A judge approved a $5.5 million settlement on behalf of a class of Missouri casino workers who alleged that they faced unlawful employment practices that reduced their paychecks.
The class action suit alleged that Penn National Gaming Inc. and two of its casinos, the Argosy Riverside Casino and Hollywood Casino in St. Louis, had violated state and federal laws in three ways. According to the complaint, the defendants had deducted the costs to obtain, maintain and renew state-issued gaming licenses from employees’ wages.
The suit also alleged the casinos had required table games dealers to pool their tips, then used that money to cover paid time off for non-tipped managers and supervisors. Finally, the suit claimed the casinos’ wellness programs charged higher costs to tobacco users but failed to fully reimburse those employees if they went through a smoking cessation program.
