William Bennett considering lawsuits against casinos

The Las Vegas Review-Journal ^ | Tuesday, July 29, 2003 | ROD SMITH

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

Morals czar William Bennett is considering filing lawsuits against Las Vegas casino companies that may have leaked documents detailing his gambling habits.

Bennett, the architect and leading advocate of Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" anti-drug campaign, was outed in the May issue of The Washington Monthly magazine as a gambler who has wagered -- and lost -- millions over the past decade at Bellagio and Caesars Atlantic City.

During a 60-minute interview with Tim Russert on CNCB this weekend, the former education secretary complained his privacy rights had been "deliberately damaged" while also mocking Las Vegas' latest national marketing campaigns.

"By the way, there's a commercial on that people may have seen about Las Vegas, that 'What happens here stays here.' Well, not in my case. Some people there were trying to do me great harm," Bennett said.

The "What happens here" ad campaign is part of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority's latest marketing campaign to boost tourism to the city.

He argued the magazine report stemmed from the release of "some documents" by the casinos themselves which was not legal and violated his privacy rights.

He alleges documents were selectively leaked to create a false impression that he had a gaming problem.

While Bennett did not dispute the legitimacy of the documents and said he had no problem with the reporters who have written stories on his gambling, he told Russert the release of the information was not legal and he is looking into the possibility of legal action against the casinos.

On Monday, Bennett declined to comment further on the possibility of legal action against the casino companies.

Spokesmen for Park Place Entertainment Corp. , owner of the Caesars Atlantic City, and MGM Mirage, which operates Bellagio, declined comment.

Industry insiders have said details in The Washington Monthly article suggest the data about Bennett's gambling habits might actually have come from documents produced by Central Credit, a subsidiary of First Data Corp. of Greenwood Village, Colo.

Central Credit, which has denied being a source of the documents, is the gaming industry equivalent of credit reporting agency TRW. It allows member casinos to run credit checks on debts, marker activity and repayment habits of casino customers.

Industry experts and civil liberties attorneys doubt Bennett has a cause of action.

Las Vegas professor and casino gambling expert Bill Thompson said Bennett's privacy rights "were violated. I think he has a beef, but I don't know if he has a legal argument."

Allen Lichtenstein, general counsel for the Nevada chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said "It might be good policy, but in the absence of some policy or contract, it does not appear there is a cause of action," he said.

[hchutch]

His privacy was invaded, IMHO. The type of stuff that got leaked out was stuff that one would think would be private. There was an expectation of privacy, I think. Had the reports of his gambling habit come from someone who saw him making a huge bet, that would be a different matter, IMHO.

[MEGoody]

"The impression that he was gambling was true. Nothing false about it."

The impression given that he had a gambling addiction is the issue. And that has not proven to be true.

And even if he does, do you think casinos should be in the business of 'outing' every person who comes to their place of business who they feel has an addiction of some sort. They serve alcohol at casinos. Should they also 'out' the person they think is an alcoholic?

[philosofy123]

Bennett is a loser!!!

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Why not use alcohol or smoking? Who are the adults in the family, and what about the choices that they make that effect their families? Has anyone suggested that Bennett is a terrible husband or father?

[Bluntpoint]

I'm just making an observation about moral relativism.

If you were married to Hillary, would Monica look all that bad?

[Pan_Yans Wife]

If gambling goes against scripture, what about the Bingo nights that the Catholic church has supported in the past?

[gcruse]

I really don't care if they 'out' them are not.
Watching social conservatives tie themselves in
knots defending vice and now, keeping it quiet,
is hilarious, though.

[miloklancy]

I agree with Bennett in that he certainly has a legal right to go after the Casinos, as they are supposed to maintain a degree of confidentiality. However it would sure be nice if Mr. Holier than Thou, was a little more contrite about his erroneous judgement of other people's morals in light of his personal conduct.

[Bluntpoint]

I think the church needs to make public a list of all those "bingoing" in the church cafeterias and basements.

[Bluntpoint]

However it would sure be nice if Mr. Holier than Thou, was a little more contrite about his erroneous judgement of other people's morals in light of his personal conduct.

Or at least he should have to wear a shock collar for an entire month and be zapped every time he acts morally smug.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

There are lots of things Jesus wouldn't do. You, me, and everyone else here probably did a few of them this morning already.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Well, no...a vice isn't a "good" thing - but don't you have any? Do you consider yourself a person of poor character because of them?

[lawdude]

Vegas has been running ads here in Phoenix stating that, "What Happens Here Stays Here!"

Yea, sure.

[Bluntpoint]

Would Jesus floss. I didn't floss.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

My mom plays bingo every Tuesday night and buys scratch tickets...and you know what? I'm not worried about it, and I don't think she has a spiritual problem because of it.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Would Jesus floss. I didn't floss.

Exactly! LOL

[lawdude]

"Hey Bill, how bout taking a little personal responsibility, eh? What a hypocrite."

Would you care to identify the hypocracy?

[Bluntpoint]

Ok then. I'm posting your mom's name and a schedule of her wins and losses.

[gcruse]

It's like the other poster said. This is all about whose ox is being gored. If it were a liberal enmeshed in this, the gleeful condemnation would be unending. Bennett isn't the real hypocrit in all this.

[ml/nj]

Industry insiders have said details in The Washington Monthly article suggest the data about Bennett's gambling habits might actually have come from documents produced by Central Credit, a subsidiary of First Data Corp. of Greenwood Village, Colo.

The trade of the whole credit reporting business is libel. (I'm sure they have received legal exemption from libel suits, else they would be facing them many times a day.)

ML/NJ