The Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati in Ohio has been hit by a 0,000 fine from the state and faces a federal lawsuit for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution of one of its patrons.
Rock Ohio Caesars, the parent company of the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati has been fined $200,000 by the Ohio Casino Control Commission for failing to disclose details associated with the purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment at the casino.
The commission approved the transaction by ROC Finance LLC, a subsidiary of the company last autumn, but then the casino took a different route in financing the purchases without informing the commission. State law governing casinos requires them to inform the commission about all of their activities. This is the largest fine so far imposed by the commission.
Rock Ohio Caesars owns two casinos in the state, in Cleveland and Cincinnati and the ThistleDown Racino.
Commission Executive Director Matt Schuler commented, “Financial suitability of casino operators is one of the cornerstones of the casino control law. The way we are able to do our part on behalf of the people of Ohio is to have a transparency with the casinos and holding companies on their finances.”
The commission notified the casino operator of the violation two months ago. It declined to hold a hearing and agreed to settle the fine.
At the same time the Horseshoe has been sued by a Centerville resident, Mark DiSalvo, who alleges that three employees of the casino gave false testimony about him after he was detained as he was leaving the casino in 2013. He originally also sued three police officers, but the city settled that for $4,250.
According to the complaint, DiSalvo won a $2,000 jackpot on a video poker machine but was unable to claim the money because he didn’t have proper ID. Despite frequent requests, he was not given the paperwork for two hours. When DiSalvo checked the ID of one of the employees who he claimed was not being helpful as he was leaving, the police were called.
DiSalvo and the casino have been negotiating a possible settlement, with DiSalvo asking for $56,000 and the casino offering $10,000.
But not all is fines and lawsuits with the Horseshoe brand, the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, the sister casino to the casino in Cincinnati, is submitting plans for reclaiming some barren property and turning it into a park with gaming themed artwork.
The artwork would be a large sculpture of a dice on top of a stack of poker chips. The former owners of the tiny 0.11-acre plot fought the casino’s acquisition of the land, which included an old building, the Stanley Block. The city said the building was unsafe and ordered it demolished. The casino eventually purchased the property in May of this year for $350,000 at an auction.
The land is bordered on three sides by the casino’s welcoming center and valet parking garage.
