Aria casino agrees to $100K fine for blocking Nevada agents from watching high roller roulette

A Las Vegas Strip casino has agreed to pay $100,000 to settle allegations that a supervisor shooed away state agents who were watching a high-stakes roulette table, even though state law requires all gambling to be open to the public.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board released the proposed settlement with the Aria casino this week. The agreement must be approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission.

Two state agents who had not identified themselves were watching high rollers play roulette in October when a supervisor told them that the players didn't want to be watched and threatened to call security, according to the complaint filed in February.

The agents were standing about 6 feet away. One asked if the games were not open to the public, and the agent was told that "observation of the roulette wheel was not welcome," officials said.

The complaint said regulators previously encountered similar issues at Aria. Regulators warned part-owner MGM Resorts to make games accessible in 2010 and 2013, and the company responded with new policies.

The two-count complaint against the casino carried a fine of as much as $500,000.

Aria said it has educated employees about the law since the complaint was filed, discussing the rule during pre-shift meetings, posting the law in writing and asking employees to confirm that they understand the policy.