5 Ak-Chin Casino Dealers Take Legal Action Against Harrah’s in Civil Rights Case

Five former craps dealers from Harrah’s Ak-Chin Hotel and Casino have filed a civil rights lawsuit, claiming they faced retaliation and wrongful termination. The lawsuit, submitted on September 19 in U.S. District Court in Phoenix, includes plaintiffs Necy Sundquist, Jie Xia, Mary Grace Abon, Susan Samons, and Mariah Henry.

The plaintiffs allege that their terminations were influenced by race, gender, ethnicity, and national origin, noting that three are Filipinas, one is Chinese, and one is Native American. The lawsuit accuses casino management of unjustly firing these experienced dealers after they were initially accused of colluding with gamblers in a fraudulent electronic craps game known as Roll to Win.

According to court documents, the casino began an investigation in the fall of 2022 after noticing significant financial losses tied to the Roll to Win game. As part of the lawsuit, the plaintiffs seek punitive damages, attorney fees, and have requested a jury trial.

Harrah’s reported the plaintiffs and others believed to be involved in the alleged collusion to the Ak-Chin Police Department and the FBI for potential criminal prosecution. However, the lawsuit claims that the evidence supporting the collusion theory was ultimately abandoned, highlighting failures in management oversight of the Roll to Win game. Notably, casino officials admitted they had not provided necessary training to the table games dealers, despite their legal obligations.

The lawsuit also points out shortcomings within the casino’s surveillance department, asserting that it failed to monitor the game adequately. Furthermore, the pit bosses responsible for operations did not properly oversee the game, according to court filings.

After the game was terminated, the dealers were accused of not reporting deviations in gameplay, which led to their dismissals. In contrast, other dealers, specifically white male English-speaking workers born in the U.S. who faced similar allegations, were not let go.

The suit contends that Harrah’s management, in a bid to maintain its contract with the Ak-Chin Indian Community, opted to place blame on the least likely to protest or defend themselves. The plaintiffs emphasize that only non-white female employees faced suspension and revocation proceedings during this incident.

Following a hearing, the Arizona Department of Gaming found no justification for revoking the plaintiffs’ state gaming licenses. Instead, the agency determined that the issues with the Roll to Win game stemmed from Harrah’s failure to train and supervise appropriately.

The plaintiffs have reported struggles in obtaining unemployment benefits following their wrongful termination. Their complaint includes claims of lost wages and emotional distress. Additionally, several plaintiffs assert that Harrah’s Surveillance Manager, Mikel McBride, resorted to intimidation tactics during interrogations. They allege he verbally threatened them with termination and attempted to extract confessions during intense, invasive questioning sessions.