The Michigan Supreme Court announced that it will hear a case involving BetMGM refusing to pay a Detroit woman $3.2 million in alleged online casino winnings.
Gambler Jacqueline Davis claims she is owed the money, which she says she won playing BetMGM’s Luck o’ the Roulette slot in March 2021. BetMGM Casino Michigan argues that the winnings were a result of a glitch in the slot game.
Davis’s lawsuit was initially dismissed by a Wayne County Circuit Court, which ruled that her claims were pre-empted by the state’s 2019 Lawful Internet Gaming Act (LIGA). The Michigan Gaming Control Board is tasked with enforcing LIGA. The jurisdiction was upheld by a Michigan Court of Appeals panel in September 2023.
Davis’s petition to the Supreme Court argues that under current Michigan laws, there is no forum to address claims of fraud or breach of contract between players and operators. She contends that the Michigan Gaming Control Board does not have the authority to resolve player disputes, as evidenced by her inability to participate in the investigation or learn its outcome.
According to her 57-page complaint, Davis began with a $50 deposit and $4.50 spins, eventually increasing her bets to the maximum of $5,000 over five days, accumulating $3.2 million in her account. After withdrawing $100,000 from MGM Grand Detroit, her account was suspended, and the remaining balance was not paid.
BetMGM’s Jeremy N. Kolman stated that Davis’s winnings were due to a game malfunction, which multiplied certain win amounts when transferred from the onscreen balance to her wallet, resulting in an inflated amount.
Davis claims she was unaware of the malfunction and was congratulated on her win by a BetMGM VIP employee. Despite her unsuccessful attempts to collect her winnings so far, the Michigan Supreme Court has decided to hear her case.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/noticias/2024/06/03/72472-michigan-supreme-court-to-decide-on-gambler-39s-32-million-betmgm-dispute
