Rivers Casino Pittsburgh Host Levies Sexual Harassment Allegations in Federal Lawsuit

Posted on: August 28, 2024, 03:38h. 

Last updated on: August 29, 2024, 10:39h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh is named as a defendant in a federal lawsuit brought by a former casino host who alleges that she was routinely subjected to sexual harassment by VIPs and high rollers. After reporting her frustrations about the repeated incidents to management, the plaintiff claims she was terminated.

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh sexual harassment lawsuit
A former casino host at Rivers Casino Pittsburg alleges in a federal lawsuit that she was repeatedly subjected to sexual harassment from VIP guests. Her complaints to management weren’t heard, she alleges. (Image: United Architectural Metals)

Rivers Pittsburgh is owned and operated by Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming. Plaintiff Geneva Kenney alleges in her civil complaint that she was wrongfully let go from her job as a casino host after she raised sexual harassment concerns with her superiors.

After beginning her employment on June 7, 2022, Kenney claims the casino’s VIP guests that she served routinely made sexual comments and advances toward her, including unwanted kissing and touching. Kenney’s attorneys claim she reported the sexual harassment “on multiple occasions” to her supervisors but the complaints fell on deaf ears.

Kenney continued to work as a casino host, a role that required identifying premium players and attracting them to the gamble. Casino hosts assist in arranging transportation, accommodation, and other services for VIPs.

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh has over 1,900 slot machines, 100 table games, and a BetRivers Sportsbook. During the state’s 2023-2024 fiscal year that ended in June, Rivers Pittsburgh generated gross revenue of $265.5 million from its slots, $79.1 million from its tables, and $4 million from its retail sportsbook.

Harassment Allegations

Kenney says during an October 2022 incident, a VIP guest, without her consent, initiated a side hug and kissed her on the lips. The man allegedly told her, “I kind of snuck that one in there, didn’t I?”

The following month, Kenney says she bent over to pick something up on the floor when a high roller fondled her buttocks and undergarment.

Geneva has on a yellow thong,” the man reportedly shouted.

Kenney and another host who witnessed the alleged incident submitted written statements to casino management about the harassment. Kenney claims her manager told her that “what you do with guests, you bring upon yourself,” seemingly implying that Kenney had invited the sexual berating.

Kenney detailed several other alleged incidences of sexual harassment in her complaint, including a male guest telling her that her boots were “f**k me boots,” and another patron telling her that she was “a sexy b***h.”

After expressing frustration with human resources that little was being done to punish the unruly guests, Kenney was told by a marketing executive to get comfortable being “out of her norm.” After continuing to levy complaints to HR and management, Rivers Casino Pittsburgh terminated her employment on Dec. 29, 2022, for alleged insubordination.

Complaint Contentions 

Kenney alleges that she was retaliated against by her employer in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. Kenney is seeking compensatory damages to be determined at trial and the amount of pay she would have received over the past two years had she continued working as a Rivers Pittsburgh casino host.

Kenney has demanded a jury trial. The case was filed in the US Western District of Pennsylvania Court. Magistrate Judge Maureen Kelly is presiding. Rush Street has yet to respond to the complaint.