Gamblers who have been ordered to return $1.5 million they won at an Atlantic City casino that unknowingly used unshuffled cards asked a judge on Friday to let them keep the money.
The 14 gamblers say they won the money through no fault of their own playing mini-baccarat at the Golden Nugget in April 2012. They say that if the ruling stands, it would send a chilling message to the gambling public that no jackpot is ever safe.
"By ordering the patrons to return the monies that were paid out by (the Golden Nugget) nearly three years after the game ended sends incredible conditional messages to the public: A win isn't necessarily a win, and that casinos will go after winning players who are without fault" if the casino or one of its agents were to blame, the gamblers said in a court filing asking the judge to reverse her February ruling in favor of the casino.
Steve Scheinthal, general counsel for the casino's parent company, Landry's Inc., said the judge got it right.
"The trial judge considered the law and made a very thoughtful and correct decision," he told The Associated Press. "We see no reason why she would change her mind."
The judge heard the motion Friday but did not issue a decision.
At issue were games of mini-baccarat using decks of cards the casino had paid a manufacturer to pre-shuffle but that hadn't been shuffled. Once players realized the pattern in which the cards were emerging, they drastically upped their bets from $10 a hand to $5,000 and won 41 straight hands.
Last month, the judge determined the games were illegal under state law because they didn't conform to gambling regulations specifying the way each game must be played.
The Golden Nugget bought what were supposed to be pre-shuffled cards from a Kansas City manufacturer, which acknowledged in court it failed to shuffle them. The casino said its litigation with the manufacturer has been resolved, but a confidentiality agreement prevents it from revealing details.
The judge's February ruling was the latest in a long series of decisions that have seesawed between favoring the casino and favoring the gamblers. The owner of the casino, Texas billionaire Tillman Fertitta, originally decided to let the players keep their winnings, but that offer was contingent on them dropping other claims they made against the casino, including illegal detention, which they declined to do.
The casino paid out about $500,000 in winnings for the disputed games. About $1 million in chips remains outstanding.
Showing posts with label Atlantic City. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Atlantic City. Show all posts
March 23, 2015
January 18, 2013
Pennsylvania is now No.2 gambling destination surpassing Atlantic City
Pennsylvania has surpassed Atlantic City as the nation’s No. 2 gaming revenue market. The state’s Gaming Control Board said this week that Pennsylvania casinos took in $3.16 billion from slot machines and table games in 2012, surpassing the $3.05 billion reported for the same year by Atlantic City, which suffered its sixth straight annual revenue decrease.
The state still has a ways to go to catch Las Vegas, the nation’s largest gaming market, which produced $6 billion in gaming revenues in 2011. The 2012 year-end totals for Las Vegas will be released in February. For the first 11 months of the year, Strip gaming revenues were up 1.2% over 2011. In Pennsylvania, there are 11 casinos operating. A 12th casino, in the western part of the state, is expected to open this year.
Six groups, including Wynn Resorts are seeking the state’s 13th license in Philadelphia. The Pennsyvlania data underscore the challenges facing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as he looks to reinvigorate the tourism and gambling industries after years of decline and the recent superstorm Sandy.
The state has lost business as New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland expanded their gambling operations. “Pennsylvania is a great growth story,” said Jan Jones, executive vice president for communications and government relations at Caesars Entertainment. which has one casino there and four in New Jersey. “Governor Christie has really been trying to reposition Atlantic City as a resort destination.” Casino revenue in New Jersey has fallen for six straight years since peaking at $5.2 billion in 2006, according to state data.
Pennsylvania ranked third in the nation in casino spending in 2011, behind Nevada and New Jersey, according to the American Gaming Association trade group. New Jersey has 12 casinos after the opening of Revel last year. Pennsylvania has 11. The closely held Parx Casino & Racing, formerly Philadelphia Park Racetrack & Casino, was the state’s largest in revenue with almost $500 million in total, separate reports showed.
The state still has a ways to go to catch Las Vegas, the nation’s largest gaming market, which produced $6 billion in gaming revenues in 2011. The 2012 year-end totals for Las Vegas will be released in February. For the first 11 months of the year, Strip gaming revenues were up 1.2% over 2011. In Pennsylvania, there are 11 casinos operating. A 12th casino, in the western part of the state, is expected to open this year.
Six groups, including Wynn Resorts are seeking the state’s 13th license in Philadelphia. The Pennsyvlania data underscore the challenges facing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as he looks to reinvigorate the tourism and gambling industries after years of decline and the recent superstorm Sandy.
The state has lost business as New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland expanded their gambling operations. “Pennsylvania is a great growth story,” said Jan Jones, executive vice president for communications and government relations at Caesars Entertainment. which has one casino there and four in New Jersey. “Governor Christie has really been trying to reposition Atlantic City as a resort destination.” Casino revenue in New Jersey has fallen for six straight years since peaking at $5.2 billion in 2006, according to state data.
Pennsylvania ranked third in the nation in casino spending in 2011, behind Nevada and New Jersey, according to the American Gaming Association trade group. New Jersey has 12 casinos after the opening of Revel last year. Pennsylvania has 11. The closely held Parx Casino & Racing, formerly Philadelphia Park Racetrack & Casino, was the state’s largest in revenue with almost $500 million in total, separate reports showed.
January 16, 2013
PokerStars confirm interest to buy Atlantic City Casino
As previously reported back in December, it has now been confirmed that the Rational Group, the owner of PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, has offered to buy the Atlantic Club Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey for an undisclosed sum.
The move marks the first attempt by the company to gain a foothold in the U.S. market since PokerStars online gaming-related $547 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice last year.
The deal will now go before New Jersey regulators. The company said in its application, “Rational US is a willing and enthusiastic prospective purchaser, and it intends to improve the financial viability of the property, and therefore the offerings available in Atlantic City.
“The purchase will improve the overall economic and competitive conditions of Atlantic City and the state of New Jersey, as the current owner of the company has, for a considerable period of time, been marketing the property for sale.”
Michael Frawley, the casino’s chief operating officer, and Eric Hollreiser, PokerStars head of corporate communications, said in a statement, “The acquisition of The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel will secure up to 2,000 jobs and maintain the economic benefits the casino brings to New Jersey.
“During this interim period, the Atlantic Club Casino Hotel will operate as normal under current management, which will be retained following completion of the acquisition.”
The Casino has struggled under the ownership of Resorts International Holdings which is owned by a Los Angeles hedge fund.
With Senator Chris Christie still considering signing into law online poker in the state, PokerStars are hoping it seems to be the first off the blocks to offer interstate online poker back in the US before any of its competitors.
The move marks the first attempt by the company to gain a foothold in the U.S. market since PokerStars online gaming-related $547 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice last year.
The deal will now go before New Jersey regulators. The company said in its application, “Rational US is a willing and enthusiastic prospective purchaser, and it intends to improve the financial viability of the property, and therefore the offerings available in Atlantic City.
“The purchase will improve the overall economic and competitive conditions of Atlantic City and the state of New Jersey, as the current owner of the company has, for a considerable period of time, been marketing the property for sale.”
Michael Frawley, the casino’s chief operating officer, and Eric Hollreiser, PokerStars head of corporate communications, said in a statement, “The acquisition of The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel will secure up to 2,000 jobs and maintain the economic benefits the casino brings to New Jersey.
“During this interim period, the Atlantic Club Casino Hotel will operate as normal under current management, which will be retained following completion of the acquisition.”
The Casino has struggled under the ownership of Resorts International Holdings which is owned by a Los Angeles hedge fund.
With Senator Chris Christie still considering signing into law online poker in the state, PokerStars are hoping it seems to be the first off the blocks to offer interstate online poker back in the US before any of its competitors.
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