Woman in Michigan Seeking Legal Action Against BetMGM for Alleged $3M Roulette Anomaly
In a landmark decision, the Michigan Supreme Court has ruled in favour of a Detroit woman, identified as Davis, who is now permitted to sue BetMGM for a $3 million win from a five-day streak on their "Luck O' Roulette" fixed-odds game in 2021.
Davis claims she was up around $11 million during her roulette-a-thon, but stopped playing when she dropped down to $3 million from her peak of $11 million. She argues that even if a malfunction occurred, BetMGM failed to address technical issues during the five-day streak, making it an invalid defense.
The Supreme Court's decision allows Davis to make these arguments in court. BetMGM, however, has allegedly produced little concrete evidence of a game malfunction.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) argued it lacked the authority and resources to settle civil disputes between players and casinos. However, the court's decision provides legal recourse for Michigan residents in such disputes.
If Davis spoke about the alleged glitch, she would have to return the $100K advance in cash for her winnings that BetMGM offered her, according to filings.
The MGCB regulates online gambling in Michigan, licensing and overseeing legal online casinos within the state. For licensed operators, the MGCB mandates adherence to fair gaming standards, including mechanisms for dispute resolution. Players, therefore, have the right to pursue civil claims or complaints through the MGCB in case of disputes.
In contrast, disputes involving unlicensed online casinos are much harder to resolve legally, as those operators violate state laws and are subject to enforcement action rather than consumer dispute resolution.
Justice Brian Zahra, writing for the court, acknowledges that online gambling is a new legal frontier in Michigan and that common law must evolve to address the rights and responsibilities it creates.
[1] Michigan Gaming Control Board: https://www.michigan.gov/mgcb [2] Michigan Lawful Internet Gaming Act: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-4324.pdf [3] Michigan Compiled Laws: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-4324-4333.pdf
- The BetMGM lawsuit by Jacqueline Davis, a Michigan resident, is based on her claim that the casino-and-gambling company failed to address technical issues during her $3 million win on the 'Luck O’ Roulette' game, despite claiming a malfunction occurred.
- In the Davis case, it is alleged that BetMGM offered her a $100K advance in cash for her winnings, but if she speaks about the alleged 'luck o’ roulette glitch', she would be required to return this money.
- The Michigan Supreme Court ruling has granted Davis the right to sue BetMGM in the online gambling dispute, providing legal recourse for Michigan residents in such disputes.
- Regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), licensed online casinos in Michigan, such as BetMGM, must adhere to fair gaming standards and dispute resolution mechanisms.
- Contrary to regulated online casinos, disputes involving unlicensed online casinos are difficult to resolve legally, as those operators violate state laws and are subject to enforcement action rather than consumer dispute resolution.
