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Doug Stanhope Banned from Caesars’ Casinos Followig One-Star Review
July 24, 2019 Kristina Vujadinovic
Considering what happened to a famous comedian, it looks like Caesars Entertainment Corporation doesn’t take critiques very well. After leaving a one-star review, the comedian, Doug Stanhope, was allegedly banned from the reputable casino chain.
The ban consists of Stanhope’s exclusion from all properties owned and operated by Caesars and its s, as well as revoking the comedian’s Total Rewards hip and all the points incurred.
Caesars’ new CEO didn’t yet comment on this issue, and there is also no official statement from the brand; something that will probably change soon, since the comedian’s post has gone viral.
Ban Instead of Chuckles
Most of the time, Stanhope is trying to make other people laugh with his dark, sometimes caustic, humor. He’s been doing it for almost 20 years, but his approach doesn’t suit everyone’s taste.
In fact, his “unique“ shows were the subject of controversy more than once, but his goal is always to “make people laugh.“
However…
… it seems that bashing a casino giant won’t get the comedian the last laugh.
Caesars Entertainment Corporation, which recently merged with Eldorado Resorts, reacted harshly to his comments about their Rio venue, showing no interest in his authentic sense of humor.
A recent review of Stanhope’s stay at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino allegedly resulted in his receiving a ban from all Caesars properties.
The comedian wrote about the incident on Twitter, stating that he received a certified letter from “Caesars management.”
The letter, whose legitimacy is yet to be confirmed, reads (in parts):
“This letter is to inform you that the management of the entity commonly known as ‘Caesars Entertainment’ has determined that you recently engaged in conduct that Caesars views as inappropriate.
As a result, your presence is no longer desired upon the premises of any Caesars property, and you are no longer welcome at any Caesars property.“
As additional blow, Stanhope also lost his Total Rewards hip and all points he may have accumulated.
The letter ends on a note that suggests that the brand is very serious in its intention to restrict the comedian’s presence in its venues:
“Please be advised that if you are found at any aforementioned properties, management will not hesitate to effectuate your removal from the property, as well as pursuing all legal rights and remedies it has under law. Further, if your presence in any Caesars property goes undetected in the future, any money you win through gaming, including jackpots, may be forfeited, except in Nevada or any other state where this is prohibited by law.“
Review That Started it All
The reason for the supposed ban is a review that the comedian left for the Caesars Rio venue on Yelp and Trip Advisor back in February. Stanhope left the following personal impression of the venue:
“The Rio is like being in 1986. By that I mean it’s like you were still driving your 1986 Ford Tempo 33 years later, held together with gaffer’s tape and surgical mesh, riding on the rusted rims. Vegas isn’t what it used to be, anyone who’s come here over the last two or three decades can attest. The Rio isn’t even what it was when they last updated their Expedia page.”
Comedian gave the venue just one star, explaining that it would have been two but that no one reads two-star reviews.
An Overkill on Caesars’ End
If this letter proves to be truly sent by the brand’s management, it will create quite a precedent in the gambling community.
If we put aside the right to express a personal opinion, banning someone for leaving a poor review seems counterintuitive.
Banning everyone who left bad reviews would mean the brand losing half its clientele…
… since it only has 2.5 stars according to the Rio’s Yelp page.
It is also a very questionable business move, especially regarding the company’s quarterly loss of $271 million.
It’s not unheard of that casinos have taken strong actions against certain patrons in the past.
However, this complete exclusion seems to go overboard; if the case is truthful, that is.
There is a possibility that the letter is nothing more than a scheme concocted by the comedian to drum up interest and get people talking about him. If that’s the case, it certainly worked since Twitter s are endlessly commenting and retweeting the comedian’s post.
Source:
“Comedian allegedly banned from Caesars over one-star review“, calvinayre.com, July 22, 2019.
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Just another example of how big names think they can control our freedom of speech. Instead of improving their Rio venue, they are retaliating to the ones who dare to leave negative reviews. Really classy…