Australian Casino Sued By Loser for $30 Million
Nobody likes to lose; now one Australian gambler is suing a casino company, saying he shouldn't have been provided the opportunity to lose, and the Supreme Court judge hearing the case has agreed there may be cause.
Harry Kakavas has taken legal action against Crown Casino of Melbourne, asking for $30 million in gambling losses be refunded, along with damages and legal fees.
Kakavas, a real estate developer, says he lost the money playing baccarat from June of 2005 until the following summer. He claims he was flown over thirty times on Crown's VIP jet, and promised rebates of 20% if and when he lost.
The lawsuit is against both the Crown Casino and its chief operating officer, John Williams. Kakavas contends that when he had himself excluded from the casino, Williams personally enticed him to return and resume playing.
Supreme Court Justice David Harper did dismiss parts of the petition, including accusations of negligence and deceptive and misleading conduct. However, Harper ruled that the charge of unconscionable conduct may be valid, and therefore the complaint may proceed once it is rewritten to exclude the provisions tossed out.
This does not mean any finding of guilt against the casino; but the concept of this case advancing is ominous. After all, this is a world in which fault can be found for not labeling coffee hot.
