Former casino owner Steve Wynn garnered a legal victory this week as a judge ruled the Nevada Gaming Commission does not have jurisdiction over a person who has no current association with a licensed gaming operation.
Wynn resigned from Wynn Resorts in February 2018, just weeks after the Wall Street Journal published an article alleging several instances of sexual indiscretions. The Nevada Gaming Control Board performed an investigation into those allegations.
Wynn failed to appear at a hearing held by the Gaming Control Board on Sept. 7, 2018. On Oct. 14, 2019, the GCB filed a complaint against Wynn that asked the Nevada Gaming Commission to revoke Wynn’s “suitability” to be involved in a “gaming enterprise or the gaming industry as a whole” due to the negative publicity.
In January of this year, Wynn sought a petition for judicial review on the grounds the Board and Commission lacked statutory authority or jurisdiction to pursue any action against him, including the imposition of discipline or fines because – after resigning from the company and selling his stock – he no longer was involved in the gaming industry.
In a ruling signed Nov. 19, Clark County District Judge Adriana Escobar found because Wynn “has no material involvement, directly or indirectly” with a licensed gaming operation, “this Court finds that Respondents have no jurisdiction to impose discipline or fines against Petitioner.”
“Respondents fail to provide any authority supporting their jurisdiction over a person no longer involved in Nevada’s gaming industry in any capacity. Importantly, respondents fail to support their position that they have jurisdiction over a person with no intent to be involved in Nevada’s gaming industry in the future. Why? There is none,” the judge wrote.
