Casino Crime News Roundup: Ailing Woman Refused Entry to Casino

A woman who was ill and did not have her service dog with her at Nevada's Nugget Casino Resort was allegedly instructed to vacate the gaming establishment. 

Heather Vanus, who is said to have epilepsy, recently attempted to go to the casino she usually visits multiple times a week. However, around two weeks prior, the Reno dweller was without her service dog, Cherry, by her side. Cherry needed to remain at home because the dog had recently been neutered. 

Thus, Vanus visited the casino accompanied by her fiancé. 

When a security guard noticed Cherry’s absence, he presented Vanus with an ultimatum.

"They said you can either remove yourself, or you can leave in cuffs,” Vanus recalled to Nevada TV station KOLO. “After it happened, my fiancé looked at me and asked if that really just happened.”

“Security told me that if she [Cherry] stayed at home, then I should have stayed at home with her,” Vanus said.

She also explained to KOLO she’s been a regular at the Nugget Casino for three years.

“They know who we are. When we come in, they automatically bring me water for my dog,” Vanus said about the staff at the casino.

Cherry understands how to notify the woman if a seizure is imminent. 

The Nugget Casino chose not to comment on the incident to KOLO, but in a statement, it affirmed its “full commitment to meeting all ADA standards, and we welcome all guests with disabilities accompanied by service animals … we stay devoted to providing an inclusive atmosphere for all our patrons.” 

 

Four Individuals Charged Following Operation 

A search on October 17 of a supposed gambling ring in East Oakland, Calif. resulted in four arrests and the police confiscating cash and gaming equipment. 

As per CBS News, an unknown quantity of gambling machines, cash, three guns, ammunition, and suspected illicit drugs were confiscated during the raid. Officers also confiscated multiple vehicles that were reported as stolen. 

Authorities secured a search warrant for the location after being notified of unusual activity on the premises. 

Four individuals within the building were apprehended, but their identities were not disclosed. 

“The department and City of Oakland will seek criminal and civil accountability for those involved in this illegal and dangerous operation, which has contributed to blight in the neighborhood,” the Oakland Police Department said in a recent statement about the raid.