Crown Casinos Sued For Winning From Irresponsible Gambler
A recent trend in the casino industry is the filing of suits by gamblers against casinos at which they lost. A New Jersey lawyer attemted earlier this year to sue several Atlantic City casinos after she embezzled funds from trust accounts to pay for her gambling.
However, a judge decided she had no argument, and the casinos had no obligation to protect her from herself, and dismissed the case.
"Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis has also filed suit, this time against Wynn Resorts. Francis alleges Steve Wynn plied him with alcohol and prostitutes to encourage him to gamble beyond his limits.
A Clark County judge hasn't seen the value of Francis' claims. The judge required Francis to post bond in the felony case against him for writing a bad check to Wynn Las Vegas to cover his markers.
Now an Australian man wants $34 million from Crown Casinos. Harry Kakavas says he lost $25 million over the last year gambling at the casinos of Australian billionaire James Packer, even though he was barred from all Australian casinos in 2004.
Kakavas alleges that Crown management used predatory practices to lure him back after they discovered he had been gambling in Las Vegas. The property developer says he used a concealed recorder to tape casino executives discussing how to keep him wagering at their tables.
Of course, if Kakavas sold a piece of property at an inflated value to a customer who discovered later that the land was worthless, he'd consider that smart business.
Paul O'Hara of Canberra was asked his thoughts as he exited the Crown Casino. "Didn't some chap in America get millions for spilling hot coffee on himself? if the court's going to reward you for your own stupid behavior, why not be stupid, and then sue?"
