LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - A man visiting the city of lights and sin was banned from a popular casino for refusing to pronounce the name of the state correctly.
The incident happened last Friday when John Smith, a tourist from Alabama, walked into the Bellagio Hotel and Casino to try his luck at the blackjack table. When the dealer asked him where he was from, Smith responded: "I'm from 'Never Tei'," to which the dealer corrected him by saying "You mean Nevada?"
Smith responded, "No, never tei, that's what I said." The dealer tried to correct him once more, but Smith refused to say the name of the state correctly. The dealer called security and soon Smith found himself being escorted out of the casino.
"I couldn't believe they kicked me out for not saying 'Nevada' correctly," Smith said. When asked if he thought it was justified, he replied, "Well, everyone knew what I meant. It's not like I was speaking another language."
The Bellagio Casino issued a statement saying that they have a zero-tolerance policy for disrespecting the state of Nevada. "We take pride in our state, and we expect our patrons to show the same respect."
This incident has sparked debate online, with some users calling it an overreaction on the casino's part, while others have praised their commitment to the state. One user tweeted, "If you can't respect the place you're visiting, then don't bother coming."
In response to the incident, the state of Nevada has launched a new campaign called "Say It Right," encouraging visitors to pronounce the name of the state correctly.
This incident serves as a reminder to all visitors that when in Las Vegas, it's important to show respect to the state, even if you can't pronounce its name correctly.
