Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

As many of in the Poker Community know . My room and my Safe were broken into during While I was playing the WSOP 2k NL Tourney at the Rio. Allen Kessler friend and fellow Poker Pro suggested I post on hear for some advice and or feedback. Here is where it stands so far. The Rio does not deny that $32,000 was taken from my hotel room safe, they say that they are only insured up to $750.00 for hotel theft which is insane. I am a Diamond Member and Player at the Harrah's Properties, but I am just a Poker Player I am not an attorney but I have spoken to many since my phone has been blowing up since this has happened. Here are the facts and then I would love to get some feedback.

1. I posted up over $40k when I checked in with my VIP Host.

2. I put 3 wraps of 10k and a rubber band of 2k in the safe the morning of 6/29 and left my room to the Amazon at 11:40 , I passed the maid and she asked if I wanted my room cleaned and I said yes.

3. I came back to my room not long after session 1 or 2 to get my camera, opened my room and noticed my safe was open and in lock position, money wraps left on the ground (10k) and $100 bill laying on top of the safe. I called Security and they came immediatly, they called Vegas Metro . All the way up to Las Vegas C.S.I. was all in my room until 3am.

4. I was informed from C.S.I. that there was a breaking in the high limit gaming room downstairs earlier that morning and approx 10-10k(100k total) Chips were stoled from broken glass in a locked table. The Thief got away. She was called in and got a blood sample and some prints.

5. After everyone left my room was completely destroyed by C.S.I. as they pretty much ripped everything apart. I was not offered another room and hotel management was not returning my calls. Is this how they treat their Diamond Members?

6. That Morning again I called Hotel Managment and no calls returned, My Casino Host said he was out Saturday and Sunday and would call me when he could. Monday came around and nothing happened , no calls nothing. So I sent an email to the C.E.O. Vice Chair and President of Harrah's . 30 mins later Hayden Walker from Risk Management called me and said they were doing an investigation of their own but this doesn't happen at the Rio.(Things like this). I am not saying the Rio is a bad place as I have only had previous good experiences, but it does happen, I told him I knew of the Breakin of the 100k in chips that morning and that the Police said several safes have been broken into in the past. This stuff does happen at the Rio all the time it seems!

6. No like 1000's of people have asked me on my myspace , there are no camera's in the hallways at the Rio , crazy I know but they are only camera's in the Elevators, They think the Thief took the stairs.

Bottom line is the Rio does not deny there was a break in as it was clear there was, they knew approx that I had that much on me and or in the safe. They said at this point the best the can probably do is offer me the insurance of the safe , the Max $750! You have got to be frigging kidding me?! I don't care if I am a $5 player or Whale, There is not disclaimer anywhere on the safe to say "This Safe is not responsible for theft" , But I was informed it's on small print on the door under the Fire Escape Plan, Like I told them, I forgot to read that when I was running from my room in Flames. This is being handled so poorly but Harrah's and I have had everyone Media News Station, Ambulance Chaser Attorneys and Even High Profile Attorneys wanting to take this. I have ignored all New Stations as I think I have been very professional by giving the Rio and Harrah's the chance to make this right. $32,000 is a lot of money to anyone and I have even offered to donate half of that amount to Annie Duke's Anti Up For Africa Charity if the Rio was honorable enough to at least return the money. There security at the Rio is obviously seriouly flawed as who get's away clean free from stealing 100k in chips without anyone noticing that morning. No Camera's, Nothing!

I have gone from frustrated , to Furious to Baffled as to why Harrah's Properties would handle a situation like this so poorly and basically trying to brush me under the carpet. I am known to spend 20-50k a night in their Casino's when I am not playing poker in Various table games which got me the Diamond status in the 1st place. Why they would risk the bad press, the loss and respect of a valued guest or even if I wasn't a Professional Poker Player , any quest this happened too should get more attention. The only person that has said they were sorry was the maid! She came to my room after the interogated her and she said she cleaned the floor around the safe and the safe was locked. She would of noticed the safe was open and she would of seen the wraps. This poor woman was crying as she had been there 10yrs and I believe her. Below is my origial posts that was sent out on myspace with my myspace addy if you wnat to see the crime scene photo's. I am giving the Rio til 8pm today to get me a resolve or I am retaining a top Vegas Attorney I have already spoken with. Any advice any one want' to give would be appreciated as well.

Myspace.com/rakeking

photo's are in my blog under Rio Theft with more details of the story. Thanks to Allen Kessler and 100's of my Poker Friends and their support! I regret that I have to join a great forum like this and post such a negative story but like I said Allen thought it would be a good idea since I hear there are some great people in the community.

Have a Winning Day! Ben"EF"Hutton

Orig Myspace Bulletin:

July 3, 2007 - Tuesday

Rio Theft Update :Myspace

I got a call from the Rio today and the are offering me a huge settlement!

$750.00 F****ING DOLLARS! Boy I jumped right on that one! You have got to be friggin kidding me. Well they say it's an insurance issue and that is the max the safe is insured for. It doesn't say it on the safe , but according to the person I am working with at the Rio says it's in small print on the door under the fire escape plan! Guess I must of missed that when I was reading how to escape my room after I realized I was on fire!

I am beyond pissed off as you can tell. What this tells me and they admit fault. Of course I am not going to take $750.00 dollars when $32,0000 was stolen. Please someone tell me that I am crazy that a Hotel chain such as Harrah's is better then this??? I have spoke to 2 top law firms here in Vegas and they both said that since they are offering a settlement they admit fault. But they could have an out by the disclaimer on the door. Basically what I am hearing is they are affraid to take on Harrah's. Like I said in my previous bulletin I am the highest status card holder you can get at Harrah's and wouldn't you think they wouldn't want to lose a player that has been known to spend that is just one night, not bragging at all but I have and certain points and taken as much as $100k + off of tables in one night which got me that status at Harrah's, but all in all I am just a Poker Player, I am not a lawer, nor do I know what Hotel policies are as I have never seen such a poor handling of a situation.

What would you do at this point if you were me and you came back to your room after a long day of playing poker and found $32,000 stolen from you!?

I am speechless at this point so all I can think of is how would they like to get 2000 emails from 2000 of my friends!

I am trying to be a positive as possible and thanks to all of you countless emails and messages of support I got, even from some of the top Professional Poker Players that have offerered help in anyway they could, this isn't about money to me as much as principle because that is what I have based my life on. But I am about ready to go postal !!!

Hope someone is having a winning day as I am not! I am beyond perfect , but I have always done my best to help others anyway I can. I have been dirt poor and earned every dollar I have myself and never asked anyone for a dime. Things are worse going on in the world and I keep telling myself that, and someting good always comes from something bad, but this is pretty bad as I could of put 3 players into the World Series or done some real good with that amount of money and some jerk off that stole it probably got drunk and blew it all on a craps table somewhere. That is what is so upsetting and many of you that know me I rarely get upset nor amd I ever down. Some I hope there is some resolution to this madness as I was a victim of a theft in a Hotel that I have supported and trusted, Like Zman told me on the phone, if I was to steal $25.00 from someone at a table I would be in jail and the Casino would prosicute as they should, but I can be stolen from and such a large amount and they do nothing! Amazing... If I drank I would go get wasted right now, but I guess it's not too late to start drinking!

Love you all and all I can do is be greatfull of all the support I have had on here and outside of myspace as well many of my poker friends in the Amazon Poker Room at the Rio!

-EF Hutton





Ben'EF'Hutton

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

cliffs notes?

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

You said you have played 20k-50k on the tables. I know losing 32k blows and it was stolen from your room but you seem to be pretty well off is it really that big of a deal?

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

[ QUOTE ]
cliffs notes?

[/ QUOTE ]32G stolen from room safe, Harrah's offered $750. Harrah's being Harrahs.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

So was it Grissom that came and printed your room. Is it true that the camera adds 20lbs?

Brutal if true. You need to get one of those Eurovaction moneybelts that fit under your clothes to hold your money from now on.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

There was 32K stolen from his room and he can only get the insured 750 back.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

[ QUOTE ]
cliffs notes?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's worth reading.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

Honestly you take responsibility for what happens within your own room. Next time you should do what most high rollers do and put your money in a safe-deposit box with the cashier/front desk.

That way, they're responsible for it.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

http://www.cyberbee.com/whodunnit/images/whodunnit.gif

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

[ QUOTE ]
You said you have played 20k-50k on the tables. I know losing 32k blows and it was stolen from your room but you seem to be pretty well off is it really that big of a deal?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes it's a big deal. isn't 32k a huge deal to anyone? It's not about the money as much as it's about the principle of how this is being handled like I said in my myspace I am donating 1/2 of what is returned to Charity.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

don't worry - grissom's on the case

damn...easiest joke already taken obv

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

The big thing is don't put money in your hotel lockbox. That's the big thing. I know it sucks, I know I'd be irate if it happened to me but now we know nothing can be done in your situation.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

You really think this money will be returned?Charity or no charity this money will not be returned.
You can kick up a stink but it will get you no where.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

[ QUOTE ]
You said you have played 20k-50k on the tables. I know losing 32k blows and it was stolen from your room but you seem to be pretty well off is it really that big of a deal?

[/ QUOTE ]

Really would love to ban you for such a stupid post.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

My favorite part (sorry about your situation) is that the harrah's cameras work as well outside the amazon room. Do they even have security?

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

He claims in his post how much of a high roller he is. I know it sucks to lose money. The Hotel should be responsible but they obviously have everything thought of before hand. Obviously the OP needs to take more precaution in where he puts his money. I know a hotel room should be secure and the money should be secure in a safe but obviously it's not. Harrahs obviously has every door shut with respect to being responsible for the theft, what exactly can we or anyone do. The rules they have are written. You can try to sue them for being "irresponsible" but I doubt that will go very far.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

That kind of camera set up is pretty typical for a casino. They don't like people to know, but room security is not a priority. I don't know if if will work, but your best leverage for a settlement, (with terms that will never be disclosed), is to be ready to make a giant public stink about it during the ME. It should be worth something to Harrah's to avoid the press conference out front with the photos. Have you lawyer discuss this with them, and stop posting.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You said you have played 20k-50k on the tables. I know losing 32k blows and it was stolen from your room but you seem to be pretty well off is it really that big of a deal?

[/ QUOTE ]

Really would love to ban you for such a stupid post.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree I was saying it as an example of how I got my Diamond status in the 1st place and making a point. I was in now way trying to brag about how much I play, but trying to explain the situation, I never talk about money until this post, Allen Kessler thought it might be a good idea to post it here so I did, Yes 32k is a lot of Money !$100 is a lot of money! Many people play 10x as much as I do. And no it was not just a lock box , it was a diamond room safe, not your average toy safe. I know this is a public forum but who would ask such a stupid question as do you really need the money? The is so far from the point here or the post.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

[ QUOTE ]
He claims in his post how much of a high roller he is. I know it sucks to lose money. The Hotel should be responsible but they obviously have everything thought of before hand. Obviously the OP needs to take more precaution in where he puts his money. I know a hotel room should be secure and the money should be secure in a safe but obviously it's not. Harrahs obviously has every door shut with respect to being responsible for the theft, what exactly can we or anyone do. The rules they have are written. You can try to sue them for being "irresponsible" but I doubt that will go very far.

[/ QUOTE ]

NVG RULE:

Regardless of how baller somebody is, poo-pooing the (non gambling related) loss of somebody's yearly salary is just HYAHYACTHFFFFHYHCACSSST. Yes he feels it less than somebody else would, but that doesn't mean it doesn't suck.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

Since apparently there are no cameras in the hallway, (a surprise to me), someone should claim to seriously injure himself by slipping on a wet rug or something to that effect, and sue Harrahs for $1 Million for pain and suffering. Harrahs will eventually install cameras in the hallway.

DFSPON

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

Sorry, but this is pretty much standard procedure at any casino. Basically,the room safes are for putting stuff you don't mind losing in. Any half way serious thief can pop them open in short order. Always keep your valuables in the safety deposit boxes in the cashier's cage.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

I'm also a Diamond Member, and am appalled at how Harrah's has handled this to date. I agree that it's smart for you to give them a chance to "make it right", but don't shy away from making this a media nightmare for them if they don't. Harrahs and MGM are really battling each other for loyal rewards members, and you could really dent their reputation. The small stupid disclaimer (I've stayed at Harrah's properties easily 30-40 times in the last 3 years, and have used the safe and never seen the disclaimer myself) should not hold up if this is escalated. Count me in if you need support --- I'm willing to boycott Harrah's too on this one. If enough Diamond Members make a big stink about this, I'd sure hope someone in Mgmt will come to their senses and make this right.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

[ QUOTE ]
Since apparently there are no cameras in the hallway, (a surprise to me), someone should claim to seriously injure himself by slipping on a wet rug or something to that effect, and sue Harrahs for $1 Million for pain and suffering. Harrahs will eventually install cameras in the hallway.

DFSPON

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think committing a felony is the proper way to try and get Harrah's to put in cameras.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

[ QUOTE ]
That kind of camera set up is pretty typical for a casino. They don't like people to know, but room security is not a priority. I don't know if if will work, but your best leverage for a settlement, (with terms that will never be disclosed), is to be ready to make a giant public stink about it during the ME. It should be worth something to Harrah's to avoid the press conference out front with the photos. Have you lawyer discuss this with them, and stop posting.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was more referring to the $100K in chips not being caught than the room theft.

Obviously, this was an inside job. You don't break into random safes. Someone knew there was a substantial amount of cash in that one. [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

Moral of the Story
 

Bad beat. And Harrah's has no idea how to treat its players. But . . .

I have heard that these magnetic room safes can be broken into with a cell phone!

I always get a safety deposit box at the front desk instead.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

If the Rio took your money, then yes, they should definitely pay you back.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

You should've posted this in Brick and Mortar if you wanted to get serious replies.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

never staying or playing at any fkcing harrahs/rio/cesars whatever property

bunch of clowns

this and then the 86 of richard brodie for winning too much at video poker?

give me a break. these places have no clue how to run a casino

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

Only a complete BOOB brings that kind of cash into a hotel room. Why didn't you just have them put it in a safety deposit box?? What was the point of bringing it to your room?? To feel cool and rich?? U deserve to lose the cash!!

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

I've always hated Harrahs properties. Their blackjack rules suck and their room rates are rarely a good deal.

Every story I've read since the WSOP began makes me think that poker players should just stop playing at their properties. I have not heard a single good thing about them in the past month.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

Harrah's has proven yet again that they're all about the short-term thinking, and have no concept of long-term. They pull this crap to save some cash, yet it'll end up costing them much more in legal fees and bad press. They banish Richard Brodie for winning short-term in video poker, and they were instrumental in helping the online poker ban along, which I believe will eventually cut down on the number of newer, casual players picking up the game - which will stop them from ever playing at a casino once they get comfortable with it.


That, and I hate the layout of their casino. They suck.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

sure sounds like someone knew the $ was there

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

[ QUOTE ]
Only a complete BOOB brings that kind of cash into a hotel room. Why didn't you just have them put it in a safety deposit box?? What was the point of bringing it to your room?? To feel cool and rich?? U deserve to lose the cash!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Unnecessarily harsh. I don't gamble to that extent, but had always figured the safe was somewhat secure. But no one "deserves" to have money stolen from them.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

Ya who would ever think a safe was well... safe

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

[ QUOTE ]

1. I posted up over $40k when I checked in with my VIP Host.



[/ QUOTE ]

Does this mean that someone in the hotel knew about the money being in the room? It really seems like an inside job here, I don't know how common safe theft is, but it seems like a pretty high risk deal that would only be undertaken given a.) they knew there was big $ in the safe and b.) that OP would not be in the room. very, very fishy.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

Why do they have the safes in the rooms if you aren't really supposed to use them? What are people storing in them that they don't care if they lose or not? I bet they'd catch you if you tried swiping some towels on your checkout.

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

I don't understand from the OP how they opened the safe.
If the safe was defective, that might bolster a lawsuit.

Also, can't they figure out through the use of the cameras who exited an elevator at your floor who wasn't a hotel guest during the time period in question?

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

[ QUOTE ]
Only a complete BOOB brings that kind of cash into a hotel room. Why didn't you just have them put it in a safety deposit box?? What was the point of bringing it to your room?? To feel cool and rich?? U deserve to lose the cash!!

[/ QUOTE ]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1413/...70e2d6e3_o.jpg

that finishes with "or the poster isn't safe to operate message board machinery"

Re: Large THEFT! Rio Hotel Las Vegas 6/29/07
 

[ QUOTE ]
Why do they have the safes in the rooms if you aren't really supposed to use them? What are people storing in them that they don't care if they lose or not? I bet they'd catch you if you tried swiping some towels on your checkout.

[/ QUOTE ]

The safes ARE for the towels. Since you're responsible for them, you need to lock them up when you leave so nobody takes them and they end up on your bill.

Re: Moral of the Story
 

Why are you trying to give the Rio an easy way out of this?

You say the 32k is just principal, yet your willing to let
it all go under the media's radar, if they just pay you back?

That kind of pisses me off...Your dont even care about
the root of the problem (casino room security). If you
did you'd be spending all day doing interviews exposing
this widespread problem, that we as casino patrons will
have to deal with for the foreseeable future.