Ameristar St. Charles draws a $100,000 fine
By RICK ALM
The Kansas City Star
The Missouri Gaming Commission on Wednesday fined Ameristar St. Charles $100,000 for allowing an unidentified craps player to act as the game’s “stickman” for 37 minutes.
“It was an unfortunate incident that showed some poor judgment on some employees’ part,” said Troy Stremming, an executive at Ameristar Kansas City Casino and Hotel and spokesman for Las Vegas-based Ameristar Casinos Inc. “They tried to provide a guest with the best experience they could.”
The disciplinary charge noted that the patron had placed other patrons’ wagers and controlled the game’s dice until stopped by employees.
“At no time was the integrity of the game jeopardized,” Stremming said. “Those team members have been disciplined and retrained.”
Stremming said the company had not decided whether to appeal the fine or two others disclosed Wednesday totaling $20,000 — one for failing to prevent a minor with false identification from gambling in St. Charles, the other for permitting slot machines with unapproved software on the gaming floor in Kansas City.
The Isle of Capri Casino in Boonville was fined $20,000 for failing to detect a self-banned gambler who later admitted using her mother’s identification to gamble on at least 19 days last year.
She was arrested after a Missouri Highway Patrol gaming agent investigated her identity a day after she won two slot jackpots the same day totaling $11,500.
When the woman returned to the casino four days later, she was arrested and charged with trespassing in line with a state program that provides free treatment to compulsive gamblers who agree to ban themselves for life from casinos.
Casino officials have 30 days to pay the fine or appeal. |
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