Atlantic City Gamblers Win $1.5 Million Thanks To Casino Error – The Casino Wants It Back

A group of gamblers who took an Atlantic City casino for $1.5 million thanks to an un-shuffled deck of cards – a mistake the casino admits – have sued to be allowed to keep their winnings, Yahoo News is reporting.

In August 2012, 14 gamblers were playing Mini Baccarat at Atlantic City’s Golden Nugget Casino at $10 per hand. When they noticed a pattern emerging in the cards the dealer revealed, the gamblers realized they could predict the outcomes, and started playing accordingly. They also upped their bets from $10 per hand to $5,000 per hand. They won 41 hands in a row.

Ordinarily, the casino would use decks of cards that come from the manufacturer already shuffled, according to the Belleville News-Democrat. However, the cards used at that particular Mini Baccarat table at the Golden Nugget that night weren’t shuffled – an error that both the Kansas City playing card manufacturer and the casino admitted in court.

In a separate case, the litigation between the casino and the manufacturer has been resolved, but the specifics of the outcome have been kept secret, as part of the settlement.

The casino’s owner, Tillman Fertitta, originally allowed the gamblers to keep their money, in exchange for dropping their lawsuit against the casino, which alleged illegal detention, among other complaints. However, they declined to do so.

In February, according to this Inquisitr report, a judge ordered the gamblers to give the money back, saying that the casino violated state law (which tightly governs how all casino games are played) by playing with an un-shuffled deck; thus, the gamblers’ winnings were illegal and they had to give the money back. The casino’s attorney, Steve Scheinthal, said that it was the right decision.

“The trial judge considered the law and made a very thoughtful and correct decision. We see no reason why she would change her mind.”

On Friday, the gamblers’ lawyer filed a motion asking the judge to reconsider her decision, saying that ordering them to return the money they won due to a casino mistake sets the wrong precedent.

“By ordering the patrons to return the monies that were paid out by [the casino] nearly three years after the game ended sends incredible conditional messages to the public: A win isn’t necessarily a win, and that casinos will go after winning players who are without fault.”

As of this post, the judge has not issued a ruling on the motion to allow the gamblers to keep their money.

Do you think the gamblers should be required to give their money back because of the casino’s mistake? Share your thoughts in the comments below.