A Mississippi woman has filed a lawsuit against The Strat Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, alleging bed bug bites sustained at the property left her with permanent scarring and emotional trauma.
Krystal Nailer says she was bitten by bed bugs at the casino resort during an October 2022 visit. Her lawsuit was filed late last week in a Nevada district court. It alleges Nailer spent $15,000 on recovery from the incident after itching and scratching left her with permanent scars.
Bed bugs are not unheard of at Las Vegas casino hotels by any means. But most do take the issue seriously when it occurs.
As a globally popular tourist destination, bed bugs can be brought into Las Vegas by guests in their luggage or on their clothing. As a bedbug can survive some 20 days without a human blood meal, there is sometimes little casino resorts can do to prevent the occasional outbreak.
The Lawsuit
Nailer is suing the Strat for reimbursement of the $15,000 she says she spent on medical fees and other related expenses, plus loss of income and her legal fees.
The lawsuit was filed on October 8 in Clark County’s Eighth Judicial District Court. Strat operators Stratosphere Gaming LLC and Golden Entertainment were named as defendants.
Nailer says her expenses mounted after she needed therapy for emotional damage and sustained medical fees for her injuries. She also claims she had to pay for replacement clothing and luggage after they were exposed to the bed bugs.
“Plaintiff suffered terrible itching and pain for weeks. To this day, Plaintiff has permanent scarring on her body due to this incident,” the lawsuit says.
The filings also allege that the Strat staff knew about complaints of bed bugs in that particular room before Nailer checked in.
Bedbugs in Sin City
The Strat did not comment on the lawsuit. It referred media outlets to a statement from trade group the Nevada Resort Association on bed bug incidents.
The statement referenced a Nevada Health District report from earlier in 2024 that found four bed bug incidents had occurred at Las Vegas casino resorts in the first five months the year. In one incident, Wynn Resorts closed an entire suite at the Encore for pest control after one single live bed bug was found.
“The minute number of incidents reflects the comprehensive and proactive health and safety measures and pest-control procedures Las Vegas resorts have in place to prevent and address issues,” the Association’s statement said.
“Unfortunately, these pests can be transported anywhere unwittingly in luggage and clothing. While incredibly rare, when reported, our members take swift action in accordance with health and safety requirements. Guests are immediately relocated, and the room is taken out of service for extensive cleaning and extermination to eradicate any pests.”
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
