A Kentucky gambler sues Scientific Games after losing thousands on virtual slots
Slots gambling is technically illegal in Kentucky, but operators utilize a legal loophole.
A woman in Lexington, Kentucky is filing a class-action lawsuit against multiple Nevada-based operators, having lost thousands on their virtual slot machine games. Hannelore Boorn alleges that they are violating state law by allowing her to gamble in the first place.
Boorn filed the lawsuit in a Fayette Circuit Court last month, against Scientific Games Corporation and two of its subsidiaries: Sciplay Corp and Appchi Media Limited. The case has been moved to a federal court.
Slots are illegal in Kentucky, but the manufacturers of these machines have found a loophole and games are pouring into the state with barely any regulations or approval from lawmakers.
This legal loophole is found in ‘gray slot machines’, also known as skill or nudge games, which have been present in Kentucky bars, convenience stores and restaurants for a long time. Now, there are estimated to be hundreds operating without clear legislative approval.
Court documents filed by Boorn say that she began to play the company’s ‘Quick Hits’ casino game back in November 2015 and purchased thousands of dollars worth of virtual currency. She proceeded to lose this money on what the suit describes as “unlawful online gambling machines.”.
Quick Hits is a simulation of a virtual slot machine that encourages addictive play, according to the lawsuit. It does this by awarding first-time players free coins to play, then prompting the players to purchase more coins at discounted prices after they lose the initial amount. The more money an individual pays for chips, the more chips they receive to continue playing.
The lawsuit states: “By operating their virtual casinos, defendants have violated Kentucky law, which governs (Boorn’s) and the class’s claims, and have illegally profited from tens of thousands of consumers.”
Boorn is seeking full restitution of the money she lost – with interest – from the companies as a result of their conduct, court costs and attorney fees.
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