Another Death at a Land-Based Casino in the United States

Over the weekend, there was another death at a land-based casino in the United States, however, this death was not from a drug-overdose, a beat-down, suicide, or lousy food, but a drowning. In an article released by the Associated Press this weekend, a young boy died at Isle of Capri Casino in Missouri after he fell into a moat which surrounds the casino.

Police say the boy, Tony Swopes, 21, of Kansas City, was being questioned about his age at the Isle of Capri Casino. A check of his ID revealed an outstanding court warrant. The boy ran and tried to avoid casino rent-a-cops, but was slowed down by the surrounding moat. The boy dove into the moat and tried to swim across. but he drowned in the water. None of the casino employees, security, or patrons we're able to save the boy from drowning either.

This incident was the 2nd drowning death at the Isle of Capri Casino in the past 2 years. In July 2005, a woman jumped into the Isle of Capri moat and later died. The moats, which surround the casino, are common at Missouri casinos. Casino Gambling in Missouri was originally restricted to floating riverboats or barges, but the state's constitution was changed to allow riverboat casinos to float within artificially made moats.



2007-04-22