Officials with the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission said that it was a rare offense and that the casino could have been fined up to $20,000 at the commission's meeting Thursday. A total of 71 people passed through the unstaffed entrance from just after 11 p.m. Sept. 18 to about 11:30 a.m. Sept. 19.

Information from the commission stated that the entrance was shut by security and the deadbolt secured. But about four minutes after the door was shut, a customer pushed the door open. It was left slightly ajar until the next day.

This is the third time that entrance - a seasonal auxiliary door that has been shut down - was left unsecured in an 18-month span.

"We have taken all the appropriate measures to prevent a reoccurrence for that to happen again," said Christie Scott, an Ameristar spokeswoman.

- Midlands News Service