Venetian Resort in Las Vegas Forced to Settle Religious Bias Dispute for $850,000
The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas has agreed to pay $850,000 and implement significant policy changes under a three-year consent decree to settle a religious discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
The EEOC alleged that the Venetian Resort violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by refusing to accommodate the sincerely held religious beliefs of a diverse group of employees, including Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Jews, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Buddhists. Examples of denied accommodations included failing to allow certain days off for Sabbatarians or Buddhists and prohibiting beards for Orthodox Christians. The discrimination reportedly led to suspensions, denial of promotions, disciplinary actions, and even discharge or constructive discharge of employees who sought religious accommodations or opposed the discrimination.
The settlement requires the Venetian Resort to implement policy changes aimed at better handling religious accommodation requests and preventing retaliation. The EEOC described this resolution as proactive and commended the Venetian for cooperating early in the process. The resort stated that the matter was resolved voluntarily with no admission of liability or wrongdoing.
The alleged unlawful discrimination began in 2016, and the lawsuit was filed after Venetian Las Vegas Gaming acquired the resort, according to the EEOC. The lawsuit also alleged that the Venetian retaliated against workers who opposed religious discrimination.
The settlement includes monetary relief and the Venetian must hire an independent third party to monitor and assist with the review and revision of the policies and complaint procedures. The resort will also provide training for all employees, managers, and supervisors on employee rights and employers' obligations regarding religious accommodations.
The settlement was announced on July 2, 2025, after the Venetian was sold to Apollo Global Management in 2022. The EEOC's suit did not mention any specific instances of punishing employees who spoke about religious discrimination.
[1] U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). (2025, July 2). Venetian Resort in Las Vegas to Pay $850,000 to Settle Religious Discrimination and Retaliation Lawsuit. Retrieved from https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/venetian-resort-las-vegas-pay-850000-settle-religious-discrimination-and-retaliation-lawsuit
[2] Associated Press. (2025, July 2). Venetian Resort in Las Vegas to Pay $850,000 to Settle Religious Discrimination Lawsuit. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/venetian-resort-las-vegas-to-pay-850000-to-settle-religious-discrimination-lawsuit/
[3] Las Vegas Review-Journal. (2025, July 2). Venetian Resort in Las Vegas Settles Religious Discrimination Lawsuit for $850,000. Retrieved from https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/venetian-resort-las-vegas-settles-religious-discrimination-lawsuit-for-850000-2306432/
[4] CNN Business. (2025, July 2). Venetian Resort in Las Vegas Settles Religious Discrimination Lawsuit for $850,000. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/02/business/venetian-resort-las-vegas-religious-discrimination/index.html
[5] U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). (n.d.). Venetian Resort in Las Vegas Sued by EEOC for Religious Discrimination and Retaliation. Retrieved from https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/7-2-25.cfm
- The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, a renowned casino-and-gambling and entertainment establishment, agreed to pay $850,000 to settle a religious discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
- The EEOC accused the Venetian Resort of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by denying religious accommodations to a diverse group of employees, including Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Jews, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Buddhists, between 2016 and the sale of the resort to Apollo Global Management in 2022.
- Examples of denial of accommodations included refusal to allow certain days off for Sabbatarians or Buddhists and prohibiting beards for Orthodox Christians.
- The discrimination reportedly led to suspensions, denial of promotions, disciplinary actions, and even discharge or constructive discharge of employees who sought religious accommodations or opposed the discrimination.
- As part of the settlement, the Venetian Resort must implement policy changes aimed at better handling religious accommodation requests and preventing retaliation.
- The resort will also provide training for all employees, managers, and supervisors on employee rights and employers' obligations regarding religious accommodations.
- The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas Sands, a key player in the casino-culture of Las Vegas Strip, is committed to promoting responsible-gambling and maintaining a respectful work environment free from any form of religious discrimination.
- The Las Vegas Strip, a bustling hub of casino-and-gambling, sports-betting, and entertainment, remains a magnet for casino-personalities and tourists worldwide, but the recent settlement serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to principles of fairness and respect in all aspects of the industry.
