Caesars and Bally’s Atlantic City have agreed to pay ,000 for improperly raising their casino parking garage fees during two free beach concerts held in the resort last year.
The state’s Gaming Enforcement Division said that Bally’s and Caesars charged customers as much as $50 to park, despite being authorized to only charge $30, according to a report by the Associated Press.
The agency said the casinos also applied the inflated rate to customers that had been parked in their garages before the higher charges were implemented, demanding they pay the higher when exiting.
DGE Director David Rebuck said the casinos’ actions constituted “serious noncompliance” with state casino regulations.
“The use of such practices by casino license holders reflects discredit upon the gaming industry, and constitutes an unsuitable manner of operation,” he wrote.
The DGE did not fine the casinos, but they agreed to pay $50,000 to the state, which will be used for consumer protection programs, the AP said.
The two casinos are located close to where the beach concerts were held and many felt that by inflating their parking prices, the casinos undermined the city’s marketing goals in holding the free concerts.
Caesars Entertainment said it is pleased to have put the matter behind it.
“Caesars Entertainment is committed to being transparent in all of its operations,” it said in a statement. “We regret any misunderstanding related to parking rates in our Atlantic City facilities.”
