A Las Vegas man is suing the Bellagio hotel-casino for negligence, accusing the property of not safeguarding him from a violent robbery that was connected to his gambling winnings, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Key Takeaways
- Joel Vargas-Gutierrez sues the Bellagio, alleging security negligence during an assault over slot winnings.
- The plaintiff says he was attacked by three individuals who claimed his $2,600 jackpot.
- MGM Resorts, which operates the Bellagio, has not yet commented on the pending litigation.
Joel Vargas-Gutierrez says he was assaulted by three men while waiting in line for his $2,600 jackpot from a slot machine and that the Bellagio was inattentive in its reaction. The complaint accuses the Bellagio of negligence and negligent security. He is also suing the assailants for assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Vargas-Gutierrez is seeking more than $15,000 in damages, plus legal fees, interest, and punitive damages.
The lawsuit states the incident occurred Dec. 12 of last year. Vargas-Gutierrez said he won the jackpot and was waiting for an attendant when three individuals approached the slot machine, falsely claiming the prize was theirs.
He alleged the confrontation escalated into physical violence while casino security failed to intervene. Only after Vargas-Gutierrez was tackled and assaulted did security arrive, the complaint states.
He claims he continues to suffer physical and emotional distress from the attack and has required medical treatment. MGM Resorts International, which owns and operates the Bellagio, has not publicly responded.
Aria, Luxor resolve religious discrimination charges
In a separate matter involving MGM properties, Aria Resort and Casino, along with Luxor Resort and Casino, have settled a case over allegations of religious discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The complaints, filed by employees, claimed the two resorts refused to grant religious exemptions from their COVID-19 vaccination policies.
After investigating, the EEOC determined there was sufficient evidence to suggest both properties breached Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. While not admitting wrongdoing, the resorts agreed to conciliation settlements that require their human resources departments to undergo training on handling religious accommodation requests in compliance with federal law.
According to Michael Mendoza, director of the EEOC's Las Vegas office, the agreements serve as a reminder that employers must make reasonable efforts to facilitate workers' religious practices unless doing so would create a significant difficulty or expense for the business.
Baccarat surge masks broader Vegas decline
Meanwhile, state regulators and analysts say a surge in high-end baccarat revenue may be concealing broader economic weakness in Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Association reported Strip casino revenues rose more than 5% in July and August, mainly due to unusually high baccarat win percentages - 17.5% in July and 18.5% in August compared to roughly 9% and 10% a year earlier.
However, visitation is down 8% year-to-date, with a 4.5% drop in air traffic and a 9% decline in revenue per available room. Analysts expressed concern that reduced spending from leisure and international visitors could weigh on Strip performance through the end of 2025.
