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William Bennett considering lawsuits against casinos
The Las Vegas Review-Journal ^ | Tuesday, July 29, 2003 | ROD SMITH

Posted on 07/29/2003 9:32:08 AM PDT by Willie Green

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

Morals czar William Bennett is considering filing lawsuits against Las Vegas casino companies that may have leaked documents detailing his gambling habits.

Bennett, the architect and leading advocate of Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" anti-drug campaign, was outed in the May issue of The Washington Monthly magazine as a gambler who has wagered -- and lost -- millions over the past decade at Bellagio and Caesars Atlantic City.

During a 60-minute interview with Tim Russert on CNCB this weekend, the former education secretary complained his privacy rights had been "deliberately damaged" while also mocking Las Vegas' latest national marketing campaigns.

"By the way, there's a commercial on that people may have seen about Las Vegas, that 'What happens here stays here.' Well, not in my case. Some people there were trying to do me great harm," Bennett said.

The "What happens here" ad campaign is part of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority's latest marketing campaign to boost tourism to the city.

He argued the magazine report stemmed from the release of "some documents" by the casinos themselves which was not legal and violated his privacy rights.

He alleges documents were selectively leaked to create a false impression that he had a gaming problem.

While Bennett did not dispute the legitimacy of the documents and said he had no problem with the reporters who have written stories on his gambling, he told Russert the release of the information was not legal and he is looking into the possibility of legal action against the casinos.

On Monday, Bennett declined to comment further on the possibility of legal action against the casino companies.

Spokesmen for Park Place Entertainment Corp. , owner of the Caesars Atlantic City, and MGM Mirage, which operates Bellagio, declined comment.

Industry insiders have said details in The Washington Monthly article suggest the data about Bennett's gambling habits might actually have come from documents produced by Central Credit, a subsidiary of First Data Corp. of Greenwood Village, Colo.

Central Credit, which has denied being a source of the documents, is the gaming industry equivalent of credit reporting agency TRW. It allows member casinos to run credit checks on debts, marker activity and repayment habits of casino customers.

Industry experts and civil liberties attorneys doubt Bennett has a cause of action.

Las Vegas professor and casino gambling expert Bill Thompson said Bennett's privacy rights "were violated. I think he has a beef, but I don't know if he has a legal argument."

Allen Lichtenstein, general counsel for the Nevada chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said "It might be good policy, but in the absence of some policy or contract, it does not appear there is a cause of action," he said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Politics/Elections; US: Nevada
KEYWORDS: addiction; advertising; billbennett; casino; gambling; lasvegas; lawsuit; loser
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To: Bluntpoint
No. The bottom line is that the credit company most likely violated federal law, or at least its charter, by disclosing the information. I don't think Mr. Bennett really has a problem with people knowing he gambled, otherwise he would not have done so in a public setting where he has surely been recognized countless times by people. Its the monetary information that is private.
121 posted on 07/29/2003 11:49:37 AM PDT by HenryLeeII
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To: HenryLeeII
Keep telling yourself that.

Even you don't believe that.

How's the Koolaid.

122 posted on 07/29/2003 11:52:14 AM PDT by Bluntpoint (Not there! Yes, there!)
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To: Bluntpoint
What do you know that we don't know?

HUH?

Did Bill not list homosexuality as a vice either?

HUH?

Is this the tip of the iceberg of all Bill's vices not so enumerated by him?

HUH?

I don't get your questions. My gripe are the hypocrites harping on and on about poor Bill Bennet's Privacy being violated. For the last couple of weeks, all I've heard about is there is no such thing as Privacy, therefore he has no grounds to sue anyone. I personally believe there are Privacy Right's, but as usual, it depends on who's Ox is being gored. Blackbird.

123 posted on 07/29/2003 11:53:42 AM PDT by BlackbirdSST
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To: onedoug
Oh, so he moves his games of chance from the casino to the courts.

NOW THAT IS FUNNY~

Though, actually, he has a VERY good case, under respondeat superior, where the master is responsible for the actions of his servent(s). And he doesn't have to prove WHICH casino, either. THEY have the burden of showing that if each is likely to have leaked the document.

Guess what. Not only lost income from fewer speaking engagements. We're talking punatives.

124 posted on 07/29/2003 11:55:39 AM PDT by Experiment 6-2-6 (Meega, Nala Kweesta!!!! (loosely translated: FREE SABERTOOTH!!!!))
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To: BlackbirdSST
The ox commment was mine.

I was just joking that Bennett is not held accountable for vices he did specifically list in his writings and speeches.

The Prince of Virtues is a hypocrit.

125 posted on 07/29/2003 11:56:15 AM PDT by Bluntpoint (Not there! Yes, there!)
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To: Experiment 6-2-6
When he sues their pants off he can go right back on the lecture tour and claim he is the David to Reno's Goliath?
126 posted on 07/29/2003 11:58:17 AM PDT by Bluntpoint (Not there! Yes, there!)
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To: Cathryn Crawford
Still another Bill Bennett rehab thread!!

I think it was a rotten thing for these folks to make records of his gambling so public. On the other hand, he may someday be grateful to them for it because it seems to have been an important factor in his seeking help. ;-)

127 posted on 07/29/2003 12:00:12 PM PDT by Scenic Sounds (Summertime!)
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To: Lockbar
That much gambling is too stupid for words.

But, I guess you are a conservative who is enraged when liberals tell us that no one needs that much money?

Bill Bennet has a right to spend his own money as he pleases and in any amount. If person's gambling is kept a secret, then he should expect his privacy to be respected also.

128 posted on 07/29/2003 12:04:07 PM PDT by Conservababe
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To: Conservababe
And his judgement is questionable that he would believe that.

He is no babe in the woods. Politics is not "bean bag."

He should have known better.

129 posted on 07/29/2003 12:08:31 PM PDT by Bluntpoint (Not there! Yes, there!)
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To: Experiment 6-2-6
One would think he'd rather put this sordid business behind him. Instead, he stokes it. 'Seems kinda stupid.
130 posted on 07/29/2003 12:14:57 PM PDT by onedoug
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To: OldFriend
This isn't privacy rights...huh??? Then the Las Vegas Tourism ad is a BIG FAT LIE. No Gambler....NONE....want their wins or their losses put in the paper. It's almost as sacrosanct as a Doctor/Patient relationship.
131 posted on 07/29/2003 12:31:41 PM PDT by Ann Archy
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To: Bluntpoint
That was an ignorant reply. There are federal and state laws regarding privacy of consumer and credit information. Even you should know that. They were obviously violated when the information was given (sold?) to Washington Monthly in that rag's desperate attempt to de-legitimize Bill Bennett. Its the same as the Demorcrat's desperate attempt to brand President Bush a liar with the yellowcake accusations. Go have some Kool-Aid now.
132 posted on 07/29/2003 12:34:42 PM PDT by HenryLeeII
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To: Ann Archy
No Gambler....NONE....want their wins or their losses put in the paper.

It's the digital era: the INFORMATION AGE!!!

Many of the "slot" machines don't even take/dispense coins or tokens anymore. Just stick your little plastic credit/debit card into the slot and every button you push or lever you pull is recorded for posterity!

133 posted on 07/29/2003 12:37:46 PM PDT by Willie Green (Go Pat Go!!!)
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To: HenryLeeII
Bennett de-legitimized himself.

The former Bennett would have commented on such behavior, regardless of the technicalities of such release of information:

"Don't do in private that you would not want to be made public."
134 posted on 07/29/2003 12:38:26 PM PDT by Bluntpoint (Not there! Yes, there!)
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To: Ann Archy
This isn't privacy rights...huh???

Now there is a "right" to privacy for one's gambling exercises?

135 posted on 07/29/2003 12:40:43 PM PDT by Bluntpoint (Not there! Yes, there!)
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To: Willie Green
Yup, that plastic card you get at the casino tracks your every move. Every machine you play, ever show you see, every meal you have in their restaurant.
136 posted on 07/29/2003 12:44:18 PM PDT by OldFriend ((Dems inhabit a parallel universe))
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To: Ken H
"Over 10 years, I'd say I've come out pretty close to even," Bennett told Newsweek.

This statement bespeaks a disconnection from reality that is more troubling than the gambling addiction itself.

137 posted on 07/29/2003 12:45:15 PM PDT by steve-b
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To: Willie Green
It was unprofessional of any business to release his private records.
138 posted on 07/29/2003 12:45:29 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: steve-b
Just like telling the cop who pulled you over for drunken driving:

"Don't worry officer, I metabolize alcohol faster than most people."
139 posted on 07/29/2003 12:49:52 PM PDT by Bluntpoint (Not there! Yes, there!)
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To: Bluntpoint
"Don't do in private that you would not want to be made public."

Uhhh, he was gambling in A FREAKIN' CASINO!!!! Not many places more public than that. Its the credit information being released as a means of "smearing" him that is the issue, not the fact that he used his legally-earned money to indulge in a legal pastime that did not affect his family's finances or open him up to blackmail. Words have meanings; look them up in a dictionary if you don't understand them.

140 posted on 07/29/2003 12:50:57 PM PDT by HenryLeeII
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