PHAI enters lawsuit against Caesars for ‘dangerous’ online casino promotion
The Institute suggests the promotion offers a $2,500 deposit match but also requires $375,000 in bets within the first week before any payouts can be received.
Key Points
- PHAI stated its “seeking to expose and stop” the “dangerous, misleading and illegal ‘deposit match’ promotion” from the operator and Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino
- The lawsuit alleges Caesars and its partners have “effectively rewritten” the state’s gaming laws by requiring new customers to gamble such amounts before being paid
The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) has officially entered into a new lawsuit against Caesars Online Casino and its land-based partner Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino for offering a “dangerous, misleading and illegal” deposit match promotion.
According to the Institute, the promotion suggests a $2,500 deposit match but reportedly requires $375,000 in bets within the first week of activation before any payouts can be received. The lawsuit alleges Caesars and its partners have “effectively rewritten” the state’s gaming laws by requiring new customers to gamble such amounts before being paid.
“We know the gambling industry, with the assistance of the American Gaming Association (AGA) and the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS), is aggressively attempting to push the legalization of online casino gambling across the United States,” PHAI Executive Director Mark Gottlieb said.
“Thus far, the seven states with online casino gambling seem ill-prepared or unwilling to regulate the wild tactics of the industry. This promotion, engineered by Caesars, is among the most egregious we have seen to date.”
PHAI also stated its “seeking to expose and stop” the promotion from being offered by the operator and Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino.
Good to know: Inspired Entertainment launched Caesars Palace Wheel of Wins across Michigan and Ontario, Canada on June 5, following what was described as a “successful performance” in New Jersey where the game was first introduced
“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,” PHAI Director of Gambling Policy Dr. Harry Levant said.
“More importantly, nothing in Pennsylvania’s gambling rules or laws permits a casino to refuse payment unless and until customers begin gambling to excess. This is dangerous to Caesar’s customers, immoral and just plain wrong.”
Despite the recent lawsuit, Caesars was recognized as a 2025 honoree of The Civic 50 on June 4, a survey looking to recognize the top community-minded companies across the US and representing the 11th consecutive year Caesars has been included.
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