Las Vegas Casinos Sued for Allegedly Allowing Sex Trafficking

A civil lawsuit filed in Nevada state court alleges that two Las Vegas casino properties failed to intervene in a long-running case of sex trafficking involving convicted offender Nathan Chasing Horse.

The complaint names Boyd Gaming’s Cannery Casino and Station Casinos’ Santa Fe Station, claiming both properties allowed Chasing Horse to use hotel rooms for trafficking activity over nearly a decade. 

Eyes Wide Shut

The two plaintiffs, identified in court documents as M.L. and C.L., claim they were exploited between 2014 and 2022.

The day they chose to submit their filing, April 27, 2026, coincided with the day former actor Chasing Horse was sentenced to life in prison following his conviction for trafficking and sexual abuse charges. 

The lawsuit says that the man, known for his role in the film “Dances With Wolves”, would regularly book multiple rooms at the two casinos and receive complimentary stays while using the spaces for repeated abuse. 

The plaintiffs allege that casino employees witnessed multiple warning signs, including visible injuries, exhaustion, restricted movement, and close monitoring by Chasing Horse.

The complaint also claims staff saw the women being closely controlled on casino floors and prevented from interacting freely with employees. In some instances, it alleges staff warned Chasing Horse about police presence on the property.

The lawsuit argues that the high level of activity around the hotel rooms should have sufficed to raise clear concerns, but that neither property reported suspicious behavior or acted to protect the victims. 

It also accuses the casinos of failing to implement adequate anti-trafficking training or enforcement procedures.

“The Circle”

Chasing Horse, described as a self-styled spiritual leader in court documents, allegedly used manipulation, isolation, and violence to control victims as part of a group he called “The Circle.”

Prosecutors said during the criminal trial that he exploited vulnerable Indigenous women and girls, using coercion and psychological control.

The civil complaint further alleges that victims were pressured into believing the abuse was part of spiritual practice and were subjected to threats and physical violence. It also references claims that victims were branded with tattoos that could have been visible to hotel staff.

The plaintiffs now seek unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. No court date has been scheduled for the case.