Harrah’s to pay $100,000 to settle sports wagering complaint

Harrah’s Entertainment will pay $100,000 to settle a complaint filed by Nevada gaming regulators over sports wagering issues at its Harrah’s Las Vegas sports book.

The Gaming Control Board said a sports book supervisor rescinded three professional basketball wagers totaling $1,650 from a customer in April 2008. The wagers were made on “overnight lines on professional basketball.” After the wagers were accepted and betting tickets were issued, a supervisor took back the wagers and refunded the patron’s bets.

The patron was told he could make the wagers the next day at Caesars Palace, which is also owned by Harrah’s.

Gaming regulators said the move violated a gaming commission regulation stating that a sports book may not unilaterally rescind a wager without prior written approval of the Gaming Control Board chairman. In a stipulated settlement signed Thursday, Harrah’s admitted the allegations in the complaint and agreed to pay a fine of $75,000 and reimbursement costs of $25,000.

The Nevada Gaming Commission is expected to vote on approving the settlement later this month. Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871.