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Legends bingo closed
Message was posted: 01:15 May 28th, 2006

User: MuckAces Rank: Member Casino Gold: 800CG Contributor rating: 1880 Status: Offline http://www.muckhappens.com

By PHIL FEROLITO YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC TOPPENISH — It's unclear when Legends Casino's bingo hall will reopen after being shut down for violating gaming regulations more than two weeks ago, casino General Manager Michael Hoptowit said Tuesday. The Yakama Gaming Commission ordered the bingo hall closed March 31 after finding the problems, Hoptowit said. He wouldn't say whether the problems were related to accounting procedures or how the games were being managed. "I think the public should know that there are some valid noncompliance issues that we need to work on," he said. It's the second time the bingo hall at the tribally owned casino has been temporarily closed in as many years. The tribe's gaming commission oversees the casino's gambling operations, making sure it follows both tribal and federal gaming regulations, Hoptowit said. After problems surfaced about some financial reports not being done properly, the bingo hall was shut down in February 2005 for a few weeks. Similar problems led to the recent closure, Hoptowit said. Tribal gaming commissioner Warren Spencer Sr. would only say that an internal audit conducted by the tribal gaming commission revealed the problems, and that gaming commissioners expect to get a report from the commission on whether to reopen the bingo operation within the next two weeks. Although Hoptowit couldn't say when the bingo hall would reopen, he did say the casino is moving as quickly as possible to correct the problems. "We understand the demands of our customers and it's our job to meet that," he said. The bingo hall didn't have such problems when it was being housed by itself at the rear of neighboring convenient store Yakamart, he said. But when it was moved in late 2004 into the casino's event center, where other gaming operations exist, the problems arose, he said. Since then, the casino has been working to get its bingo operations to comply with federal and tribal gaming regulations, Hoptowit said. "We're going to have to revamp our newly written internal controls (procedures) and retrain our staff," he said. Although the bingo hall can easily seat 200 players during weekend nights, its closure isn't affecting business too much because it only makes up a small portion of the casino's gaming operation, Hoptowit said. n Phil Ferolito can be reached at 837-6111, or at pferolito@yakima herald.com.