Man sues NJ casino for cancelling poker tournament

Five years after the event, a poker player will be allowed to sue a casino in Atlantic City for cancelling a tournament without notice.

US.- A man is to sue an Atlantic City casino over a cancelled poker tournament back in 2015.

According to Associated Press news agency, Michael Bandler travelled from Vermont to Atlantic City to play in a US$150,000 prize poker tournament at the Golden Nugget.

The tournament began but was then cancelled because not enough players registered.

Bandler decided to present a lawsuit against the casino arguing that the decision amounted to consumer fraud. He alleges there was misleading advertising about the tournament.

The Golden Nugget had argued that state gaming regulators held jurisdiction over the issue, not the courts. In its defence, the company said ads clearly stated the tournament could be cancelled.

An initial ruling found in favor of the casino, but now a New Jersey appeals court has reversed that decision and agreed with Bandler.

The court decided: “The casino omitted stating it intended to pay $150,000 only so long as enough people signed up, and the only indirect reference to that intent was the disputed disclaimer in small print about official rules and the right to change or cancel the event.”