Mohegan Sun Blackjack Player Dies from Fentanyl Overdose, Father Sues Casino

Posted on: July 23, 2024, 07:12h. 

Last updated on: July 23, 2024, 09:47h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

The father of the man who died from an apparent fentanyl overdose at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun casino is putting much of the blame on employees at the gaming property.

Ethan Bherwani might have survived the May 18, 2021 incident if responses by the tribal casino were quicker, his father, Kamal Bherwani, a one-time New York City public official, recently told The New York Post.

The younger Bherwani, 22 at the time, was at the casino celebrating his college graduation when he fell out of a chair at a blackjack table. As he lay not moving on the floor, its alleged that no dealers, pit bosses, or any other casino employees intervened on Bherwani’s behalf.

Four and a half minutes after he fell, a casino employee finally checked on Bherwani. EMTs arrived approximately 11 minutes after Bherwani first fell out of the chair, the Post reported.

The crew tried to administer CPR but they couldn’t revive him.

Man Was Brain Dead

Bherwani was transported to nearby Hartford Hospital where he was declared brain dead. He died nine days later.

If they had gotten to him in three minutes, he’d be completely alive,” Kamal Bherwani told the Post.

Exams showed that Ethan Bherwani had consumed fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol that night before passing out. It was also revealed that unnamed casino visitors attempted to assist Bherwani while he was on the floor but Mohegan Sun employees ordered the good Samaritans to move away from the man, the Post reported.

Kamal Bherwani filed a lawsuit against Mohegan Sun claiming the casino was negligent. That suit was dismissed by a Connecticut tribal court though a new lawsuit could be filed, the Post reported.

My son was going to law school. He was cooped up during the pandemic and celebrating his graduation; he made a mistake … but it should not have cost him his life,” his father further told the reporter.

Kamal Bherwani wants New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), to reject the Mohegan tribe’s effort to capture a casino license in New York City given how the casino responded in connection with his son’s medical emergency.

Drug Dealer Arrested

Shortly before his death, Ethan Bherwani purchased fentanyl-laced drugs from a man at the casino identified as Jerrard Santiago, who was later was arrested.

Santiago has since pled guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, a controlled substance. He has yet to be sentenced to prison.

Casino.org reached out to Mohegan Sun for comment. No immediate statement was provided.