Man pays for $200 hotel room at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. Then they kick him out–and refused to refund him

Content creators have long been filming their stays at flashy hotels, especially if they fashion themselves as travel creators. However, not all establishments welcome creators with cameras.

One Vegas vlogger found that out the hard way when a routine hotel review turned into a same-day eviction, a permanent ban, and an unrefunded $200.

‘We need to confiscate your camera right now'

On July 30, a Vegas content creator with the surname Pomparelli (@uuser2166609462480) shared how a planned vlog at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas ended with him being escorted off the property. The video has since accumulated more than 572,000 views.

Pomparelli said he'd checked into the Cosmopolitan, one of the Strip's “most highly-requested places by far” among his viewers, with the simple goal of filming another vlog. Trouble started almost immediately at check-in, when an employee approached him after he panned his camera across the counter.

“Sir, you can't film the employees,” she told him. He apologized, put the camera down, and finished checking in without incident.

Once in his room, Pomparelli began his “normal routine” of touring the space, talking through the hotel and casino, and “[going] over what the general vibe is and what [he plans] personally to do during [his] time there.” Then, someone started banging on his door.

“It was an aggressive bang, so it startled me,” Pomparelli said.

Two security guards were waiting outside. Pomparelli said the younger one was “very chill,” while he described the older as “very, very aggressive” and “the antagonist in this story.” The older guard demanded to know if he had “professional recording equipment” in the room, then asked him to hand it over on the spot.

The Cosmopolitan's request

Pomparelli said he hesitated because he was “shocked and confused.” He was unwilling to surrender “$10,000 worth of video equipment” without understanding why. Unfortunately, he said the older guard treated his hesitation as a refusal.

“That's it, sir,” the guard told him. “We're trespassing you. We need you to immediately evacuate the premises. You can't stay here tonight, and you will not be refunded.”

Pomparelli said he was banned from ever returning to the Cosmopolitan and escorted to his car. He left with only an email address for the property's vice president of surveillance to appeal the ban. When he sent in “a very lengthy message, just very nicely and respectfully explaining [his] situation,” the reply was one sentence: “Hi, Mr. Pomparelli, your ban will not be lifted at this time.” Customer service was apparently not helpful.

“No one cared,” Pomparelli finished. “Total lack of respect. And all I wanted to do was make a great video about the Cosmo to help promote them and get more people to go to their hotel, right? And to come to Vegas. That's all.”

@uuser2166609462480

Why I'll NEVER Stay at the COSMOPOLITAN Hotel in Las Vegas EVER Again (RESOLVED)-1

♬ original sound – Productions

Can a casino ban a person just for having camera equipment?

Casino bans are governed in Nevada under NRS 207.200, and they tend to be sweeping by design. According to 702 Defense, a ban from one casino typically extends to all of that casino's other properties, and many casinos never issue banned patrons written confirmation of the ban at all. Bans are also entirely at the property's discretion, often with no standard length or appeals process.

As per the Cosmopolitan website, filming and photography are restricted on Cosmopolitan premises.

“All filming and photography requests must be approved by the Public Relations department and also supervised by a PR representative,” the website says. “This includes all public areas and guest rooms. Professional photography/videography for personal or commercial use, anywhere in the resort, is not permitted. Working media is advised to please contact the Public Relations Department in advance of their stay to require clearance of professional photo/video equipment.”

Buzz News reached out to the Cosmopolitan via email, as well as Pomparelli via TikTok comment.