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Harrah's ordered to hand over bettor's documents
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Apr. 10, 2012 | 10:48 a.m.
A Clark County District Court judge on Friday ordered Harrah's Entertainment to turn over documents related to gaming activities of a high-roller accused of bouncing checks totaling $14.75 million at two of the company's casinos.
Omaha, Neb., businessman Terrance Watanabe is facing up to 28 years in prison on four felony counts of theft for writing bad checks in 2007.
Watanabe lost nearly $127 million in 2007 at Caesars Palace and the Rio. He paid $112 million of the debt but is disputing the rest, claiming Harrah's reneged on promises to return some of his losses. He also argues that he was too intoxicated to be held accountable for his losses. He claims Harrah's supplied him with drugs and alcohol to lower his capacity to act competently.
Harrah's, which is not a party to the state's case against Watanabe, sought to quash a defense subpoena for the documents. The company said complying would put an unreasonable and oppressive burden on the company.
Judge Jennifer Togliatti limited the documents that need to be turned over to the defense to those from Jan. 1, 2007, to Jan. 31, 2008.
The defense had asked for documents about Watanabe's activities from Jan. 1, 2006, to April 28, 2009.
The documents ordered turned over include logs on Watanabe's gaming activities and casino markers, pre-shift briefing notes on Watanabe, his history of casino credit at Harrah's Entertainment, records of any prescription and nonprescription drugs provided by casino employees, and records of alcoholic beverages served to Watanabe.
Togliatti also agreed to review in private surveillance video, audio recordings and photographs that the defense says might show Watanabe was too incapacitated to make sound judgments.
She also requested to view in private documents submitted by Harrah's to the Nevada Gaming Control Board regarding Watanabe's activities during 2007.
Gaming regulators have opened an investigation into whether Harrah's violated any gaming laws in its handling and treatment of Watanabe.
Harrah's attorney Dominic Gentile said after the hearing that the company agreed all along that Watanabe is entitled to materials relevant to his defense.
"But what the judge said today is that a criminal defendant like Mr. Watanabe doesn't get to go on a fishing expedition," Gentile said. "We're very pleased with this ruling."
Watanabe's trial is scheduled to begin July 12.
Contact reporter Arnold M. Knightly at aknightly@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893.
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Wait bradgore, how is being rich and spending money in ways that entertain you without harming others "Bad Karma"?
Gambling is NOT a donation situation at all. It's strictly games of chance, with the thrill of winning whenever that happens to you. If he lost the money fair and square, he should pay his debts. If Harrah's did in fact allow him to play in an inebriated state, then that is in fact wrong, and they should be denied any moneys considered as their *winnings*.
Don't blame gambling here. Sure the games are stacked in a casino's favor, but that is apart of the price that you pay in order for a casino to offer a player those higher value stakes, not to mention host the games themselves and the guests in agreeable accommodations.
If you've got the money that you can afford to lose, and you yourself are a fair player who understands the risks involved, gambling is an honest trade and pastime for all involved.
People profit fairly, and even you your self benefit from the effects of gambling as you don't pay any State Income Tax on your wages. Now if you want to talk about dishonest gamblers who do in fact hurt people and profit off of the unbearable losses of people, we can discuss Investment Bankers and Hedgefund Managers...
Hey, the man is cutting into Gary Fatboy's bonus. Of course Har de har hars will persue this into the next century, if necessary.
Trying to tie George Bush into the argument has completely invalidated your point. The legal issues associated with asbestos predate either one of them. Get your facts straight.
As far back as the 1960s (and possibly earlier) evidence arose that asbestos posed a health hazard. Various industries that were involved with the mining and manufacture of products associated with Asbestos did suppress that information, yes. With mounting legal pressure, a voluntary reduction/suspension of Asbestos used in the construction industry in 1980 and earlier in the garment industries (fireproof clothing like head socks) led the the halting of lawsuits. That 20 year span is where the actual legal problems arose from.
Continuing on, what of my statement of Asbestos exposure is inaccurate? People have worked in office buildings for years and have been safe. Like I also said, automobiles themselves are the biggest consumers of Asbestos products to this day. But amazingly not everyone who has even been around a car has gotten sick from asbestos. Why is that? Well because you missed my earlier point, it's because of HOW you are exposed to Asbestos that can make you sick. Hold a chunk in your hand? No, you won't get cancer. Start crumbling some asbestos insulation in your hand and start sniffing it, or doing demolition work without proper respirators and ventilation in a building that contains it? Well then, that's a different story... So once again, what was I wrong about?
You want to do another comparison? Look at your lawn outside. There's a good chance that it's contaminated with anthrax, especially if it's sod imported from a farm. Does that mean if you go barefoot you're gonna die? No. You have to INHALE anthrax, just like Asbestos for either one of them to hurt you.