Steven Mattes claimed hotel executives lured him to the grand opening of the Las Vegas Strip resort with a promise of a $2 million line of credit, but reneged on the offer after he lost millions of dollars gambling.

Mattes, a multimillionaire gambler from Tarzana, Calif., asked the high court to overturn a December 2004 ruling by U.S. District Judge James Mahan in Las Vegas, who set aside an $8 million federal jury award for Mattes in 2002.

Mahan said the original verdict was flawed and not supported by the trial evidence.

Mattes' lawyer, Steven Mirch of Reno, said he would ask the high court to reconsider hearing the case, originally filed against casino owner Bally's Las Vegas and Park Place Entertainment, now Harrah's Entertainment Inc.

"It's corruption," Mirch said, "that's why we'll keep going."

Mattes claimed casino bosses created false receipt markers suggesting he owed more than he did, and that executives changed their minds about offering him the credit line so the hotel could post big first-day wins.

Harrah's Entertainment officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

The case is Mattes v. Bally's Las Vegas, 07-125.

———

On the Web:

U.S. Supreme Court: www.supremecourtus.gov

Harrah's Entertainment Inc.: www.harrahs.com

———