Las Vegas Man Files Suit Against Bellagio After Casino Attack

A Las Vegas man has filed a lawsuit against the Bellagio, claiming the casino failed to protect him from a violent robbery tied to his slot machine winnings. The case, reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, centers on an incident that allegedly occurred inside the casino while the player waited for a payout.

Good to Know

• The lawsuit names both the Bellagio and the alleged attackers.
• The plaintiff seeks more than $15,000 in damages, plus legal and punitive costs.
• MGM Resorts International, which operates the Bellagio, has not issued a statement.

Joel Vargas-Gutierrez alleges that he was assaulted by three men on December 12 of last year after winning a $2,600 jackpot. He says he was waiting for a casino attendant to process the payout when the men approached, falsely claiming the jackpot was theirs.

According to the complaint, the situation quickly turned violent. Vargas-Gutierrez claims he was tackled and beaten while casino security failed to act. The lawsuit accuses the Bellagio of negligence and negligent security, stating that personnel did not respond until after the physical attack had already occurred.

Details of the Lawsuit

Vargas-Gutierrez is suing the Bellagio for failing to ensure his safety as a guest on the property. He is also suing the three alleged assailants for assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The complaint asserts that Bellagio’s security team did not take reasonable steps to prevent or stop the attack despite having personnel on-site. It also claims that the incident left Vargas-Gutierrez with lasting physical injuries and ongoing emotional trauma that required medical care.

He is asking the court for more than $15,000 in damages, including compensation for pain, suffering, medical expenses, and attorney’s fees. The complaint also seeks punitive damages to hold the defendants accountable for what it describes as reckless disregard for guest safety.

Casino security in Las Vegas has often come under legal scrutiny when guests allege negligence in preventing or responding to incidents on gaming floors, dating back as much as eight and eleven years where we reported on past robberies in the casino. The Bellagio, one of the city’s most famous resorts under the MGM Resorts International umbrella, is now facing renewed attention over how its staff manages guest safety in payout areas — places where cash transactions and visibility can make players more vulnerable to opportunistic crimes.

For now, MGM Resorts has not commented publicly on the case. Legal experts expect the court to examine whether the Bellagio’s security response met industry standards and whether the casino had proper measures in place to protect patrons handling winnings.

Vargas-Gutierrez says he continues to struggle with both physical pain and emotional distress as a result of the assault — an experience he believes could have been prevented had security acted faster.

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