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Trooper attended high-roller party, casino contends
State officials investigating whether Belterra provided prostitutes for guests, as alleged in suit.
Associated Press
June 24, 2002
VEVAY, Ind. -- Indiana State Police are investigating the presence of an off-duty trooper at a Belterra casino party during which a lawsuit claims the casino supplied prostitutes for high-rollers.
A review of the trooper's action is part of the Indiana Gaming Commission's investigation of the allegations surrounding the party last summer at the Ohio River casino, said Jack Thar, the commission's executive director.
The state trooper's presence was mentioned in Belterra's response to a federal lawsuit filed by two women who formerly worked at the casino.
The sexual harassment lawsuit says that eight to 12 prostitutes were brought in from California and Louisville to entertain 48 wealthy male guests who had participated in a golf tournament at Belterra.
The casino has denied that it arranged for any prostitutes and said representatives of the state gambling commission were at the party in Belterra's Celebrity Room.
Thar said that "there was an Indiana State Police trooper who was off duty who acts, when he's on duty, as a representative of the Indiana Gaming Commission at the Belterra facility. And he was present in the Celebrity Room."
In a story published Sunday by The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Ky., Thar said he did not know how long the trooper, whom he would not identify, was in the room.
The gambling commission has said its investigation found that eight or more women were flown in on an aircraft leased by Pinnacle Entertainment, the casino's parent company, and brought to Belterra for the entertainment of the golf tournament guests.
Six of the commission's seven members recommended at last month's meeting that the penalties against Belterra include substantial fines and a lengthy probation for the casino, based about 35 miles southwest of Cincinnati.
The commission gave tentative approval to an agreement that forces former Pinnacle Chairman R.D. Hubbard to sell his stock in the company, pay a $740,000 fine and $10,000 in investigative expenses and relinquish his Indiana casino license.
The commission has not taken final action in the case.
State officials investigating whether Belterra provided prostitutes for guests, as alleged in suit.
Associated Press
June 24, 2002
VEVAY, Ind. -- Indiana State Police are investigating the presence of an off-duty trooper at a Belterra casino party during which a lawsuit claims the casino supplied prostitutes for high-rollers.
A review of the trooper's action is part of the Indiana Gaming Commission's investigation of the allegations surrounding the party last summer at the Ohio River casino, said Jack Thar, the commission's executive director.
The state trooper's presence was mentioned in Belterra's response to a federal lawsuit filed by two women who formerly worked at the casino.
The sexual harassment lawsuit says that eight to 12 prostitutes were brought in from California and Louisville to entertain 48 wealthy male guests who had participated in a golf tournament at Belterra.
The casino has denied that it arranged for any prostitutes and said representatives of the state gambling commission were at the party in Belterra's Celebrity Room.
Thar said that "there was an Indiana State Police trooper who was off duty who acts, when he's on duty, as a representative of the Indiana Gaming Commission at the Belterra facility. And he was present in the Celebrity Room."
In a story published Sunday by The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Ky., Thar said he did not know how long the trooper, whom he would not identify, was in the room.
The gambling commission has said its investigation found that eight or more women were flown in on an aircraft leased by Pinnacle Entertainment, the casino's parent company, and brought to Belterra for the entertainment of the golf tournament guests.
Six of the commission's seven members recommended at last month's meeting that the penalties against Belterra include substantial fines and a lengthy probation for the casino, based about 35 miles southwest of Cincinnati.
The commission gave tentative approval to an agreement that forces former Pinnacle Chairman R.D. Hubbard to sell his stock in the company, pay a $740,000 fine and $10,000 in investigative expenses and relinquish his Indiana casino license.
The commission has not taken final action in the case.