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Gaming board affirms revocation of Thomas Rasco’s permit, finding him unsuitable
Summary
On appeal, the board upheld a hearing officer’s revocation of Thomas Rasco’s non-key gaming employee permit, citing record evidence of aggressive, threatening conduct toward law enforcement and a failure to maintain suitability; the board’s affirmation bars Rasco from reapplying for five years.
The Louisiana Gaming Control Board on Jan. 15 affirmed a hearing officer’s decision revoking Thomas Rasco’s non-key gaming employee permit and finding him unsuitable to participate in the gaming industry.
Rasco addressed the board first as the appellant, told the board he accepted responsibility for not reporting an arrest and asked the board to reduce the penalty. He said the criminal charges were dismissed or reduced and urged a shorter revocation period (he suggested one to three years), asserting there had been no dishonesty in gaming or harm to the public.
Assistant Attorney General Catherine Langlois responded for the division and emphasized that the board’s appellate review is focused on suitability under gaming law rather than the outcome of criminal proceedings. Langlois summarized testimony from the administrative hearing, which included testimony by an investigative specialist (Byron Sam) and deputies from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office (Deputy Noah Blackwell and Deputy Lee Thompson). The division’s account, supported by body-camera footage and witness testimony, described the permittee as intoxicated and belligerent during a domestic disturbance response on Dec. 2, 2024; refusing officers’ commands; reaching toward a deputy’s service weapon; making repeated threats toward Deputy Blackwell; and acting aggressively during booking. Langlois argued that such conduct demonstrates a lack of the good character, honesty and integrity required for a gaming permit.
The chair explained the board’s options (affirm or reverse the hearing officer). Miss Lewis moved and Miss Traylor seconded a motion to affirm the hearing officer’s decision. The chair requested a roll call; Miss Becknell, Miss Hamilton Acker, Miss Hennigan, Mister Jackson, Miss Lewis, Mister Scholz, Miss Traylor and the chair (recorded in the roll call) each voted yes. The board affirmed the hearing officer’s decision and the chair noted that affirmation results in a five-year bar from applying for a permit.
Provenance: Appeal, appellant remarks, division response and board roll call: record runs from SEG 285 through SEG 555.
Speakers quoted or referenced: Thomas Resco (appellant), Catherine Langlois (Assistant Attorney General, representing the division).
