Online Gambler Unable to File Lawsuit Against MGM Resorts Following Massive $25m Loss
Unlucky Gambler's Lawsuit Against MGM Resorts Swipes Left
In a not-so-lucky break for gambler Sam Antar, his lawsuit against MGM Resorts for reportedly letting him lose nearly $25m through BetMGM and Borgata online casinos has hit a brick wall. Antar accused the company of encouraging his gambling habit by offering VIP perks.
The courts' verdict? They've got your back, casinos.Time and again, courts across the nation have rejected the claim that casinos bear a responsibility to safeguard compulsive gamblers. Senior US Circuit Judge Jane Richards Roth put it bluntly: casinos enjoy a shield from private litigation in New Jersey.
Antar's legal team argued that a VIP host's role is akin to that of a salesperson, and since the host was aware of his client's gambling issue, selling a harmful product (in this case, gambling opportunities) was essentially illegal. Nevertheless, the court saw no evidence of misleading communications between the hosts and Antar.
Over 1,800 text messages were exchanged between June 2019 and January 2020, with Antar losing an eye-watering $24m on both BetMGM and Borgata Online casinos by the end.
So where does this leave us? Casinos can breathe a sigh of relief, their secret weapons – VIP perks – are still within legal boundaries. To be clear, it's essential to remember that each jurisdiction has different rules regarding false or misleading marketing practices. However, as of Antar's case, the court wasn't convinced that the promotional practices were up to no good.
Here's a handy recap:
- The Great Escape: Courts have repeatedly insisted that casinos are not charged with the task of keeping compulsive gamblers secure.
- The Art of Persuasion: The legality of persuading compulsive gamblers can depend on the specific regulations of a given state regarding false or misleading practices. Nevertheless, in cases such as Antar's, the courts didn't find the casinos in the wrong for their promotional strategies.
- Potential Pitfalls: While casinos can generally count on protections, they could be at risk if their marketing tactics are deemed deceitful or misleading, a situation that didn't arise in Antar's case.
- Despite his claims regarding VIP perks, the court ruled that casinos, such as Borgata, maintain a legal haven against private lawsuits for allegedly enabling compulsive gambling.
- In an interesting twist, the court considered the role of a VIP host to be analogous to that of a salesperson, but didn't find evidence suggesting that compulsive gamblers were intentionally misled by such hosts.
- The lawsuit against MGM Resorts by Sam Antar, who lost nearly $25m through BetMGM and Borgata Online Casinos, has failed to establish a liability for casinos in safeguarding compulsive gamblers.
- Casino-and-gambling trends continue to evolve, but casinos can rest assured that their attractive VIP perks remain within the boundaries of legal practices, as per the current court rulings, with each jurisdiction's rules differing regarding false or misleading marketing practices.
- It is crucial to advocate for responsible gambling, ensuring casino personalities and gambling establishments promote games in a manner that does not target compulsive gamblers or use deceptive practices, in line with the constantly emerging gambling trends.
