Loose Slot Louie Unleashes Litigation

Crisper Stanford, former director of entertainment for Caesars Entertainment, had an alter ego: A colorful character named Loose Slot Louie, who beckons gamblers to Caesars properties. Stanford believes the company’s Sheraton Casino & Hotel in Tunica, Miss., is using his image without consent and has filed an $8 million lawsuit for damages.

Stanford no longer works for Caesars and could not be reached for comment. His attorney, Michele Howard-Flynn, told Pollstar the lawsuit is in the discovery stage and she could not provide too many details at press time.

“The lawsuit’s based on the fact that Sheraton Tunica Corp. and Caesars Entertainment Inc. have been using his image, likeness and voice to promote their entities without his permission and consent,” Howard-Flynn said.

She could not comment on why Stanford is no longer with Caesars or other details of the case.

Stanford is a former rodeo clown who has worked as entertainment director for Caesars for several years. He was a panelist on the casinos panel at this year’s Concert Industry Consortium.

On the ads he appears as a “blustery” character on a series of ad campaigns where he touts the loose slots of the Sheraton, according to The Commercial-Appeal of Memphis.

At press time, his image was a centerpiece of www.caesars.com/ballys/neworleans, where Loose Slot Louie gives a big O.K. to the Bally’s New Orleans. On another section of the Web site, he gives a big, pointy hello to visitors of the Sheraton’s page.

Stanford reportedly believes a model-release form he signed three years ago only covered photos and videos from that point backward, and he did not authorize the subsequent ad campaign for the Sheraton.

Howard-Flynn said the lawsuit is isolated to the Sheraton and would not comment further.