How Do Casinos Deal with Drunks?

What do casinos do about people that are obviously drunk? Do the waitresses just cut the person off, even if the person is still gambling? If one waitress cuts the person off and the drunk goes to another area to gamble, can he/she get a drink from a different waitress? If someone is obviously drunk at a table game, will the dealer stop dealing to him/her?

This is a great question, but a big and somewhat ambiguous subject, so we’ll do our best to cover the many bases as best we can in this, Part One of the answer.

Very generally speaking, it’s an accepted principle and in most places a legal stipulation that drinking establishments actively supervise and control their patrons' alcohol consumption. That includes casinos.

Specific liabilities mandated by governments for that management are commonly known as “dram shop laws.” Licensed vendors of alcohol can be held liable for any injuries or damages caused by persons who became intoxicated from alcohol served by that vendor.

Of course, dram shop laws vary from state to state and eight states don’t have dram shop laws at all. These are Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and yes, Nevada. We should add, however, that Clark County does have an ordinance that prohibits establishments from serving booze to anyone who’s obviously already had too much to drink. That said, enforcement tends to be quite lax, to the extent that the county allows people to walk along the Strip with open containers; the civic fathers and mothers are mostly concerned with underage drinking.

Still, the Las Vegas casinos are legally liable and in the rest of the state, even if they’re not, they can still be held responsible under some circumstances — for example, if they don’t have clearly written policies and procedures for dealing with alcohol-related issues. In addition, Nevada gambling regulations state that licensees (casinos) are prohibited from serving free drinks to visibly intoxicated people and must prevent such people from participating in gaming activities.

That’s all well and good in theory, but in practice, the casinos are plying their patrons with free alcohol in a not-at-all-disguised attempt to loosen their inhibitions and empty their wallets. In addition, the bartenders and cocktail waitresses are making the bulk of their livelihood by serving drinkers and collecting tips. So a lot of casino employees and managers are on the horns of a conflict-of-interest dilemma: The casino can get into trouble for serving and/or dealing to drunks, especially if it proceeds to win an inordinate amount of money from them, but it’s definitely in its interest, and employees in tip positions in the beverage department, to keep their players drinking as much as possible.

It can be a fine line, but whether it's fine or coarse, casinos cross it all the time.

To add insult to injury, many times the players themselves are held responsible for consuming too much. As an example, a player tried to sue the Downtown Grand in 2014 for getting him so drunk he blacked out and didn’t remember losing $500,000. When he admitted to having 10 drinks before he got to the casino, the 20 or so drinks he estimated the Grand served him didn’t count, because he was already drunk when he showed up. The judge sided with the casino and the gambler was subsequently arrested when he tried to stiff the casino on his markers.

Anyway, that's the big buildup to tomorrow's continuation of this answer, which is the view from the casino floor.

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O2bnVegas Oct-16-2022

tricks are for drunks

Can't wait for part II.

Once at Horseshoe in Tunica a guy had apparently already been 'cut off' from being served, as he was going around asking players if they were going to order a drink, and if not would they order one for him.  He was pretty tipsy but not obnoxious, just palsy-walsy about it.  At some point security folks approached him, asked him to turn and 'smile for the camera', then ushered him out of the casino.  
They handled it well, didn't rough him up or anything.  He probably just moved on to another casino to continue panhandling for booze.

Candy

Dave_Miller_DJTB Oct-16-2022

Open container LAW

> the county allows people to walk along the Strip with open containers

You’re implying it’s illegal, but hardly enforced. 

Thinking it might be just an exclusion for the tourist zones, I asked a metro cop about it a few years ago. He said open container is legal in the entire county - but public drunkenness is still not legal. So drink, but don’t get stupid drunk.

KennyA Oct-16-2022

A few drams too much

On a few occasions when I was overserving myself I have been approached by casino employees and asked if I was staying at the hotel. On hearing positive answers they simply said "have a nice evening" and went on their way. Of course, once I went too far over my limit and on my departure from a machine I stumbled and was surprised to be caught by a security person. He said they had been watching me and thought that I might need a little assistance. I received an escort that night and was indeed thankful. After that, I was a little more careful about my consumption rate, if you know what I mean.

Roy McKergow Oct-16-2022

drunk westgate fall 2022

I saw 8 security personal quietly isolate an intoxicated man. A plain clothed security
 woman then talked to him.He left with her, with uniformed security as a buffer. Quietly and efficiently.

John Oct-16-2022

Excellent Question

While at a Super Bowl Party at Ellis Island, I overimbibed.  A lot.  After the Steelers beat the Seahawks, I was celebrating at the bar in EI with the rest of my party and about 50 newly-found close friends.

EI had put out an absolutely fantastic buffet and all you could drink beer party for a very nominal price.  I took full advantage, especially the beer part.

While at the bar I started snapping flash pictures of the revelry (A topic that VitalVegas is hot on!).  After a bit, two security guards came over and asked me to quit as photography is illegal in casinos.  I complied immediately and put the camera away.

Well..I was a drunken twit and did it again, TWICE, not remembering the warnings at all.  The third time, there was no warning and I was politely and professionally escorted to the door by two security guards and shown the exit.

I was completely in the wrong and I was impressed with how well the casino guards handled me that evening.

I left $1000 ahead though!

Alan Canellis Oct-16-2022

Handling of drinkers

One occasion at the Main Street, I over indulged.  Security ask where I was staying, here I replied.  I was escorted to my room.  Next morning, I received a welfare check from security.  Playing at the Flamingo on a Let It Ride table there was a guy that couldn't sit upright.  He kept betting AND winning.  Security gave 2 warnings and then the floor manager stopped the game brought a bank bag over had another suit count the chips, signed a paper, the floor manager signed after the dealer confirmed the count.  The bag was zipped up and two security guards carried the guy on rubber legs to his room.  Of course at Vegas World I saw security drag (discreetly) a guy who had passed out, outside and place him on a bench at the nearest bus stop across the street.  Yes, I followed to see what the security guys were going to do.

Michael Kwiatkowski Oct-16-2022

Passed Out at Bellagio

Late night at the Bellagio VP bar a drunk was sleeping on his machine.  Bartender poked him with a stick (hilarious!) and he just grunted.  Security came, woke him up, and he stumbled to another part of the casino.  All in a day's (night's) work, I guess.

Question of the Day - 16 October 2022

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