Quite a busy time for the Nevada Gaming Commission these days. On a day when the commission approved the licenses of two more interactive gaming licenses, they also went and green lighted the $1 million fine slapped on the Palms Casino stemming from accusations that the establishment’s nightclub employees offered drugs and prostitutes to undercover officers. Pretty eventful day, wasn’t it?
The fine wasn’t met with any objection by the casino, which, incidentally, already agreed to pay the amount when news first broke about it two weeks ago. When you’re admitting to it even before the final decision maker – the NGC – decides on the matter, then there’s a pretty clear lack of institutional control that you’re owning up to. That doesn’t speak too highly of your casino, does it?
After the NGC approved the $1 million fine, the Palms didn’t even wait for an eyelash to blink to issue a statement, basically fessing up on the matter and ensuring that nothing of that sort ever happens again inside the Palms. The statement, which was released by casino officials said: “We are grateful to the Nevada Gaming Commission for approving the proposed settlement of the complaint … and for the efforts of the Gaming Control Board and Attorney General’s office throughout this process. This is a very serious matter, and we are committed to preventing this from happening on our property again.”
The Nevada Gaming Commission’s decision actually served as mere formality on a settlement that had already been reached the day the state field a 17-count complaint against the casino for the shoddy transactions employees of its nightclubs were engaged in with regards to accepting payments from customers to supply them with prostitutes and plethora of drugs, including ecstacy, cocaine and pain killers.
With the fine now officially imposed, the Palms has been given four months to pay the entire $1 million fine, as well as tack in another $78,000 in investigation fees.
