Rivers Casino Fined For Sending Materials To Gambling Addicts

DES PLAINES, Ill. (CBS) -- A dozen gambling addicts were sent promotional materials and even cash advances from the Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, and now the casino has been fined.

As WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports, the casino sent promotional materials to four people, offered two cash advances to one, and issued rewards incentives to seven others, last summer. All of those people had placed themselves on the Illinois "don't let me gamble" List, the Chicago Tribune reported.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports

The casino reported itself to the state for the mistakes, and has been fined $25,000. Rivers Casino general manager Bill Keena tells the Tribune the casino takes very seriously its responsibility to be a good corporate citizen, and said the materials were sent by mistake.

The "don't let me gamble" list allows problem gamblers to ban themselves from all casinos in Illinois. Casinos are responsible for enforcing the list, the Tribune reported.

Rivers Casino is the newest gambling facility in Illinois. It opened with much fanfare in Des Plaines in July of last year, and has become known for its ad campaign using a slightly modified version of "Get Down Tonight" by K.C. and the Sunshine Band.

In January, Rivers Casino was credited in large part with raising the state's take for gambling receipts to $400 million last year, compared to just $15 million in 2010.

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