Grab a beer and a snack, this is a long one…

Last night, my boyfriend and I came upon a young man who had just been assaulted and robbed in the back forty of the Pavillion parking lot of the Rio. I feel that it is important to share this story for many reasons. It is an instructive lesson in personal safety as well as highlight multiple systematic failures in security on the part of the Rio. More importantly it should demonstrate the need for the poker community to unite demanding that the properties and organizations hosting poker tournaments like the WSOP address the security needs unique to our events.

First the details as explained to me by the victim. In order to protect his identity (what little I know of it), I will refer to him as John. A white male from an Eastern European country around 25 years old.

John had apparently been approached in the parking lot by two men that pulled out a gun and demanded his money. He refused and the next thing he knew, he woke up in a vehicle being robbed and beaten with the handle of a gun. John detailed that he fought back and kicked out the window. He then was tossed out of the vehicle and was stumbling back to the Pavillion when we found him.

At this point, John was clearly traumatized, drunk, confused, angry and bleeding profusely from some serious lacerations on his forehead. I introduced myself and began providing first aid trying to get his bleeding under control. Someone I knew was walking by and ran to get security.
John was somewhat cooperative in letting me hold some pressure on his head but all he wanted was some water, a cigarette and to go back to his room. Security arrived within a few minutes and I asked for some additional first aid supplies from his vehicle but he didn’t have any so he radioed for some. At this point John got extremely agitated. I quickly realized that where John comes from, cops are the enemy and before I knew it, John took off like a shot towards the Pavillion.

Now security is starting to stream in from every direction. John makes it to the taxi area and sits down on one of the benches. By the time I reach him, security has him surrounded and he is clearly scared, loud and uncooperative in answering his questions. He just keeps asking for someone to give him a cigarette and let him go back to his room to get cleaned up. He kept saying “My father is there, he is a medical doctor, he will help me.”. Unfortunately instead of at least calling the kid’s dad, security has started to respond to his lack of cooperation rather than address this kids injuries and fears. The next thing I know, security guards are all talking louder and trying to assert their authority with John. I piped up and told the bully guards that they might try to consider the fact that this kid is drunk, he’s from a foreign country and he’s scared ****less. They did adjust their volume and approach slightly. EMT security arrived and took over providing first aid and I went inside to wash my hands and get John some paper towels to clean himself up with. He looked like Carrie at the prom, I’m not kidding..

When I returned, some kind but foolish soul had given John the cigarette he had been begging for but no one could light it for him. After fetching a lighter for the poor boy, I gave him the paper towels and began to address all of the questions security guards were peppering me with. I became frustrated because I wanted to make sure that I gave all of the pertinent information to the EMT security guard who took over John’s care first. Once I had done that, I told him everything that I knew and took him out to where I found John so they could begin investigating. From there, my boyfriend and I left to join our friends who had been waiting to meet us for a late dinner.

This is where my direct involvement with John ended but his story hasn’t left my mind for very long since. I keep thinking of this poor kid, coming to Las Vegas to play in the World Series of Poker getting jumped and robbed. That alone is enough but then to have what was clearly a traumatic encounter with overly aggressive security compound the situation is worse. The more I think about it, the more angry I get.

So let’s break this down and look at the lessons to be learned here:

Of primary importance is personal safety. Being alone, drunk with any sizable amount of cash on you makes you a an easy mark. Let it be clear, I am not blaming the victim here. I am saying that we can learn from what happened and let it serve as a reminder to be proactive about our own safety. We learned in kindergarten to use the buddy system. It works. Use it. Be completely aware of your surroundings. Don’t wander around alone when you’ve been drinking. Lock your money in your room safe or get a deposit box at the cage.

The second issue is the lack of security presence in the Pavillion parking lot at the Rio. This parking lot is massive and really MUST have its own dedicated security patrolling its perimeters and within it, whether by bicycle or vehicle. I know it sounds oversimplified and is not an absolute solution but it cannot be ignored that the visible and constant presence of security is in and of itself a deterrent to would be muggers. As a local and long time attendant of the WSOP, I can say from first hand observation that their presence is not constant and rarely visible. Also lacking are visible security cameras to deter crime to property and people on the premises. I realize that cameras in areas such as parking lots present huge liability issues to the property but the safety of their guests should be paramount. I realize that’s not the reality in our world but come on, for the amount of money the WSOP generates, Caesars Entertainment and the Rio have to start providing more patrolling security in the lot at a minimum.

Additionally, it was clear to me that the security staff was not adequately prepared with simple first aid supplies or the training necessary for staff that are designated as first responders to an emergency. At a minimum, security staff and especially their vehicles should be stocked with gloves and supplies to control bleeding. It took a good 5 minutes for an EMT security officer trained in first aid to arrive with the appropriate supplies. If John had a bullet wound instead of lacerations, we would not have been able to handle the situation. That lapse of time could have been critical in such a situation. As a professional First Aid and CPR Instructor, I cannot understand why security vehicles do not contain first aid kits or why ALL security staff are not trained and prepared to administer first aid.

It is fairly safe to say that this will not be the first time that you will read or hear a story like this one occurring at the WSOP or other poker festival venues anywhere in the world. A quick search of this forum will reveal multiple threads of players who have had theft of money and/or property taken from their rooms, vehicles broken into in the parking lot or robbery. We all know that we are potential targets but we can only go so far in protecting ourselves in environments like the WSOP. We must become vocal and demand that the hosting properties immediately begin to address the gaps in security. Being able to walk around without fear of armed robbery is NOT too much to ask for and frankly, I find it abhorrent that we should even HAVE to advocate for our own basic safety to be addressed by the WSOP.

I have read many reports on the poker forums and Twitter about similar crimes here at the WSOP in Las Vegas, as well as poker tournaments around the globe. I have heard the frustration that the victims have expressed at the lack of response by hosting organizations, hotels, casinos and local police. Now I have witnessed it first hand. This morning I spent a lot of time reviewing these threads and blog reports. I don’t see much resolution occurring. I see a lot of trolling, a lot of sympathizing, a lot of criticism of victims, a lot of outrage but no action. So what do we do? What will it take for us to get pissed off enough that we do something? Will someone have to get killed? Will Caesar’s or another property have to get hit with a big judgement in a lawsuit before they do something? Who is responsible here?

As players, we pay a premium for well run poker tournaments with amenities. Call me an entitled American but shouldn’t security and protecting the players be part of the service we pay for? Especially at the WSOP, between the rake and the $15 dollar sandwiches, not to mention all of the revenue generated through room sales, casino gambling, food and entertainment. The WSOP and other poker tournaments like it are cash cows for the hosting properties.

People are already rumbling on Twitter. I’ve seen the tweets directed @WSOPTD. I’ve read the threads in the forums but I don’t think its enough. We have to start making more noise and be more persistent about it. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. We need MORE tweets, MORE threads and to raise MORE questions of the organizations hosting the tournaments we attend.

For my part, I am going to talk to Jack Effel and ask him what he is going to do to ensure that these security issues are addressed. I’m writing this post to as a cautionary tale to those reading so that you too can learn from John’s experience. If I have to leave the Rio alone with any money on me, I’m going to ask for security to escort me to my car. I’m going to encourage my friends to do the same. If we start placing a demand on their time, maybe the sheer number of requests will force them to recognize that we are not feeling safe on their property. I’m also going to write a letter to the Rio asking why their first responders are not prepared to respond to first aid needs of injured guests of the property (which is at least an OSHA violation no not provide staff with personal protective equipment) and strongly recommend remedial training of their staff on issues like addressing injured victims and cultural awareness.

Who can YOU do? Who can YOU talk to? I have a big mouth but I’m just one voice. We need to get LOUD about this. We need to make sure that everyone in attendance is talking about the security issues surrounding large scale poker tournaments. We ALL need to let the WSOP know that we demand a safe place to play. The media needs to start making some noise about this as well. I am fully aware that these incidents are kept quiet and swept under the rug in order to prevent frightening off players from attending. That needs to stop or the muggings won’t stop. Noise needs to be made folks.

I love the WSOP. I look forward to it every year. I want it to be a safe place for us to play and have fun. Everyone has to take a beat at the table once in a while but we should never have to worry about taking one walking to our car. Be safe guys and take care of one another. Make some noise!

I'm also a local who parks in the Pavilion parking lot a couple dozen times each WSOP and I will concur that patrolling security is rarely visible. I did see a security vehicle at night once this year. I also remember one time last year seeing a security guard walk a player out to his car (I assume the player requested it). Isolated instances that stand out because they are rare.

Let us know how your crusade to protect casino parking lots goes. /sarcasm

This can happen anywhere, and the only thing Rio can be liable for is their timeliness in responding and how they handle it. You are never going to prevent this and I can hardly find any blame on Rio given this could have happened at literally any other Strip casino parking lot.

the only thing the security is looking for in the parking lot is people going on smoke breaks to their cars. pretty laughable really.

Any time on any internet forum someone makes a post highlighting a problem and how it could be fixed, some cynical dbag like you comes in with the "there's nothing you can do, just deal with it and stop whining" bull****. Thank god people with your attitude get nowhere because if important people had your mindset nothing positive would ever get done anywhere.

And in every thread there is an idiot like you, who, instead of pointing out how any facet of what I said is wrong, just replies with a rant. At least I provided context in my response whereas you just whined about the response itself, neglecting to mention how any element of it was incorrect.

Why was the guy that gave him the cig "foolish"?

smoking is bad for your health, obv

I think OP was looking over it and said, "Seems like it needs 1 more word somewhere."

He wasn't really I guess. Just seemed silly to me to give a kid in that situation a cigarette but not light it. That's why I said "kind but foolish..."

I can tell you from experience that if you are mugged/assaulted, and you are a smoker, pretty much the only thing you want once you are out of danger is a cigarette.

Is there a police report? This sounds like complete BS.

Come on 6:00 bottle of Pepsi, 15.00 for fruit plates, 15-20% rake on dailies! and now you expect dedicated security in the parking lot where people carry lots of money.


You all expect too much, how will Harrahs get out of debt hiring security for the parking lot...

Although this could be an opportunity for Harrahs to rent bodyguards to escort people.

25$ for wimpy fast guy who runs yelling for help
100$ for bar bouncer
250$ off duty PD
1000$ for ex spec forces

10% off for 7 Diamond members

Other than casino security, the WSOP is as soft a target as walking into a Kenyan mall.

why was he drunk going to his car? the muggers prolly saved some lives if he were to drive.

always valet your car if you can afford to gamble you can afford the valet charge.

Why is this hard to believe again? Next time you're in the parking lot, take a gander of the size of the lot. Seems pretty ****ing believable to me

Rio valet is full pretty often fwiw.

It is an absolute ****ing joke that the WSOP has been so cavalier about this. Today, while casually browsing Twitter, I noticed Jack Effel responding to people saying something to the effect of "If you have concerns about this then come see me and talk to me personally" as if this is something that should be addressed on a case-by-case basis. It's baffling to me, really. I tweeted to him twice, voicing my concerns, but didn't receive a response either time.

I absolutely love the WSOP, nearly everything about it. It's an incredible spectacle, and has become a world event. However, when I'm there walking around with large sums of money on me, I can't help but be nervous. That's not a good thing for this event or the parent company. I have this feeling these days that the suits are only worried about the bottom dollar, and I hope that they soon realize that this is of importance to that too.

I get that where there are people, let alone people with money, there will be crime. I live in Las Vegas and am well aware of the potential to be harmed leaving any casino anywhere in this city. THE CONTEXT (which is quite obvious by the way) is that the WSOP is centered around people with large sums of money, more so than any other event in this town and requires unique security issues to be addressed. Specific security issues that most casinos on the strip do not have to deal with on a regular basis. Sure, I might get mugged in the Bellagio parking structure on any given night but where else in the world do so many poker players gather in one place with so much money all at once, providing much more opportunity for these incidents to occur?

Its clear that the incidents of room thefts and personal assault at the WSOP are escalating and both the Rio and WSOP are obligated to address this as hosts of the tournament series. If they aren't going to do it on their own, we, as attendees and participants must demand it. End of story.

It's okay, j20s. You can mock me. You can amuse yourself and I'm sure many others with your sarcasm. I'm okay with that. I know that I'm standing up for what I know is right, what I know I certainly pay for in rake, food and ancillary services at the WSOP and what I and everyone attending the WSOP deserve.

So I'm gonna go now and sew myself a real pretty superhero cape to aid me in my crusade but before I do, let's be clear - casino parking lots don't require protection, people do. People that I know and care about. That's enough for me. I'll be sure to keep you posted...

It's suspicious that this story glosses over going from a mugging to a hostage situation. Presumably he doesn't have memory because he was pistol whipped unconscious in the initial incident. Now, why didn't they just take his money and run? What purpose would it serve to take him as a hostage? If he was just blackout drunk they could've just taken his money without violence.

So he wakes up and fights 2 guys in a car that he knows have a gun. He then kicks out a windows and finnagels out of it while being beaten. Most importantly, this saga apparently only takes a few minutes since he was close enough to walk back severely beaten.

I'd be much more inclined to believe this story if he detailed it under oath in a police report.

I know, right. It's almost as unbelievable as a group of thugs breaking into Jonathan Duhamel place and holding him up......erm, oh wait

I do not know if a police report was filed. Rio security was handling the situation while I was present.

As for John's story being bs, I found him (presumably) moments after this occurred. He was bleeding profusely, terrified and panicked. I believe him. His story never changed despite many different security guards asking the same questions multiple ways. His pain, confusion and terror seemed genuine to me and I trust my gut.

i was there. i saw the kid all bandaged up, agitated, walking around the smoking area. i can assure you at least that part was true. other than that, who knows. was he robbed? drug deal gone wrong? dispute at the table? another sort of argument? maybe he was the robber. unless you were there you are only taking his word for it.

i will say that the four or five security guards that were there seemed to have no real idea what to do. none of them wanted to step up and take charge of the situation. shouldn't they insist the police be called? it looked like they let him back inside to go to his room. i don't know, but that seemed a little weird. This kid was a mess. blood all over him. should he really be walking around on his own inside the rio?

heard lots of stories of rooms being broken into etc at the rio this year and i saw part of this incident with my own eyes. a little unsettling to say the least.

Anytime someone is knocked out, they should go to the hospital. Friend of mine got in a fight in bar in NYC. Self defense, knocked the guy out with one punch. He refused medical treatment, later fell into a coma and died, and my friend spent a week on Rikers charged with Murder 1.

Whatever the backstory was, someone was clearly assaulted and injured on the property - it would be seriously messed up if the police were never called. Maybe that is why WSOP is so hesitant to comment on this incident?