A regulated online casino seized $100k plus from me. What can I do?

Quote: smurgerburger

To me it doesn't sound like a malfunction at all, I don't know why people are entertaining that idea. It sounds like the vendor of the online slot coded it in such a way that it's +EV off the top in some way they didn't intend. link to original post

This. I've written extensively about slot malfunctions, covering every single case I could find. A malfunction is when the machine says or implies that you won when you really didn't. If you legitimately won according to the game rules, that is NOT a malfunction.

Here's how it works:

✅ Game says you have a winning hand/round/spin when you really don't. Classic malfunction.

✅ Game pays you more than the paytable. Classic malfunction. This includes mistakes with converting denominations.

❌ Game has a player edge because it was designed that way. NOT a malfunction. It's not a malfunction when the game operates according to its rules. But did that really happen here? It's hard for that kind of game to pass regulatory scrutiny.

? Game logic doesn't match game rules. This is an edge case. Let's say it's a blackjack game but because of bad coding it never picks 4s. It's likely that regulators would call that a malfunction, because the game deviated from the rules that were approved, but there's a chance they might rule the other way. There probably aren't enough precedents to make it clear.

My advice: If your case is one described as a malfunction above, then stop. It's a malfunction, you have no case.

If it's *not* a malfunction, then alert the media. Then lawyers will probably come out of the woodwork to try to take your case, solving your problem of not being able to get a contingency lawyer. [I forgot that lawyers are not allowed to solicit.] Also, the casino might be more willing to settle once a spotlight is shined on them.

If your case is a malfunction as described above, there are lots of people on this forum who could be expert witnesses, if they're willing. DrRich and CrystalMath come to mind. I offer as well but my slot resumé is not nearly as long as theirs. I have done slot math professionally and I can speak knowledgeably about dozens of cases because I'm the only person on the whole Internet who has covered all of them.

Thanks. This was not a malfunction as described above. I think just saying accurately that the game's RNG, functions and paytable operated properly covers all of your scenario's. The game did operate according to its rules.

I'm surprised no one has guessed. I mean that's not why I'm here. I could explain it in 5 seconds. I don't think that there are many online players here. Maybe it's just cause I'm a degenerate and I try out games and try to think of ways to beat it (whether it's +ev or not). For instance, there is an online blackjack game I play. Sometimes when you press hit there is a slight pause before it deals the next card on the players hand. This means the next card either busts you or you dealt to 21 either way ending your hand. I don't know of a way to profit from that but it's something I noticed.

I have now tried contacting close to 50 lawyers, some multiple times. These weren't detailed messages that would scare them away. It was just a simply "an online casino seized a significant balance from me and I'm looking for representation". 47 never called back or they emailed back that they don't do this work. One wanted $25k upfront plus 20% plus expenses. The other just wanted to bill at $450 an hour, $5000 minimum.

I don't think media attention would help. I don't think I could explain my case in a way that the public would understand. I think I would do better in a structured setting.

Left with no other options, I filed complaints with 3 gaming commissions last week. I filed all at the same time cause I don't want each to possibly find out about the other and their decision be influenced. It will be interesting if different opinions are reached. I don't have high hopes. First I don't know if any statute of limitations has passed. Also I am still scared that there is a possibility they not only decide against me but also seek damages or charges against me. Remember winning from casinos is essentially taking the money from the states. I don't have confidence the court system will see it my way especially without a lawyer.

Have you changed your approach dealing with online casinos. Seems logical, but thought I'd ask anyway.

Quote: Sandybestdog

I don't think media attention would help. I don't think I could explain my case in a way that the public would understand. I think I would do better in a structured setting. link to original post

Media attention would definitely help. Remember, I write about this kind of thing, I've reviewed dozens of articles, and it's rare that there's any decent level of detail, because the reporter has no clue. All they really give in the article the the idea that "casino won't pay out to a player". Even if they include some details and they flub them, it doesn't matter, the article isn't the court case. The article is just how you draw attention to the case, and wind up with a contingency lawyer. [I forgot that lawyers are not allowed to solicit.] Use ChatGPT to craft a clear and coherent message to the news desk and send that. You're out $100k, you have nothing to lose here.

Quote: Sandybestdog

Left with no other options, I filed complaints with 3 gaming commissions last week. I filed all at the same time cause I don't want each to possibly find out about the other and their decision be influenced. It will be interesting if different opinions are reached. I don't have high hopes. First I don't know if any statute of limitations has passed. Also I am still scared that there is a possibility they not only decide against me but also seek damages or charges against me. Remember winning from casinos is essentially taking the money from the states. I don't have confidence the court system will see it my way especially without a lawyer.
link to original post

Gaming commissions are not going to help don't waste your time. Lawyers do not help.

In this scenario: you have probably lost your money. In my experience with such things endless persistence and threats sometimes pay off over time. If they believe you can cost them more in negative publicity than they stole from you they may give it back. I'd give them exact details of the number of forums and warnings you will give out about them. The problem is that the amount in this case is large, and they sound like they are having financial difficulties. So you are going to have to make it clear you will cost them a lot of money.

You can actually cost them a lot of money. If someone does a search and your comment that they scam people comes up it WILL hurt them. That's the only leverage you have. Whether that will work is speculative.

Quote: DougGander

Quote: Sandybestdog

Left with no other options, I filed complaints with 3 gaming commissions last week. I filed all at the same time cause I don't want each to possibly find out about the other and their decision be influenced. It will be interesting if different opinions are reached. I don't have high hopes. First I don't know if any statute of limitations has passed. Also I am still scared that there is a possibility they not only decide against me but also seek damages or charges against me. Remember winning from casinos is essentially taking the money from the states. I don't have confidence the court system will see it my way especially without a lawyer.
link to original post

Gaming commissions are not going to help don't waste your time. Lawyers do not help.

In this scenario: you have probably lost your money. In my experience with such things endless persistence and threats sometimes pay off over time. If they believe you can cost them more in negative publicity than they stole from you they may give it back. I'd give them exact details of the number of forums and warnings you will give out about them. The problem is that the amount in this case is large, and they sound like they are having financial difficulties. So you are going to have to make it clear you will cost them a lot of money.

You can actually cost them a lot of money. If someone does a search and your comment that they scam people comes up it WILL hurt them. That's the only leverage you have. Whether that will work is speculative.
link to original post

Sounds like a good idea. Extortion always does until …..

Quote: rxwine

Have you changed your approach dealing with online casinos. Seems logical, but thought I'd ask anyway.
link to original post

I'm not sure in what way you mean but no I haven't. I still play online. You know during covid the online casino's and sportsbooks were just giving away money. I mean you had to work it but it was there. It's taking me awhile but I'm realizing the edge just isn't there anymore.

One thing that really needs to be called out especially online, is the deception by these sites of player perks and VIP programs. It's rare for any of these sites to actually close your account but a few now have sent emails saying I am excluded from promos. Some of these are places I'm still a lifetime loser at. I'm not talking about profit boosts or something that's available to everyone. I mean, here is our vip program, play this and you get these benefits. But once you reach those perks if they don't like your action, they just take it away, especially online. It's very deceptive. I've also heard stories on podcasts of online sportsbooks giving people sports tickets and dinners and then literally the day of they say oh your action is not what we're looking for we're taking that away. Caesars 7 Stars is 150k tier credits. By last Summer I had over 400k tier credits from online play. My account said 7 stars pending for months but they never gave it to me. Now my account reset for the year and now I'm only diamond with 2000 tier credits.

Quote: SOOPOO

Quote: DougGander

Quote: Sandybestdog

Left with no other options, I filed complaints with 3 gaming commissions last week. I filed all at the same time cause I don't want each to possibly find out about the other and their decision be influenced. It will be interesting if different opinions are reached. I don't have high hopes. First I don't know if any statute of limitations has passed. Also I am still scared that there is a possibility they not only decide against me but also seek damages or charges against me. Remember winning from casinos is essentially taking the money from the states. I don't have confidence the court system will see it my way especially without a lawyer.
link to original post

Gaming commissions are not going to help don't waste your time. Lawyers do not help.

In this scenario: you have probably lost your money. In my experience with such things endless persistence and threats sometimes pay off over time. If they believe you can cost them more in negative publicity than they stole from you they may give it back. I'd give them exact details of the number of forums and warnings you will give out about them. The problem is that the amount in this case is large, and they sound like they are having financial difficulties. So you are going to have to make it clear you will cost them a lot of money.

You can actually cost them a lot of money. If someone does a search and your comment that they scam people comes up it WILL hurt them. That's the only leverage you have. Whether that will work is speculative.
link to original post

Sounds like a good idea. Extortion always does until …..
link to original post

Extortion would be criminal action to coerce or threaten. This guy just wants the money he is owed.

Quote: Sandybestdog

. You I'm not sure in what way you mean but no I haven't.

He means "I don't trust anything but bricks and mortar casinos regulated in the US". It is a rational response to an apparently unregulated form of gambling.

It isn't one I share: domestic regulation is pretty awful also.. In practice casinos don't steal from people much for the simple reason will bet if they don't get paid. That's the only protection you have.

Quote: DougGander

Quote: Sandybestdog

Left with no other options, I filed complaints with 3 gaming commissions last week. I filed all at the same time cause I don't want each to possibly find out about the other and their decision be influenced. It will be interesting if different opinions are reached. I don't have high hopes. First I don't know if any statute of limitations has passed. Also I am still scared that there is a possibility they not only decide against me but also seek damages or charges against me. Remember winning from casinos is essentially taking the money from the states. I don't have confidence the court system will see it my way especially without a lawyer.
link to original post

Gaming commissions are not going to help don't waste your time. Lawyers do not help.

I disagree 100%. I have went in front of the Nevada Gaming Commission many times and always thought they were fair.

Its impossible to give good opinions on this without knowing precisely how the advantage was manifested,
I also understand why this information would not be disclosed in public.

Quote: DRich

Quote: DougGander

Quote: Sandybestdog

Left with no other options, I filed complaints with 3 gaming commissions last week. I filed all at the same time cause I don't want each to possibly find out about the other and their decision be influenced. It will be interesting if different opinions are reached. I don't have high hopes. First I don't know if any statute of limitations has passed. Also I am still scared that there is a possibility they not only decide against me but also seek damages or charges against me. Remember winning from casinos is essentially taking the money from the states. I don't have confidence the court system will see it my way especially without a lawyer.
link to original post

Gaming commissions are not going to help don't waste your time. Lawyers do not help.

I disagree 100%. I have went in front of the Nevada Gaming Commission many times and always thought they were fair.
link to original post

I didn't say they were unfair. The problem is the fines they levy are chickenfeed so large casinos can just ignore them.

The personnel themselves are pretty good, but like US regulators they don't have the money or influence to do their job.

Quote: DougGander

Quote: DRich

Quote: DougGander

Quote: Sandybestdog

Left with no other options, I filed complaints with 3 gaming commissions last week. I filed all at the same time cause I don't want each to possibly find out about the other and their decision be influenced. It will be interesting if different opinions are reached. I don't have high hopes. First I don't know if any statute of limitations has passed. Also I am still scared that there is a possibility they not only decide against me but also seek damages or charges against me. Remember winning from casinos is essentially taking the money from the states. I don't have confidence the court system will see it my way especially without a lawyer.
link to original post

Gaming commissions are not going to help don't waste your time. Lawyers do not help.

I disagree 100%. I have went in front of the Nevada Gaming Commission many times and always thought they were fair.
link to original post

I didn't say they were unfair. The problem is the fines they levy are chickenfeed so large casinos can just ignore them.

The personnel themselves are pretty good, but like US regulators they don't have the money or influence to do their job.
link to original post

In Nevada, if they rule in your favor they will make the casino pay you.

Quote: DRich

In Nevada, if they rule in your favor they will make the casino pay you.

Perhaps but the legal environment has become so murky in recent months I wouldn't have any faith in a government agency currently.

Quote: DougGander

Quote: DRich

In Nevada, if they rule in your favor they will make the casino pay you.

Perhaps but the legal environment has become so murky in recent months I wouldn't have any faith in a government agency currently.
link to original post

I don't know that I would trust any regulators outside the U.S. but to say "Gaming commissions are not going to help don't waste your time." is horrible advice.

Quote: rainman

Its impossible to give good opinions on this without knowing precisely how the advantage was manifested,
I also understand why this information would not be disclosed in public.
link to original post

Well yes both because the opportunity may exist somewhere else (this is not the first place but nothing currently) and also I still I am worried about possible repurcussions.

Quote: DRich

Quote: DougGander

Quote: DRich

In Nevada, if they rule in your favor they will make the casino pay you.

Perhaps but the legal environment has become so murky in recent months I wouldn't have any faith in a government agency currently.
link to original post

I don't know that I would trust any regulators outside the U.S. but to say "Gaming commissions are not going to help don't waste your time." is horrible advice.
link to original post

You have no experience of this type of scenario, obviously. I do.

Quote: DougGander

You have no experience of this type of scenario, obviously. I do.

You are probably correct, my 30 years working in Gaming and being the Director of Regulatory Compliance for a Gaming company is probably irrelevant.

My thirty years of experience as an online advantage player gives me relevant experience in this area.

Your experience working for gambling operations does not qualify you for this type of scenario. You won't get anywhere filling up forms and going through the proper channels.

Quote: DougGander

My thirty years of experience as an online advantage player gives me relevant experience in this area.

Your experience working for gambling operations does not qualify you for this type of scenario. You won't get anywhere filling up forms and going through the proper channels.
link to original post

You are still clearly wrong as I expressly pointed out that I was commenting on your assertion that contacting regulators will get you nothing. If you said that contacting the Potawami Gaming Commission about their Zimbabwe casinos I would have deferred to you. The problem is that you generalized it that contacting any gaming commission would be futile. Many commissions are legitimate and try to help.

Quote: DRich

Quote: DougGander

My thirty years of experience as an online advantage player gives me relevant experience in this area.

Your experience working for gambling operations does not qualify you for this type of scenario. You won't get anywhere filling up forms and going through the proper channels.
link to original post

You are still clearly wrong as I expressly pointed out that I was commenting on your assertion that contacting regulators will get you nothing. If you said that contacting the Potawami Gaming Commission about their Zimbabwe casinos I would have deferred to you. The problem is that you generalized it that contacting any gaming commission would be futile. Many commissions are legitimate and try to help.
link to original post

If you can tell us in what circumstances a regulatory body was of some use to you then I suggest you tell us, that would be genuinely interesting and useful.

I have never found them to be useful, nor has any one in my circle. I am not even anywhere of any one who has ever found them useful outside my circle though I'm sure someone must have done at some point.

The reason why it is almost certainly a waste of time here it is the play the guy is using is roughly analogous to a play like contingency-related betting where the casinos have an obvious get-out clause. The regulatory body will simply cite the relevant statute, regardless of how selectively and cynically it is being used here. It is not going to go anywhere. Especially as most such bodies are vulnerable to regulatory capture....ie they tend to be former casino people.

If you go to gaming or social media with this type of complaint then anybody who hears about it will hear one thing "they don't pay". Which costs the operation money, That's actual leverage. It may not be nice or pleasant or polite or something, but it works. I have to win to eat, I don't have time for pleasantries.

You've been beating online casinos for 30 years? Well they've only been here for less than 10 so that means you were playing offshore. Did you go down to Costa Rica and threaten them?

There are literally hundreds of complaints online saying MyBookie steals people's money. People still play there. I still play there. If I told you the name of the site I'm disputing, everyone here would log on and see what they could find.

The casinos would not care. They will say something like there was a software problem and the game was paying out incorrectly and this person took advantage of it.

Everyone knows there is nothing good for them in the terms and conditions. In my very brief conversations with one or 2 lawyers that actually called me back, they weren't too concerned about that. I think they can challenge that stuff. For instance, every site has mandatory arbitration. Well a lawyer can fight that and get a court to say that you can sue.

Quote: Sandybestdog

You've been beating online casinos for 30 years? Well they've only been here for less than 10 so that means you were playing offshore.

There are literally hundreds of complaints online saying MyBookie steals people's money. People still play there. I still play there. If I told you the name of the site I'm disputing, everyone here would log on and see what they could find.

The casinos would not care. They will say something like there was a software problem and the game was paying out incorrectly and this person took advantage of it.

Everyone knows there is nothing good for them in the terms and conditions. In my very brief conversations with one or 2 lawyers that actually called me back, they weren't too concerned about that. I think they can challenge that stuff. For instance, every site has mandatory arbitration. Well a lawyer can fight that and get a court to say that you can sue.
link to original post

Yeah you can challenge it. They could say that the stipulation in the t&c doesn't mean reasonable standards of contract law. Now think about that from the perspective of a legal official-are you going to go to lunch early and limit your cognitive load by observing the player violated a clause in the contract? Or are you going to put in a lot of work creating a messy and mentally challenging contrarian verdict to precedent that alienates a powerful corporation? I'm afraid in every case I'm aware of they go for the former, and there have been a lot of cases.
I'd add: there is a reason only two lawyers called you back.

It will cost you around 50k to go to arbitration, by implication you don't have the money if "you lose on everything else". The casino has your deposit and betting history so they know you are no threat.

So you really don't have much option but to go down the consumer complaint road anyway. I think you are underestimating the prospect of that. Every customer a casino loses is worth around $5-6K, it is not a marginal issue. You make a clear, concise but detailed post on Trustpilot, AskGamblers, Casino Guru, Reddit's gambling communities optimized for search. Crucially before you do you contact the casino and explain exactly what you are going to do.Use polite, descriptive and quasi-legal language. This is not the same as therapeutic venting on the internet, it is a targeted financially costed strategy.

You might want to fire off a formally worded letter to the casino using appropriate legal jargon (ai can do this) demanding repayment also. They will probably ignore it but it has a non-zero chance of success. This is only if you decide against the legal route.

The reason I don't recommend contacting the regulator is that if the regulator rules against you that's it, you won't win legally and you have lost any kind of leverage outside that. You will harden the casino's position. The casino can just cite the fact the regulator ruled against you. If the rule in your favor it doesn't actually help that much because their ability to do anything about the situation is very limited.

Quote: DougGander

....I'd add: there is a reason only two lawyers called you back.

It will cost you around 50k to go to arbitration, by implication you don't have the money if "you lose on everything else". The casino has your deposit and betting history so they know you are no threat. ....

When I say no lawyers call me back, I don't mean they're turning me down. They just don't even respond.

I find one that I think may be interested. I call. Of course they never pick up. I leave a message. I send an email. I send a website request. I say a large online sportsbook/casino seized my account balance and I'm looking for representation. I never hear back from them. Or they respond that it isn't something they do. If you search gaming lawyers most of them work for the casinos or manufacturers in a regulatory capacity. There aren't a lot of cases like mine laying around. I've come to learn lawyers are just in it for the guaranteed money. That's why you see so many accident lawyers. They know they can threaten and settle with insurance companies.

I stand corrected. I forgot that attorneys aren't allowed to solicit. So if you went to the media, lawyers would NOT line up to get your case, because they can't contact you.

Best bet is to scour my article on slot malfunctions, see if any are in PA (I don't remember off the top of my head), and is so see if the attorney is mentioned in the news reporting I link to. Failing that, call one of the attorneys mentioned about a case in a different state and see if they're also licensed in PA, and if not then ask for a referral.

I don't think there are any lawyers out there that have been itching to contact me. Since I played in Michigan, I tried contacting the attorney handling the MGM roulette case but they never called back. We don't know the details of what that game did. I have a feeling it was a glitch. Even with that the case has recently made promising progress through the courts. I personally think my case is stronger than that and also that of the video poker machine case a few years ago.

I read your post of your conversation with the lawyer. It was mentioned how a settlement with MGM could avoid negative publicity. MGM dragged out the Phil Ivey case for years and refused to budge or admit anything despite high publicity. It was pretty obvious they didn't want to admit to being a sore loser. You'd think some high rollers would be cautious going there cause they think they may be freerolled. MGM doesn't care. They're doing better than ever. They're offering an addictive product. People want it.

Does the attorney general do anything, besides being corrupted?

Quote: Sandybestdog

If you search gaming lawyers most of them work for the casinos or manufacturers in a regulatory capacity. There aren't a lot of cases like mine laying around. I've come to learn lawyers are just in it for the guaranteed money. That's why you see so many accident lawyers. They know they can threaten and settle with insurance companies.
link to original post

That was why I pushed back on the whole legal/regulator angle. To be fair there isn't a lot of reason why they would get involved, here are the recent cases:

Katrina Bookman v Resorts World, New York (2016–2021)
Displayed $42.9 million on a penny machine with a $6,500 maximum. Casino offered $2.25 and a steak dinner. She sued, lost. Court sided with casino — the displayed amount was technically impossible.
Maribel Sanchez, Oklahoma (2020)
Displayed $8.5 million jackpot. Casino claimed malfunction, voided it. No successful legal challenge documented.
Lisa Piluso v AGS / Caesars Interactive, New Jersey (2021)
Online game bug left bonus symbols on screen from a previous round, creating a false $100,000 jackpot display. She sued. Court ruled against her — claimed she hadn't legitimately won.
Jacqueline Davis v BetMGM, Michigan (2021–2023)
Online roulette credited her $3 million they claimed she hadn't legitimately won. She sued. Court ruled against her in 2023.
Roney Beal v Bally's Atlantic City (2025, ongoing)
Hit a $2.55 million Wheel of Fortune progressive, machine showed an error post-jackpot, casino staff opened and interfered with the machine before regulators arrived. Survived motion to dismiss in 2025 — still active, outcome unknown.

(The Beal case is interesting but I doubt is relevant to your case? If it is somehow that might change things. Maybe check to see if your account was amended in some way.)

The structural problem in the US is that gaming commissions are the primary arbiters of whether a malfunction occurred, and they almost always side with the casino's technical assessment. Courts then defer to that regulatory finding rather than treating the displayed amount as a binding contractual offer. The Iowa Supreme Court's reasoning in McKee made this explicit — the rules of the game form the contract, not what appears on the screen.

Despite the tone of some other posts in this thread: hiring a lawyer (even if you can) after a slot glitch refusal has historically been money spent for no return in every resolved case on record.

Quote: DougGander

Despite the tone of some other posts in this thread: hiring a lawyer (even if you can) after a slot glitch refusal has historically been money spent for no return in every resolved case on record.link to original post

First of all, that's not true. My article about slot malfunction cases has examples in which players *did* win and got paid.

In the cases in which the players lost, that's because *those* cases were *obvious malfunctions*, the exact opposite of the OP's case. Come on.

Quote: MichaelBluejay

Quote: DougGander

Despite the tone of some other posts in this thread: hiring a lawyer (even if you can) after a slot glitch refusal has historically been money spent for no return in every resolved case on record.link to original post

First of all, that's not true. My article about slot malfunction cases has examples in which players *did* win and got paid.

In the cases in which the players lost, that's because *those* cases were *obvious malfunctions*, the exact opposite of the OP's case. Come on.
link to original post

I read your article. The article actually doesn't contradict that position in any meaningful way for our friend's specific situation.

The cases cited where players won - the Louisiana Wheel of Fortune, the Mississippi Grand Bucks case - succeeded largely because casinos mishandled evidence or juries believed eyewitnesses over forensic data. Those are very different circumstances from his case.
More relevantly, the article itself directly addresses his situation in the "Players who exploited bugs" section with the John Kane and Andre Nestor case. They found a legitimate bug, exploited it, won hundreds of thousands, got arrested, charges were eventually dismissed - but they still suffered jail time, a lengthy legal ordeal, and significant legal fees. That's not exactly an advertisement for the legal route.
The article also has a section directly addressing what appears to be his case - the Pennsylvania online casino denying a $100k payout - and frames it as genuinely ambiguous depending on whether the game paid according to its own rules or exceeded its paytable. His argument that it's not a malfunction if it paid as designed is actually supported by the article's own framework, which is useful.
But nothing in the article suggests that hiring a lawyer is straightforward, affordable, or reliably successful. The cases that went to court were mostly losses for players, and the wins involved unusual circumstances. The advice to pursue legal action cheaply remains as problematic as before.

Quote: DougGander

...The cases that went to court were mostly losses for players...

Yes, because, again, they were malfunctions! The OP's case appears to be EXACTLY OPPOSITE.

Quote: DougGander

..., and the wins involved unusual circumstances. link to original post

Yes, because the article is generally a compilation of malfunctions. It's *not* a compilation of games that had a player edge. We *expect* that players are gonna lose in court when the machine clearly malfunctioned, that's a given. And the OP's case appears to be very different.

Lawsuits without merit generally lose.

Lawsuits *with* merit generally win.

You're saying that OP shouldn't pursue a lawsuit with merit, because lawsuits *without* merit generally lose.

It's not a compelling argument.

All of these slot machine cases displaying one million plus wins are clearly glitches. They are equivalent to people claiming to be fake victims of something/someone when clearly they are not. They are taking attention from true victims.

I have read about the video poker bug case. I would actually be inclined to say that was a malfunction. What I haven't been able to determine from that case is if there was a legitimate bet made and was there a defined winning hand. I don't know that there was. If you're able to switch denominations when you are dealt a big hand, I would say that is probably a malfunction and is akin to capping your bet.

My case actually already has legal precedent as perfectly legal in land casinos. Whether that transfers to online is unknown.

Quote: MichaelBluejay

Quote: DougGander

...The cases that went to court were mostly losses for players...

Yes, because, again, they were malfunctions! The OP's case appears to be EXACTLY OPPOSITE.

Quote: DougGander

..., and the wins involved unusual circumstances. link to original post

Yes, because the article is generally a compilation of malfunctions. It's *not* a compilation of games that had a player edge. We *expect* that players are gonna lose in court when the machine clearly malfunctioned, that's a given. And the OP's case appears to be very different.

Lawsuits without merit generally lose.

Lawsuits *with* merit generally win.

You're saying that OP shouldn't pursue a lawsuit with merit, because lawsuits *without* merit generally lose.

It's not a compelling argument.
link to original post

Your logical framework is sound in isolation but it makes this HUGE assumption about the central factual question — whether this was a malfunction or a designed feature — gets determined fairly and independently. In practice that determination is made primarily by the gaming commission's technical assessment, which draws heavily on the casino's own evidence. Courts then defer to that finding. So the OP could have a perfectly correct legal argument and still lose at the factual stage before the legal "merits" are ever properly tested.

The cases in your article where players won involved unusual circumstances — mishandled evidence, credible eyewitnesses, procedural failures by casinos. Those aren't reliably reproducible. The structural deference to casino technical assessments is. "Lawsuits with merit generally win" is true across the legal system as a whole. In this specific niche, with this specific deference pattern, the track record doesn't support that level of confidence. That's not an argument against the OP having "merit" — it's an argument that "merit" alone is insufficient given how these cases actually get decided.

I'd add Sandy made it very clear at the start of the thread he would have financial difficulty with any case, so I'm not sure why we are even talking about this stuff. Seems likely very high ROR even in a best-case scenario. $5,000 initial retainer just for letters and calls, then potentially $40,000-$100,000+ in billable hours for actual litigation or arbitration, with no guarantee of recovery and no lawyer willing to share the risk via contingency.

And please stop using the word "merit" to describe what you think of as technically effective legal arguments. There is no merit in the casino position. In Europe Sandy would already have his money back. The casino position has no merit, it is just what they can get away with legally, not the same thing at all.

It's hard when this happens unexpectedly. Online games can certainly have glitches, but casinos need to be more transparent. It might be helpful to talk to others who have experienced similar issues. You can check out platforms like
to get more perspectives.

There can definitely be glitches in online gaming, but casinos need to be more transparent.