Court Finds 'Deal or No Deal' Not Guilty of Gambling

Fortunately, the Georgia Supreme Court held that the claim by Michael and Michele Hardin was invalid.

People will do seemingly anything, and clutch at any straw, to retrieve investments that failed to pay off, no matter how small. It has been seen that problem gamblers will ignore casino advice and create ingenious ways to continue gaming, then sue to recover monies lost. Online casinos have been hurt in the past by patrons who sued to get back funds whose transfer broke laws, even though they were complicit. Now comes a verdict on a frivolous lawsuit whose specious claim against the television show  "Deal or No Deal" is based on anti-gambling law.

Fortunately, the Georgia Supreme Court held that the claim by Michael and Michele Hardin was invalid. The couple had contested that the show, by charging 99 cents per text message to enter a game involving picking the right suitcase among six, had entered into an illegal gambling contract, and therefore the texting fee had to be refunded.

The justices found that text messages do not constitute a bet, and that NBC's contention the feature was a promotional tool rather than a lottery was accurate.

The show, hosted by comedian Howie Mandel, offers contestants a chance to win as much as one million dollars.

The network did take the precaution of removing the lucky case game from the show during the course of the lawsuit, saying that the segment was on hiatus.

For once, simple common sense wins out in a court of law. Although the verdict apears an easy conclusion, in a land where serving hot coffee can cost you a million dollar settlement, nothing can be taken for granted. As for the Georgia couple, out their texting fees, perhaps they might try to make money the old-fashioned way... marry Paul McCartney.