MGM Resorts will not be held liable for the gambling losses of a New Jersey man who claimed he lost $25 million due to addiction. A federal appeals court upheld the dismissal of his lawsuit, ruling that casinos are not legally responsible for voluntary losses, even when addiction is involved.
Good to know
- The U.S. Court of Appeals confirmed casinos have no legal duty to prevent compulsive gambling.
- Fraud claims were denied as offers sent by MGM were not found to be deceptive.
- Antar placed over 100,000 wagers during the period in question.
The case, filed in 2022 by Sam A. Antar, accused MGM Resorts and its affiliates of negligence and consumer fraud. He alleged that company hosts targeted him with gambling offers, encouraging more bets despite knowing about his addiction.
Antar received over 1,800 messages between June 2019 and January 2020. He argued that these repeated contacts pushed him further into compulsive betting, making the operator responsible for his financial losses.
But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit disagreed. In a 3-0 ruling, the court said that under New Jersey law, there is no requirement for casinos to stop individuals from gambling—even if they show signs of addiction.
Senior Judge Jane Richards Roth, joined by Judges Stephanos Bibas and Cindy K. Chung, wrote that the Casino Control Act is designed to protect industry integrity, not shield players from their own decisions. The panel found no legal grounds to hold MGM liable.
Antar’s attorney compared MGM’s hosts to pushy salespeople who exploit addiction. However, the court rejected that analogy, ruling that each wager provided what it promised—an opportunity to win, with no guarantee.
Consumer fraud allegations were also thrown out. Antar claimed MGM misled him with false promotions, but the judges found no proof of deceptive conduct or misinformation. They said the offers did not violate the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.
The ruling comes at a time when MGM faces other regulatory pressure. Just a couple of days ago, the Nevada Gaming Commission fined the operator $8.5 million for allowing illegal bookmakers to gamble at its properties.
Even so, this decision delivers a legal win for the company. The court made it clear: casinos cannot be held responsible for the financial outcomes of a player’s voluntary gambling, regardless of personal circumstances.
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