I am a conservative - but I find this a tough call. Vegas seems to have a law which says Vegas should not be taken money from drugged up or very drunk people. so do we follow the law or do we let the guy be personally responsible. I say we let the guy sue and keep 20% of the recovery. We let the lawyers take 20% and we have 60% of the recovery go to approved charities. Casinos can not be allowed to think they can take money from drugged up patrons. This is just one reasonable solution.
Quote from Loki: Just like the guy eating fast food every day and then suing McDonald's for getting fat. Except McD doesn't drug his costumers to keep them buying its products... He deserves to lose every dollar he got. That is one thing but they went after his non-existing 16 million and wanted to get a jail term for YEARS for writing a bad check... That is greed on the square...
You have a point, but the guy is a gambler and he made A LOT of bad choices and mistakes...shouldn't he pay for that ? If you have been in Vegas for say 6 months and things are not going well and you decide to gamble for 6 more months and lose more money, who is to blame ? He was drugged and drunk, maybe on several occasions, but months ?
The stories I can tell you about this person... WOW, is all I can say. Too bad I have a non disclosure policy at work. I have seen/dealt to him many times.
Yes, he gambled and lost. And what did Harrah's do (allegedly)? Provided prescription painkillers -- ILLEGAL (Federal and Nevada) Plied intoxicated gambler with unlimited drinks -- ILLEGAL Provided gambler with drinking problem unlimited drinks -- ILLEGAL Accepted and encouraged action from patron with obvious gambling problem -- ILLEGAL Increased credit line for patron with obvious gambling problem -- ILLEGAL Reneged on written promise to provide marker discounts and comps -- ILLEGAL Violated contract to hold markers for 60 days or longer -- ILLEGAL Ordered security and other personnel to perform or fail to perform duties required for unrestricted gaming licensee -- ILLEGAL Steve Wynn, no doubt similarly tempted by Mr. Watanabe's bankroll, was somehow able to resist violating half the Nevada Revised Statutes and do the right thing, which was to cordially refuse further action from Mr. Watanabe (as well as forgiving $5 million in debt). Perhaps that's because he is a smart businessman and not one of the retarded crooks filling Harrah's ranks.
Harrah's CEO Gary Loveman is the guy that shows up in commercials telling viewers that if they know of anyone who is having a gambling problem to dial a 1-800 number. This Watanabe guy has a case.