Crown casino and Aristocrat to face lawsuit
Crown casino and Aristocrat face being targeted in landmark legal action for allegedly providing machines to the public that are misleading and deceptive.
Australia.- Crown casino and Aristocrat face being targeted in landmark legal action for allegedly providing machines to the public that are misleading and deceptive. The Law firm Maurice Blackburn, acting in behalf of recovering pokie addict Shonica Guy, is challenging the companies under Australian Consumer Law.
Maurice Blackburn, which is acting pro bono, will formally write to Crown and Aristocrat over the popular Dolphin Treasure pokies game today.
Crown casino and Aristocrat will have two weeks to respond to the claims and try to work out a resolution before proceedings begin in the Federal Court. Barrister Ron Merkel, QC, will represent Ms Guy pro bono if the case proceeds to court.
Guy is not seeking financial compensation but a declaration that the machines are deceptive. “The machines are actually designed to take your money; as soon as I touched the machine I was hooked. There is a fine line between gambling and entertainment,” she declared.”I just want people to know that they are being conned.”
In the event the machines are proved to be misleading and deceptive, there will be major ramifications for the multibillion-dollar industry as well as state governments that receive billions in tax revenue from pokies.
