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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA central Indiana casino has admitted that its staff knew pop singer Justin Timberlake wasn’t coming to its grand opening a day before the event, but didn’t say anything to alert the public.
The Indiana Gaming Commission fined Indiana Live Casino near Shelbyville $40,000 for its promotion of Timberlake’s supposed appearance at its March 13 grand opening. The commission said the situation’s handling could have damaged the credibility of the state gaming industry.
Thousands of people showed up for the event, clogging Interstate traffic on Interstate 74 for miles.
Indiana Live attorney J. Lee McNeely said today the casino should have acknowledged Timberlake wasn’t coming as soon as it found out.
A commission investigation found casino personnel learned more than 24 hours ahead of the event that Timberlake would not be attending, but made no effort to alert the media after heavily promoting the appearance.
The no-shows led local public relations firm Coles Marketing Communications Inc. to terminate its contract with Indiana Live. Coles handled the press release touting the participation of Timberlake and and his actress girlfriend, Jessica Biel, at the ribbon-cutting.
The gaming commission also voted last month to fine the casino $84,000 for four other violations, including $75,000 for errors in daily revenue reports on which its gambling taxes are based.
McNeely said the reporting mistakes were unintentional.
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