We all know it has to happen. After all, the casinos don’t stand at the entry way to every casino and check IDs. And even that wouldn’t work in Las Vegas where slots machines are everywhere: hotel lobbies, grocery stores, bathroom stalls. (Okay, I made up that last one. At least I hope I made that up. Someone let me know if they’ve come across a slot machine next to the urinal.) But casinos don’t have to pay out a jackpot to an under aged gambler and they will check ID if you win big. Mostly because there is a point at which they have to report back to the IRS. But we’re always going to hear fussing that the casinos don’t do enough to keep under aged players away from the games. And this week, it’s Marcus Jordan, Michael Jordan’s son, who’s making under aged gambling news.
Now Marcus is 19 and a college sophomore at the University of Central Florida, so he’s too young to gamble but old enough to vote and old enough to sign up for military service (which is probably a bigger gamble than Vegas ever is). But Marcus is also right in the midst of that social networking age. In other words, he tweets. And he tweeted about his adventures in Las Vegas. What happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas if you put it on twitter. Marcus tweeted “Last night was stupid… 35K at Haze,” and “Totals 50K something the whole day.” These tweets were later deleted and Marcus tweeted “I didn’t mean it the way it came across. My family and friends know the type of person I am.” Apparently this tweet came after a conversation with dad. Apparently the Nevada Gaming Control Board is investigating the casinos, and the gaming control board isn’t always as understanding as “dad.”