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A new legal challenge has put Caesars Online Casino under the spotlight in Pennsylvania. The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI), a nonprofit focused on addiction and mental health, has filed a lawsuit over what it sees as a harmful bonus promotion that may encourage reckless gambling behavior.
Good to know
- PHAI claims Caesars’ $2,500 deposit match misleads users with nearly unreachable wagering conditions.
- Customers playing blackjack must wager $375,000 within a week to qualify for any withdrawal.
- The lawsuit adds to PHAI’s wider efforts targeting aggressive gambling promotions.
The lawsuit, filed in Pennsylvania under the name Brubaker vs. Chester Downs and Marina, LLC et al., names Caesars Online Casino and its local partner, Harrah’s Philadelphia. At the core of the complaint is Caesars’ 100% deposit match offer of up to $2,500 for new players in Pennsylvania.
PHAI argues the bonus comes with wagering requirements that are both excessive and poorly explained. Players must meet the terms within just seven days. According to PHAI, if someone chooses to play only blackjack, they would need to wager a total of $375,000 to be eligible to cash out any bonus-related profits.
Dr. Harry Levant, Director of Gambling Policy at PHAI, did not hold back in his criticism. “It is unconscionable for a gambling company to knowingly require people to gamble excessively and put their mental health at risk as a condition to cash out their winnings,” he said. Levant also added that nothing in Pennsylvania’s gambling rules justifies such extreme wagering requirements.
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A Broader Legal Push Against Gambling Promotions
Caesars is not the only operator in PHAI’s legal crosshairs. The organization has also filed suits against DraftKings and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in the past two years. According to the nonprofit, many of the industry’s current promotional tactics present a serious risk to public health.
Mark Gottlieb, PHAI’s Executive Director, pointed out that this type of bonus structure is especially harmful in states where oversight may be lacking. “This promotion, engineered by Caesars, is among the most egregious we have seen to date,” he stated. “The gambling industry is pushing for nationwide legalization while states remain largely unprepared to regulate these predatory tactics.”
Waiting on a Response
As of now, Caesars has not responded to media requests for comment on the lawsuit. The case adds pressure to both regulators and operators to address the balance between aggressive marketing and responsible gambling standards.
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