Rivers Casino Pittsburgh finds itself embroiled in a federal lawsuit, with a former casino host alleging that she was subject to repeated sexual harassment by VIP guests. The plaintiff, Geneva Kenney, asserts that her concerns about the harassment went unaddressed by management, leading to her termination.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Western District of Pennsylvania Court, paints a troubling picture of Kenney’s tenure at the casino. Starting her employment on June 7, 2022, Kenney claims that the casino’s VIP guests regularly directed inappropriate sexual comments and made advances towards her, including instances of unwanted kissing and touching. Despite reporting these incidents “on multiple occasions” to her supervisors, Kenney alleges that her complaints were ignored.
Kenney continued in her role as a casino host, tasked with identifying high-value players and ensuring they received premium services. Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, owned and operated by Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming, boasts more than 1,900 slot machines, 100 table games, and a BetRivers Sportsbook. The casino recorded substantial revenue of $265.5 million from slots, $79.1 million from table games, and $4 million from its retail sportsbook during the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
In one particularly disturbing incident in October 2022, a VIP guest allegedly gave Kenney an unsolicited hug and kissed her on the lips, quipping afterward, “I kind of snuck that one in there, didn’t I?” The following month, Kenney claims that a high roller fondled her buttocks and undergarment while she was bent over to pick something up, loudly exclaiming afterwards about the color of her underwear.
Kenney and a fellow host reported the November 2022 incident in writing to casino management. Kenney recalls her manager suggesting that she had invited such behavior, implying she was at fault for the harassment she endured. She cited additional instances in her complaint, including guests making derogatory comments about her appearance and attire.
In December 2022, growing increasingly frustrated with what she perceived as inadequate action from human resources, Kenney received a dismissive response from a marketing executive, urging her to get comfortable being “out of her norm.” Her persistence in addressing the issue ultimately culminated in her termination on December 29, 2022, for alleged insubordination.
Kenney’s lawsuit contends that Rivers Casino Pittsburgh retaliated against her in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. She is seeking compensatory damages and the earnings she would have accrued over the past two years had she remained employed. A jury trial has been demanded, with Magistrate Judge Maureen Kelly set to preside over the case. As of yet, Rush Street Gaming has not issued a response to the complaint.
