Brian Ohorilko (file photo)
The Hard Rock Casino in Sioux City agreed to a $5,000 fine today from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission for its second gambling violation in as many months. Iowa Racing and Gaming administrator Brian Ohorilko says the violation involved a person who had agreed to a self ban.
“An individual that had signed up on the statewide list in 2007, that individual was able to obtain a player’s club card at the Hard Rock facility, so that was the triggering factor for the violation,” Ohorilko explains.
The fine was based on the casino’s history of violations. “The violation was one that was self-reported by Hard Rock. It is their second violation of this nature within the past 365 days, which past precedent called for a $5,000 fine. That’s what the parties agreed to, and the commission did approve that stipulation,” Ohorilko says.
This violation comes just one month after the casino was fined $3,000 at the commission’s March meeting. “The first incident occurred a few months prior to this, and the parties — Hard Rock and commission staff — entered into a stipulated agreement at that time,” Ohorilko says.
The casino has only been open since August of last year. Ohorilko says management has been doing some retraining of staff following the violations. “They’ve implemented additional procedures and controls to help prevent this,” Ohorilko says. “They do have a number of new employees at the new facility, however it doesn’t change our expectations and Hard Rock management recognizes that and has indicated that they are going to try to address it.”
The person in the first violation was able to gamble and was not caught until he tried to cash in the jackpot and his name turned up on the banned list.