A New Jersey judge has tossed the lawsuit brought against Borgata Casino, BetMGM and MGM Resorts by Sam A. Antar.
Antar alleged the companies worked together to keep him gambling with the company despite knowing he had a gambling problem and did not stop him from losing nearly $30 million playing online and in casinos,
In her letter ordering the case dismissed, Judge Madeline Cox Arleo sided with BetMGM and others and dismissed the case.
Arleo disagreed with Antar’s suggestion that the state’s Consumer Fraud Act (CFA) designed to protect consumers applies to the casino industry took precedence over the state’s Casino Control Act.
Arleo went on to note that the complexities of the Casino Control Act mean that the CFA, as has been decided in other cases, does not override the casino laws.
“Recognizing and responding to compulsive gambling is a highly technical aspect of gambling. These regulations call for specialized training for employees of internet gaming operators. The training is meant to follow specific standards promulgated by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey,” she wrote.
Arleo also went on to suggest that casinos in New Jersey are not legally obligated to stop those with gambling problems from gambling. Citing a number of past casino cases and comparable cases regarding alcohol service and bars liability when serving intoxicated customers.
Antar is currently in the middle of a three-year prison sentence related to defrauding investors in his company. He is said to have used investor money to fuel his gambling habit.
