Iowa Enforces Fines Against Casinos For Admitting Banned Patrons
The state of Iowa is struggling to reach an effective and amicable way to enforce the ban of gamblers who have signed the voluntary self-exclusion act. Persons who violate the agreement are subjext to $200 tresspassing fines, but casinos which, knowingly or not, admit a customer who is self-excluded face fines of $20,000 or more. Two casinos have already faced the penalty.
Riverside Casino and Golf Resort and Catfish Bend Casino both have been charged the excessive fine, and their managers suggest the blame should not lie with the casinos. Joe Massa, general manager of the Riverside casino, noted that signing the agreement often occurs at the behest of family and friends, and does not indicate a true desire to be banned.
Furthermore, with 2200 people on the exclusion list and over a million customers through the door, it is next to impossible to guarantee prevention of every attempt to enter by the excluded, said Jesus Aviles, general manager of the Diamond Jo Casino.
Aviles also commented that the fines might have a negative effect, encouraging casino employees to keep quiet about patrons inside the establishment who might have slipped in the door, especially as workers would face discipline for admitting excluded customers.
Jack Ketterer, head of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Comission, said changes could be made to the relatively new policy, but that he expects the casinos to first accept some ownership of the problem and help reach a better solution, if they wish to avoid further and steeper fines.
