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- Can the Casino Security Detain You?
Can the Casino Security Detain You?

The Internet is filled with TikTok videos of rowdy casino-goers who end up in custody. But who is enforcing the rules on casino floors? Is it the police or the on-site security staff?
The question is both. Yet not all videos that circulate online show people detained for a clear reason. Sometimes they protest politely but are led away anyway. This begs the question: can casino security detain you, and under what conditions? The answer – it depends.
Can Casino Security Legally Detain You?
Yes, casinos are private properties, and their security teams and members are instructed to detain any individual who falls in a certain category. The rules around detention can be arbitrary, and the security staff has a fair degree of autonomy in the matter. Jurisdictional policies can also influence a decision on when a person may be detained.
For example, in Nevada, the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) has described specific cases when a person can be detained. In the case of the Silver State, these instances include but aren’t limited to:
- Trespassing (Self-Excluded Players, Banned Players)
- Illegal Conduct (Inebriated, Assaulting Patrons, Getting into Fights over Game Outcomes)
- Probable Cause (Referring to Possible Illegal Conduct Which Needs to Be Verified by Security)
In each case, the security can detain you legally, although you can still challenge any detention in a court of law; the security is not exempt from responsibility for unlawful detention. Out of the above, trespassing is the most easily defined situation in which a patron can be detained.
Anyone on a self-exclusion or banned list can be detained or/and escorted from the premises, although the incident must always be reported to the regulator. Disorderly conduct is also another cause for detention, especially if law enforcement needs to be called.
However, no matter what the principal cause for detention is, you have the right to pursue legal action against the casino if you believe that you have been unlawfully detained, and casinos may suffer consequences because of your detention.
What Happens Next? Can You Sue the Casino?
The short answer is yes; you can. The long one – it depends, as the success of any litigation would depend on whether there is a good argument to make. While attorneys are happy to charge their clients or look around for class-action lawsuits, there are reasons to consider in the first place.
Unprovoked detentions do happen. A person may be detained even if they were only trying to back off from another visibly aggressive visitor, for example. Security has to make snap decisions, and sometimes they can be mistaken. They are still liable, however.
Then there is the “probable cause” argument. Anyone who has been detained can legally challenge casinos in court and ask them to provide evidence that there was indeed probable cause for their detention. In the absence of one, this could lead to settlements.
Patrons could also argue that they were not informed about the casino’s rights, and they detain customers. For example, the lack of warning signs could serve as a legal argument against the casino. Other angles of attack that the customer could use boil down to arguing that you were detained at an “unreasonable place,” such as a storage room, or “unreasonable time.”
Your belongings cannot be taken away from you, unless there is a specific reason allowing you to conduct criminal activity, too. So, in short, a casino can detain you, but they would usually only do so if the security team believes there is a really good reason to do so.
Can the Casino Detain Me for Winning Too Much?
Another relevant question is whether the casino can detain you for “winning too much.” This will also depend on how the casino interprets your behavior. For starters, cheating at casinos is a felony in most jurisdictions. If you are caught cheating, whether through additional devices or with the help of another person, such as the dealer, you could face litigation.
Then again, card counting is not really considered cheating if you are doing it in your mind, but interestingly enough, you will most likely be asked to leave and restricted from the gaming tables. A casino cannot prove that you are counting cards, but even then, there is no law against it, especially when it requires tremendous skill to pull it off in the first place.
Regarding detention, it’s unlikely that a casino will detain you just because you are winning too much without suspecting that you are also cheating in some way that it is trying to figure out. Most of the time, the staff will politely inform you that you may no longer be served at the casino and will have to leave. Oftentimes, a restriction to re-enter is also imposed.
So, while you won’t be detained for winning too much, the casino is within its rights to deny you service if you think you are defying the odds, and it has no way of proving how you do it. Even Dana White has been banned a few times because of his “annoying” play style, where he would bet a few hands and then cash out.
What to Do If You Get Detained at a Casino?
The first thing is to cooperate. If you are confident, you have not done anything wrong, and you offer full cooperation. You may refuse to give any personal items in and warn the security team that, unless they have a clear reason and proof, they will be open to litigation both personally and as representatives of the casino.
Do not argue and do not become violent or physical. Usually, there needs to be police present – or other law enforcement – for you to relinquish any personal effects. Point this out to the casino staff and remain calm and avoid physical confrontation. If possible, demand to be detained in a room with a video camera, and point out that you will request this footage through a lawyer and in a court of law if you want to, all while keeping a civil tone.
Should You Sue the Casino?
It is always tempting to sue the casino and seek damages. There are several things you should know. First, you need to speak with an attorney and fast – if you have done nothing wrong (or think so), you should seek legal help right away.
If you have acted civilly and have not caused any disruption, you are probably within your rights to seek an explanation from the casino – they will often refuse to provide you with one, as they may just be “suspecting” you of wrongdoing.
Should you indeed not have done anything wrong, you may consider litigation, while also researching whether other people have been treated in a similar way. At this point, an attorney would be your best guide, and you should ensure that you work with a professional who is able to offer legal advice and clarify what your chances are.
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Jerome brings a wealth of journalistic experience within the iGaming sector. His interest in the industry began after graduating from college, where he regularly participated in local poker tournaments. This exposure led him to the growing popularity of online poker and casino rooms. Jerome now channels all the knowledge he's accrued to fuel his passion for journalism, providing our team with the latest scoops online.
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