Gambler sues casino after losing $600k

Rasczak · 06-19-2007

Quote:

A "PATHOLOGICAL gambler" who lost more than $600,000 playing roulette at Star City casino after he begged management to keep him away now wants his money back.

Iranian refugee Behrouz Foroughi, 43, volunteered to go on an "exclusion list" of problem gamblers to bar him from the gaming floor.

It emerged yesterday that Mr Foroughi was just one of 5746 names on Star City's exclusion list.

Mr Foroughi's lawyer Greg Laughton SC told the Federal Court in Sydney the casino had failed in its duty of care after his client informed staff of his gambling problem.

He said Mr Foroughi, a painter and decorator who never sought counselling for his problem, went to Star City staff after losing more than $27,000 in just two days in May 2004.

Within three weeks, Mr Foroughi returned to the casino and blew another $21,000.

He claims that despite being told he would be refused entry, he was able to return 65 times and was even offered access to the high rollers' room.

Follow the link above for the rest.

Is this pathetic or not? I guess the whole concept of personal responsibility is on the endangered species list worldwide - including a great country like Australia. That a case like this isn't immediately laughed out of court is saddening. A casino exists to provide a place for adults to gamble and lose money so they make a profit, they don't exist to stop people from gambling.

Pi-Rat · 06-20-2007

To be honest, I'm not sure what I think about this. I think most of me if saying "his loss, sorry" while another is saying "yes, but he was on a no-admission list."
We do say tough you-know-what to recovering alcoholics that come into bars and piss themselves away. Personal responsibility is a definite must. Either way, exclusion lists or letting them go at it regardless, whatever the agreed upon standard is should apply in both instances.

It's most definitely a great discussion piece. Good find.

bns · 06-20-2007

I absolutely don't think the guy should get his money back.

At the same time, I suspect the casino would have been sure to deny him entry if he was a cheat. It seems unethical for them to prey on people that have an addiction -- especially after the guy voluntarily put himself on the list. But I don't think that lets the guy off the hook. Why didn't he get counseling? Why didn't the casino suggest some? The whole thing's a mess.

User1.0 · 06-20-2007

I think we should have more personal responsibility in this day and age and think he needs a good kick up the bum

bns · 06-20-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by User1.0

I think we should have more personal responsibility in this day and age and think he needs a good kick up the bum

I think he already got one, to the tune of $600k.

c.dric · 06-20-2007

i worked in such a place for a while (not a full blown casino with tables, just the machines) and we had to register everyone that came in and check their data against the exclusion list ... failure to do so, even if the person was not on the list, could be ground for hefty fines or even closure.

those gambling places were illegal here until 10 years ago or so and those exclusion lists were one of the conditions that had to be met for those to be legal again.

now i'm pretty sure such a lawsuit would have had no chance to succeed in court.

06-20-2007	#2 (permalink)
Pi-Rat Eligible for a custom title Join Date: May 2007 Location: Earth Posts: 170	Re: Gambler sues casino after losing $600k To be honest, I'm not sure what I think about this. I think most of me if saying "his loss, sorry" while another is saying "yes, but he was on a no-admission list." We do say tough you-know-what to recovering alcoholics that come into bars and piss themselves away. Personal responsibility is a definite must. Either way, exclusion lists or letting them go at it regardless, whatever the agreed upon standard is should apply in both instances. It's most definitely a great discussion piece. Good find.
	OMGWTFBBQ!!121oneoneeleven! New sig and the first one ever that contains no binary.

06-20-2007	#3 (permalink)
bns Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Indiana, USA Posts: 1,648	Re: Gambler sues casino after losing $600k I absolutely don't think the guy should get his money back. At the same time, I suspect the casino would have been sure to deny him entry if he was a cheat. It seems unethical for them to prey on people that have an addiction -- especially after the guy voluntarily put himself on the list. But I don't think that lets the guy off the hook. Why didn't he get counseling? Why didn't the casino suggest some? The whole thing's a mess.

06-20-2007	#4 (permalink)
User1.0 That's life... Join Date: May 2007 Location: straya! Posts: 301	Re: Gambler sues casino after losing $600k I think we should have more personal responsibility in this day and age and think he needs a good kick up the bum
	- I don't like to annoy people on purpose....much

06-20-2007	#6 (permalink)
c.dric Agitator Join Date: May 2007 Location: a pale blue dot Posts: 635	Re: Gambler sues casino after losing $600k i worked in such a place for a while (not a full blown casino with tables, just the machines) and we had to register everyone that came in and check their data against the exclusion list ... failure to do so, even if the person was not on the list, could be ground for hefty fines or even closure. those gambling places were illegal here until 10 years ago or so and those exclusion lists were one of the conditions that had to be met for those to be legal again. now i'm pretty sure such a lawsuit would have had no chance to succeed in court.
	I'm a simple man with complex tastes. (Calvin & Hobbes) >> http://c.dric.be/gium >> http://bookmarks.c.dric.be/