Who Is Jian Hu & Why Did She Sue Aria Casino?
From November 28, 2018 until her termination on August 24, 2023, Jian Hu worked as a poker dealer for Aria Resort and Casino LLC. She's Chinese, but now lives in Las Vegas.
Returning from a month-long vacation on August 17th of 2023, Jian Hu was escorted to a meeting at Aria. There, the Poker Operation Director, Surveillance Officer, and an interpreter asked her about potential misconduct on July 19th, 2023. Later, the Surveillance Officer accused her of taking $200 in tips directly from the pot in the week after the 19th. Hu claimed these were "pre-tips," a type of tip that players sometimes make before a hand is finished.
She was discharged from Aria, and a week later, they reported her to the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Her gaming card was revoked, and she apparently lost multiple casino jobs. Later, her unemployment benefits claim was supposedly denied because of the accusations of misconduct.
Representing herself, Jian Hu brought a 64-page complaint against Aria, and a court case began. Her allegations, if true, are stunning. Hu says that Aria fabricated evidence, manipulated videos, and even claims she wasn't even working on the day of the incident.
We’ll now go over the incident, and the court’s ruling.
What Happened at the Poker Table?
This case stems from an alleged complaint, which apparently led Aria surveillance staff to a larger theft.
The initial incident is said to have taken place on July 19th, 2023 at a Bomb Pot PLO table.
Jian explained that a player gave her a pre-tip of $20, but after winning, the player adjusted the tip to only $1. From a hand-written Aria document, it appears that she took the $20 tip, but after the player spoke up, she gave it back.
Aria staff then revealed that they’d discovered Jian taking $200 from the pot in the week after the 19th of July. Jian explained this by saying the money was from pre-tips.
It seems that this breach of policy was the cause for her termination. She was placed on Suspension Pending Investigation (SPI) from August 17th 2023, then terminated.
Jian Hu’s Version of Events on July 19th
To start with, it must be said that Jian Hu says she was not working on July 19th, 2023 at Table 20. She then let Aria know that the date was incorrect, and claimed they changed the date of the incident to July 17, 2023, also at Table 20. From our research, we could not find record of this incident date change in court records.
Jian also claims that video footage was tampered with and that timecodes were not video-embedded, potentially making them unreliable. She appears to have done her own investigation into this, some of which you can see below.
As for the incident on the table, it seems like the initial $20 tip was probably a smaller issue compared to the $200 Jian was accused of taking. She explains this by claiming the money came from pre-tips, which the players willingly gave her.
Allowed or not, Jian said that this practice was an "unwritten rule and common practice" in the Aria, and most other casinos (including Bellagio). However, in an internal document filed by Aria, it shows that Jian admitted she was never instructed to ask for pre-tips, and never asked her manager about them.
The same document shows that Jian Hu made $11.25 per hour as a poker dealer, slightly more than half of the 2023 median hourly rate in the US ($19.24). While this low wage might be motive for taking extra tips, it's not evidence of it.
The “Pre-Tipping” Dispute
A “pre-tip” is unheard of in the online poker world, but apparently not in live cash games or many other casino games. Most tips occur before or after poker hands are complete, but a pre-tip occurs during the action.
There’s an obvious issue with pre-tipping, since a player is using chips that are in-play.
Imagine you are in a hand with a player, and both of you have $50 in your stack. Before the river, your opponent tips the dealer $10, then goes all-in. You now stand to win less, and your opponent risks less, in theory.
However strange pre-tipping might sound to you, there are numerous stories in poker forums about it.
The Lawsuit Against Aria & MGM
Jian Hu’s experience with Nevada court system did not begin or end well. As the plaintiff, she represented herself, against Defendants Aria Resort & Casino LLC and MGM Resorts International.
Jian first applied for forma pauperis proceeding on February 18, 2025, which waives court fees for those who cannot afford them. This was denied after seven days.
A few weeks later on March 13, Jian tried to subpoena documents from Aria. The court denied this request because they were not properly served.
Aria Resort & Casino LLC and MGM Resorts International filed a motion to dismiss, which halted any discovery. Basically, before the motion to dismiss is resolved, Jian Hu was not able to receive any documents or evidence to further her case.
Over 260 days after she began filing with the Nevada court, the case was dismissed in favor of the casinos.
Why the Court Dismissed Jian Hu’s Case
On November 7, District Judge Miranda M granted the motion to dismiss.
Among many factors, the court found:
- The complaint failed to clearly state any legally valid claims
- Jian based claims on criminal statutes, which are not applicable in civil cases like hers
- Claims were confusing, poorly organized, and sometimes created by ChatGPT
- It was not possible to determine who Jian held responsible for the claims
- The complaint did not meet basic pleading standards, even with relaxed requirements for plaintiffs representing themselves
Jian was given 30 days from November 7 to file an amended complaint. It appears that she did, and the defendants (Aria and MGM) have filed to extend the response deadline.
On her Instagram and Facebook, Jian Hu was very active in speaking about her ongoing case. Since August, she has not posted on either social media account.
One Case Ruling – Two Perspective
Jian Hu’s case never reached a stage where the public got to see evidence.
Jian is not a lawyer, and it seems that this unwound her court case before it got started. Because her claims were not targeted or formed properly, she wasn’t able to even get close to the finish line. But that doesn’t mean she was wrong, we just don’t have the evidence to say otherwise.
There are two different perspectives to take, knowing what we know.
#1. Jian Hu Broke Policy and Aria/MGM Followed Procedure
If we take a moment to side with the casino, terminating Jian Hu may have been standard in this situation. She was profiting from pre-tipping, a practice which she allegedly admits was never instructed or approved by the higher-ups.
Assuming that Aria and MGM corporations played everything above board, and didn’t manipulate or alter evidence, moving to dismiss Jian Hu’s case makes sense. Nobody wants to fight a battle based on unfounded accusations.
#2. Jian Hu Was Telling the Truth, About Everything
What if Jian Hu was the victim here? She may have been fired for annoying a customer, or to set an example to curb the pre-tipping practice. Termination laws in Nevada are fairly relaxed, and it wouldn’t take much for a savvy employer to find solid reasoning.
But, the reason she was fired is less important than the things Jian alleges the casino did afterwards. Altering surveillance video, manipulating evidence, and changing the date of the alleged incident are far more heinous acts. But it does beg the question, if Jian was violating poker dealer rules, why would such a large organization need to do that?
We’ll keep our eyes on case records, and if Jian Hu takes another run at Aria and MGM, you’ll be the first to know.
In the meantime, check out our poker promotions, enter our real money freerolls, and enjoy the game.
Court Records
JIAN HU, Plaintiff(s), v. ARIA RESORT & CASINO LLC, et al., Defendant(s).
Case No. 2:25-cv-00320-NJK.
- February 26, 2025: In Forma Pauperis Application
- March 13, 2025: Service of Subpoenas
- May 12, 2025: Motion to Stay Discovery from Defendant
- November 7, 2025: Court Grants Dismissal
- November 26, 2025: Defendants Apply for Extension to Respond to Amended Complaint
