The lawsuit involving allegations of sexual harassment against Steve Wynn has been resolved by Wynn Resorts.
Posted on: January 31, 2024, 11:28h.
The most recent update was on January 31, 2024 at 11:47 AM.
The 2019 lawsuit against Steve Wynn, founder and former chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts, has been officially settled. Nine women who were employed at the company’s Las Vegas casinos made claims of sexual harassment against the billionaire.
In 2021, an image of Steve Wynn was taken after he generously donated $50 million to the Mohawk Valley Health System in his hometown of Utica, located in upstate New York. Recently, Wynn Resorts concluded a case against its founder for sexual misconduct in Nevada’s U.S. District Court. (Image: Mohawk Valley Health System)
In September, Wynn Resorts reached a settlement with the female employees who accused the casino magnate of making repeated unwanted advances and behaving inappropriately while receiving spa treatments. The plaintiffs, who worked as nail technicians and makeup artists, alleged that Wynn engaged in “inappropriate physical contact,” coerced them into massaging him “in the vicinity of his genitals” during manicures and pedicures, and posed “inappropriate sexual inquiries.”
The legal action was initiated by “Jane Does Numbers 1-9,” none of whom accused sexual assault or rape.
This week, the settlement terms, which haven’t — and won’t be — made public, were approved by Judge Gloria Navarro in Nevada’s U.S. District Court. Her approval of the agreement officially concludes the case, as the language includes provisions prohibiting the allegations to be refiled or appealed.
Case Closed
Last Saturday marked Wynn’s 82nd birthday. The visionary of Las Vegas played a key role in transforming the Strip into a lavish playground.
After leaving the Las Vegas and global gaming industries, Wynn moved to Florida and became a resident. This was following allegations that he had abused his power to harass and assault female employees at his Wynn Resorts properties, resulting in the end of his career.
In January 2018, The Wall Street Journal published a damaging report about the billionaire, revealing decades worth of allegations. Wynn stepped down from his position the next month and in March 2018, he sold his entire share in the company for $2.1 billion.
The controversy greatly impacted the gaming sector in the United States and sparked outrage among state officials in areas where Wynn Resorts is active, particularly Nevada and Massachusetts. The NGC imposed a historic penalty of $20 million on the company for supposedly turning a blind eye to accusations against the CEO.
The MGC, also known as the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, imposed a hefty penalty of $35.5 million on Wynn Resorts. Officials in the state of Massachusetts were outraged by the failure of Wynn executives to reveal information about allegations of sexual misconduct during the application process for a casino license to construct a resort near Boston.
The MGC permitted Wynn Resorts to keep its casino license, but mandated that the company remove the Wynn name from Wynn Boston Harbor. The $2.6 billion complex was then rebranded as Encore Boston Harbor and opened in June 2019.
Wynn paid $10 million to the NGC last summer to settle the state’s investigation into his alleged misconduct. As part of the settlement, he is permanently banned from participating in Nevada’s gaming industry.
Wynn Resorts Overhaul
Wynn has consistently denied any misconduct towards female employees while managing his lucrative casino resorts for numerous years. The billionaire has accused his ex-wife, Elaine Wynn, of fabricating the accusations and persuading the WSJ to publish a defamatory article as part of their contentious divorce proceedings.
Wynn’s departure and a restructuring of the board were the consequences of the scandal. The organization has implemented new regulations preventing a CEO from also holding the position of board chair, which Wynn previously did. Additionally, new individuals have been appointed to supervise Wynn Resorts’ governing processes.
The scandal involving Wynn led to his resignation as the finance chair of the Republican National Committee. Despite this, Wynn continues to strongly support the GOP. Recently, Wynn was seen accompanying Donald Trump on his campaign trail during the primary election in New Hampshire.
