Published on: October 25, 2024, 11:57h.
Last updated on: October 25, 2024, 11:57h.
A federal judge in Nevada has dismissed a lawsuit filed by high-stakes gambler Robert “RJ” Cipriani against Resorts World Las Vegas and former president Scott Sibella. The lawsuit alleged that Resorts World and Sibella were complicit in allowing harassment by another gambler, convicted felon Robert Alexander.
Cipriani alleged that he faced retaliation after publicly criticizing Resorts World and Sibella for permitting known felons to gamble on the premises, including Robert Alexander, who had defrauded investors. Alexander, despite pleading guilty to fraud, continued to gamble at Resorts World, leading Cipriani to speak out against the injustice.
‘Weeks of Harassment’
Cipriani claimed that his efforts to expose the misconduct led to weeks of harassment by Alexander, who followed him around the casino filming him on his phone. In an attempt to prove the harassment, Cipriani took Alexander’s phone to the casino cage, resulting in his arrest on larceny charges.
Despite this incident, Cipriani maintained that he was falsely accused of cheating at the blackjack tables by Resorts World to discredit him. The charges were later dropped.
The lawsuit against Resorts World and Sibella included allegations of negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and civil conspiracy. The case sought damages to be determined at trial.
‘Not Inherently Dangerous’
However, Judge Miranda Du ruled that the defendants’ actions were not considered inherently dangerous, and the emotional distress suffered by Cipriani was not severe enough to warrant legal action.
Judge Du also pointed out that Cipriani had previously acknowledged that Alexander’s behavior was extreme and had resulted in him being banned from the casino, contradicting his claim that Resorts World did nothing to address the harassment.
In a separate complaint filed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board in August 2024, it was revealed that multiple felons, including illegal bookie Matthew Bowyer and Edwin Ting, had been allowed to gamble at Resorts World, further tarnishing the casino’s reputation.
In a related incident, former president Scott Sibella was charged with money laundering for permitting illegal gambling activities at the MGM Grand Las Vegas while in a leadership position. Sibella was later terminated by Resorts World for unspecified policy violations.
Cipriani Stands Firm
Despite the legal setback, Cipriani remains steadfast in his pursuit of justice and transparency. In a statement to Casino.org, he vowed to continue fighting against corruption and injustice in Las Vegas.
“This is just a minor setback in the ongoing battle to expose the truth about corruption in Las Vegas. I will not be silenced, and I will continue to fight for what is right,” Cipriani declared.
He added, “To those who think they have won, I say this: the fight is far from over. I am unwavering in my commitment to justice and truth. I am Robin Hood 702!”