Hard Rock Sacks Pariente Following Dominican Casino Controversies
Posted on: August 4, 2025, 06:22h.
Last updated on: August 4, 2025, 06:54h.
- Pariente relieved of duties at Hard Rock Punta Cana casino resort following internal probe into allegations of money structuring, unpaid markers
- Another staffer allegedly acting at Pariente’s behest also fired
- News emerges after series of Casino.org articles exposing Pariente’s purported misdeeds in Dominican Republic and Las Vegas
Hard Rock International has relieved Alex Pariente of his duties as corporate senior vice president of casino and hotel operations following an internal probe into allegations of money structuring and unpaid markers at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic — an investigation sparked by a recent series of Casino.org articles.
A source confirmed to Casino.org earlier today that Pariente, who had been with Hard Rock International since February 2019, was terminated. Also fired was his assistant, Silvia Mendez. In Casino.org’s initial piece on the Pariente imbroglio, a whistleblower speaking on the condition of anonymity provided a recording confirming that Mendez, at her boss’s behest, took part in money structuring practices to help select high rollers visiting the Punta Cana casino.
In that recording, Mendez discusses separating $100,000 in cash brought to the resort by a Chinese gambler into dozens of transactions to skirt money transfer protocols. Given the amount of money and Hard Rock’s status as an operator beholden to US regulators, proof of funds was required to comply with anti-money laundering rules, but the patron didn’t have that proof.
Mendez had worked in administrative capacities at the Dominican casino hotel for more than 15 years, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Hard Rock Took Swift Action
In the Pariente matter, Hard Rock moved decisively. Casino.org’s second article, citing a second whistleblower that confirmed and elaborated upon Pariente’s alleged mishandling of anti-money laundering and compliance rules in the Dominican Republic, was published on June 27. Two days later, the gaming company announced Pariente’s suspension and the start of internal investigation.
Hard Rock International has completed its initial investigation in connection with recent public allegations regarding executives at Hard Rock Punta Cana Casino and can confirm it has separated with the executive in question,” according to a statement provided to Casino.org by the gaming company. “This thorough examination included independent parties from two of the nation’s most respected law firms who specialize in gaming regulatory and compliance issues to ensure objective analysis of our operations, reflecting our brand’s commitment to upholding ethical standards in all our business practices.”
Hard Rock added it takes seriously such matters. The statement was specific to Pariente and did not reference Mendez or any other employees.
Hard Rock Punta Cana is owned and operated known as Palace Resorts, which owns hotels across the Caribbean, Europe, and Latin America. That company pays a yearly licensing fee to Hard Rock to use that brand name on the Dominican property.
What’s Next for Pariente
As for what becomes of Pariente’s career in the gaming space, anything is possible as the industry has developed a reputation for extending latitude to executives with checkered pasts. Pariente is proof positive of that scenario.
He previously held a high-level role at Wynn Las Vegas during a time in which anti-money laundering rules were violated there. That led to a $130.13 million forfeiture by the venue last year to the federal government — the biggest penalty ever levied against an individual US casino. Controversy followed Pariente to the Caribbean where he left Baha Mar Casino and Hotel in the Bahamas in February 2018 following investigation pertaining to involvement with Colombian prostitutes.
R.J. Cipriani, also known as Robin Hood 702, told Casino.org Pariente’s ouster from Hard Rock Punta Cana should serve as a warning to gaming executives engaging in nefarious practices and the companies willing to employ them.
“Let this be a warning to other dirty executives and casinos around the globe: Stop hiring these corrupt and dirty execs who get fired for wrongdoings and then end up with a bigger and better job at another top casino,” said Cipriani.
He also lauded Hard Rock CEO Jim Allen for taking the Pariente situation seriously and moving quickly to investigate the matter. Donald Codey, senior vice president of gaming and casino marketing for Hard Rock, will be handling all of Pariente’s responsibilities in the interim until a full time replacement can be found, according to a source.
Last Comment ( 1 )
There is no doubt that Pariente was just following orders from Hard Rock higher ups and is now just cannon fader. Don’t be fooled by these Hard Rock people, they are not what you think