The Nevada Gaming Commission is set to deliberate on the potential denial of a gaming license for Matthew Galanti, a long-time employee in the gaming industry, which could lead to a ban of at least five years from working in the sector.
Galanti applied for the position of general manager for Nevada Restaurant Services Inc., the parent company of the Dotty’s casino chain, where he has worked for several years.
However, complications arose when Galanti was terminated the day after appearing for a licensing hearing in January before the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Authorities indicated that his termination was due to allegations of falsifying employee time clock and mileage records.
The Gaming Control Board, in an unusual split decision, recommended that Galanti’s application for a gaming license be denied after an extensive one-hour hearing.
Interestingly, the board’s chairman, Kirk Hendrick, cast the only vote against the denial, suggesting that agents should finish their investigation which paused following Galanti’s termination.
Hendrick acknowledged that the evidence presented during the hearing supported the board’s recommendation for denial.
Should the commission uphold this recommendation, Galanti will find his name on a “gray list” of individuals prohibited from employment with licensed operators in the state.
During the hearing, Hendrick made it clear to Galanti what a denial would mean for his future in the gaming industry, a situation that he described as dire.
He explained that both he and his wife are currently unemployed and that hiring a gaming attorney was beyond their financial capacity at this time.
In his defense, Galanti recounted that he clocked in at a Nevada Restaurant Services location and subsequently met with a Control Board hearing officer on January 7, only to be fired the very next day for failing to account for his whereabouts after clocking in.
Board members, however, pointed out inconsistencies between his accounts during his meeting with board officers and his testimony regarding previous employment in Southern Nevada.
He admitted that while working at Aria, he did not return from a Family and Medical Leave Act absence due to allegations from a supervisor of FMLA misuse.
Additionally, at a prior January hearing, Galanti stated that he resigned from a position with Red Rock Resorts but failed to mention that he received a severance package upon his departure.
Members of the board stressed that it was Galanti’s obligation to clearly communicate all aspects surrounding his employment history, including reasons for job departures, which he did not fulfill.
Furthermore, a report from the board detailed that Galanti had filed for bankruptcy protection on two occasions throughout his career.
Chairman Hendrick strongly advised Galanti to seek legal counsel before the commission meeting, highlighting the serious consequences that a denial could entail for his career in gaming.
Hendrick stated, “I would encourage you strongly to consult with a gaming attorney or an attorney versed in the gaming laws and regulations in Nevada.”
He further cautioned Galanti about the long-lasting ramifications stemming from the commission’s decision if it does not overturn the board’s vote.
Galanti, however, disclosed that he obtained advice regarding his gaming application from an individual who is currently incarcerated in a Nevada prison.
As it stands, there are currently 145 individuals and companies listed on the Nevada Gaming Commission’s records of denials and revocations.
This list, which is publicly accessible on the Control Board’s website, has documented entries spanning from January 1980 to August 2021.
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