Laughlin River Lodge to Pay $1.2M for ‘Severe and Pervasive’ Sexual Harassment

Posted on: November 20, 2025, 05:20h. 

Last updated on: November 20, 2025, 05:20h.

Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc Read More
Expertise: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming.
  • EEOC sued NRS over severe harassment at Laughlin River Lodge.
  • Workers faced assault, threats, retaliation, and ignored complaints.
  • Settlement includes $1.2M payout and major workplace reforms.

Nevada Restaurant Services (NRS), operator of Laughlin River Lodge Hotel & Casino in Laughlin, Nev., has agreed to pay $1.2 million to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by the federal U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Sexual harassment, EEOC lawsuit, Laughlin River Lodge, Nevada Restaurant Services, Title VII, workplace misconduct, settlement
The Laughlin River Lodge in Laughlin, Nev. The EEOC argued that the company knew about the severe harassment of employees by coworkers but did nothing to prevent it. (Image: Shutterstock)

The EEOC sued NRS in August 2023 on behalf of a class of women and men who, from 2018 onward, had experienced “ongoing, unwelcome, severe, and pervasive sexual harassment” by coworkers.

The lawsuit accused the defendant of “creating and maintaining an offensive, abusive, intimidating, and hostile work environment because of sex.”

Disturbing Conduct

“Male employees subjected female employees to unwanted physical sexual advances including, but not limited to, attempted rape of a 19-year-old female employee, groping female employees’ breasts, buttocks and vaginas, masturbating in front of female employees, stalking female employees outside the workplace, or trapping them in tight spaces such as walk-in refrigerators or locked hotel rooms to make unwanted sexual advances,” the complaint alleged.

The harassment was described as “ubiquitous, open, frequent, and consistent” – sometimes taking place in full view of supervisors. Management saw or heard the conduct regularly and still took no action, the EEOC claimed.

In one instance, a 19-year-old female housekeeper complained to Human Resources about a male worker who repeatedly blocked her into hotel rooms she was cleaning. He would grope her breasts, rub himself against her, and threaten to rape her.

The day after making the complaint, she was told she was not cleaning thoroughly enough and if it happened again, she would be fired, according to the lawsuit.

When another female housekeeper complained about being sexually harassed by the same employee, including being touched on the vagina and breasts, she was told ‘he means no harm,’” per the complaint.

Employees felt they had no choice but to resign because they feared for their physical safety and could no longer endure the workplace.

‘Pet My Kitty’

The harassers were not always men. One female employee regularly asked male employees to touch her vagina by lifting up her apron and asking them to “pet her kitty.” She would also regularly grope male employees’ genitalia, according to the complaint.

The EEOC argued the misconduct violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits a hostile workplace environment based on sex, including sexual harassment.

As well as agreeing to the $1.2 million payment, NRS will implement additional measures to deter and respond to incidents of sexual harassment.