Has Harrah's Become Greedy In Their Quest For Gamblers' Money?

Harrah's Entertainment is one of the most successful casino operators in the world. The company, however, is locked in an intense legal battle with a former customer who has paid Harrah's over $100 million in gambling losses.

As previously reported, Terrance Watanabe is facing criminal charges stemming from over $14 million that Harrah's claims was extended to the gambler in credit. Watanabe has responded by filing a civil suit, alleging that Harrah's employees continued to feed Watanabe pain pills and alcohol to keep him gambling.

The amount of money that Watanabe lost is staggering. It is believed that the $127 million that was lost in 2007 was the most in the history of Las Vegas, and there have been some high rollers that have come through casino doors in that city.

The fact that Harrah's even went after Watanabe for the additional $14 million after already receiving over $100 million from the gambler is astounding. Harrah's claims they did nothing wrong, and that Watanabe is just looking for excuses for his gambling losses.

"At some point, wouldn't the casino think to themselves that this gambler was getting in over his head," said Gaming Analyst Brad Dawkins, "In many cases, the gambler attacks the casino for their losses, but this seems to be an extraordinary circumstance."

Watanabe believes Harrah's knew exactly what they were doing when they supplied him with the pain pills and encouraged him to keep gambling, even while he was intoxicated. Harrah's has spun the story to make people believe that Watanabe is a criminal that is looking for an escape.

Several Harrah's employees that work for the company in their Las Vegas casino, and several other former employees, have collaborated Watanabe's story that managers told them to continue to allow Watanabe to gamble while intoxicated.

Harrah's cannot be blamed for their actions if they are proven to be true. The losses of Watanabe at the Rio and Caesars Palace in 2007 accounted for over five percent of Harrah's gambling revenue from Sin City that year.

Watanabe has plead not guilty to the four criminal counts he is charged with. He will go to trial next year on those charges, and the civil suit is ongoing as well.

December 7, 2009
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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