Nevada Supreme Court rules “casino markers” constitutional

Exterior of the Nevada Supreme Court building.

Last month the Nevada Supreme Court once again affirmed the constitutionality of the state’s casino marker laws. Specifically, it upheld the conviction of defendant Harel Zahavi, who allegedly failed to pay back nearly $400,000 in casino markers to four different Las Vegas casinos. He had been placed on probation with a suspended prison sentence of several years.

Zahavi argued that Nevada’s casino marker laws are unconstitutional because it creates a debtor’s prison. But the Court countered that defendants are convicted not for failing to pay back casino markers but instead for having “intent to defraud,” which is an element of the crime of failing to pay casino markers. The court’s decision to uphold Zahavi’s conviction was unanimous.

Zahavi’s trial was in 2011, where he claimed casinos were giving him six-figure credit lines. He also claimed he went to great lengths such as mortgaging his residence and company in order to pay back his casino markers. For more on this story, go to: http://www.casinocitytimes.com/article/nevada-supreme-court-upholds-markers-law-64076

About the Author

Neil Shouse

A former Los Angeles prosecutor, attorney Neil Shouse graduated with honors from UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School (and completed additional graduate studies at MIT). He has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, Dr Phil, The Today Show and Court TV. Mr Shouse has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Criminal and Top 100 Civil Attorneys.

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