EMT told me that, even if they knew a victim was dead, they rushed her/him to the ER, hoping to have her/him declared DOA there. Saved the EMTS a lot of paperwork.

Llew Sep-29-2024

Poker

There are a few sick jokes about people who pass away at the table. The one I recall at the moment is, “Talk about drawing dead.”

Kevin Lewis Sep-29-2024

Liew

When that happens, the dealer calls out to the floorman, "Seat open!"

Fumb Duck Sep-29-2024

At The Royal Inn

Many years ago, I was playing blackjack at the old Royal Inn on Casino Center. When I got up from the table, paramedics were working on a hart attack victim on the floor just inches from my chair. Nobody from the pit said a word. The game continued as usual. Later, my friend an ER doctor, told me the victim was OK.

sunny78 Sep-29-2024

Thanks for the laugh!

Pure comedy question, damn! And answered with a straight face, lol.

But sure, reality suspends, unicorns and rainbows exists magically over Las Vegas and death of course is suspended over all who enter thy hallowed halls of las vegas. Throw in the healthiest people on the planet in the US who flock here, have some of the lowest rates of cancer, heart disease, obesity is rare, no one smokes, drinks, food is healthy. It's true I tell you, it's true, death is suspended!

Humans are so, well, nice word time. Funny.

O2bnVegas Sep-29-2024

Third try

For some reason my replies are resulting in a dark purple screen.  I'll try again. Have I been evicted?

Legally, death can only be pronounced by an authorized medical professional: MD, Medical Examiner, or Coroner.  EMTs are not authorized to pronounce death.  They are required to continue life support measures until delivery of the person to a medical facility, where an MD takes over and either continues care and/or pronounces death.  The time of death is the time death is pronounced by the authorized professional.
 

When a casino patron collapses, or is found unresponsive on the property, personnel would not be informed whether a death has occurred or not.  In fact, this would be information likely falling under the HIPPA laws.  The medical facility could be held liable for disclosure.

Candy

Question of the Day - 29 September 2024

Comments