Steve Wynn surrendered his gaming license in 2018 amid allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment. He severed his relationship with Wynn Resorts.
To Wynn, his relationship with gaming in Nevada is over and the Gaming Control Board can no longer hold him accountable for actions that took place when he held a license. The board says otherwise, according to the Nevada Independent.
Wynn lawyer, Colby Williams, told the state Supreme Court Wynn wasn’t getting “a free pass” for alleged misconduct but that regulators have no authority over his client, including failing to appear at a Gaming Control Board hearing.
Wynn gave up his license 20 months before the control board filed the five-count complaint that labeled him “unsuitable to be associated with a gaming enterprise or the gaming industry as a whole.”
The control board and Nevada Gaming Commission are appealing a November 2020 District Court ruling that said Wynn’s resignation and sale of his holdings in the company removed him from their oversight.
“Is Mr. Wynn going to be held accountable for acts that occurred while he was under a suitability finding?” Justice Lidia Stiglich said.
Regulators expressed concern that the lower court ruling would make it difficult for them to discipline former license holders after they leave the industry.
Deputy Attorney General Kiel Ireland said suitability doesn’t go away even if a gaming operator surrenders its license.
“A finding of suitability under our Gaming Control Act does not have any kind of automatic expiration,” Ireland said.
Chief Justice James Hardesty suggested the lower court’s ruling on oversight could allow gaming license holders to “absolve themselves of potential fine exposure for violations of the Gaming Act” just by leaving their positions with a gaming company
Wynn has long denied the allegations but still departed the company two weeks after they surfaced. and/or investigate” numerous allegations of sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct by Steve Wynn.
