Man To Sue Casino Over Canceled Poker Tournament
A New Jersey Court has just allowed a Vermont man to sue a casino over a cancelled Poker Tournament. Initially, a lower court denied the request. However, the player, Michael Bandler, took it to appeal. The New Jersey court overturned the original decision and will allow Mr. Bandler to sue over the cancelled 2015 poker tournament.
In Essence, the Golden Nugget poker tournament offered a $150,000 guaranteed prize pool. So, Mr. Bandler travelled to Atlantic City from Vermont to take part. Despite the tournament allegedly starting, Golden Nugget casino decided to cancel the event. They cited that it was due to low numbers at registration. However, it is unclear whether they made this decision before the event started or after. As a result, Mr. Bandler took the decision to sue. He claims that the casino broke consumer fraud laws with advertising being misleading.
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Reading the Small Print
Clearly, the Golden Nugget casino argued their side. They claim that this isn’t a court matter, but one for the state regulators. What’s more, they say that in the small print they state that they can cancel the event. The first ruling favoured the casino. However, on appeal, the verdict went Mr. Bandler’s way.
The court stated that the casino should make it clear that it would only pay out $150,000 if enough people sign up. However, the ‘indirect reference’ stating their “right to change or cancel the event” in the small print is not enough apparently.
What Does This Mean for the Future?
This is a huge decision that will have a significant impact. From now on, casinos in Atlantic City will need to look at how they advertise any poker events. Indeed, they will need to be clear about every eventuality. Other casinos will read this news with interest, as it sets a precedent. Now, they will certainly go over their small print carefully in the future.