TLDR An Iowa blackjack player filed a federal lawsuit against two Lake Charles casinos and several police officers. He claims an officer handcuffed him, searched his pockets, and gave his license to casino security. L’Auberge allegedly refused to cash his $2,800 in chips without ID, then paid him later that day. Louisiana law bars casinos from excluding players only because of their skill level. The nine-count suit seeks damages but does not name a total dollar amount.
An Iowa blackjack player has filed a federal lawsuit claiming police in Lake Charles, Louisiana, took his driver’s license and gave it to casino security. Eric Michael Temeyer says the casinos wanted his identity because he was a skilled player.
The suit names Golden Nugget Lake Charles, neighboring L’Auberge Lake Charles, and several police officers. It was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.
The complaint lists nine counts. They include Fourth Amendment violations, civil conspiracy, and violations of state law.
A Night at Two Casinos
According to the complaint, Temeyer played blackjack at L’Auberge from about 5 p.m. on Nov. 2, 2025, until 2:40 a.m. the next morning. When security staff asked for identification, he declined.
He then tried to cash out about $2,800 in chips. A cashier allegedly refused to pay him without ID.
Temeyer walked next door to the Golden Nugget, where security again asked for his identification. He declined and was asked to leave, which he did.
Police arrived while he was standing outside his vehicle in the parking lot, the lawsuit says. An officer demanded his ID, and Temeyer argued that police needed reasonable suspicion of a crime to require it.
“That’s not how it works here,” the officer allegedly replied before handcuffing him. The officer then searched his