Associated Press

Jefferson City, Missouri

A Missouri casino faces a possible $50,000 fine for allegedly giving rapper Nelly special treatment. State regulators claim the President Casino let Nelly skirt rules intended to limit the amount of money patrons can bet. The Missouri Gaming Commission proposed the fine.

The casino hosted a late-night birthday party last November for Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Haynes Jr. Regulators allege he and his eight-person entourage entered the casino without first getting the required electronic identification cards that limit gamblers to purchasing no more than $500 worth of gambling chips or tokens every two hours. Other rules also were broken, regulators say.

He said Nelly is not being targeted for penalties because it is the casino that is responsible for upholding state gambling laws. The casino has 30 days to appeal the case to a state administrative hearing office, which would gather more evidence and make a final recommendation to the Gaming Commission.

Nelly publicist Juliette Harris of Los Angeles said Nelly did not intentionally skirt gambling policies.