About thirteen years ago, a man tried to sue a large casino for millions of dollars he lost while gambling at their resort. He would go every week to a very popular casino and lose millions of dollars. In 2007, he had been banned from other casinos because he would get very intoxicated and then gamble away millions. Casinos have a policy that, if someone is intoxicated, they should be cut off and not allowed to drink or gamble any more. While most of the casinos caught on to this man’s behavior, there was one casino that chose to let him gamble on. That casino was Caesar’s Palace which is owned by Harrah’s Entertainment. That man was Terrance Watanabe.
The reason Watanabe filed suit is that he had been charged with fraud in relation to his gambling. He had apparently lied to get lines of credit and committed various counts of fraud to get money to gamble. He had to pay the state back millions of dollars in restitution. He decided one way to get back some of this money was to sue the casino. He filed a civil complaint for $127 million. He claimed that the casino purposely got him drunk so that he’d lose more money.
This case raises an interesting question. Can you sue a casino for money you lost while gambling? If you are in this situation, you should reach out to one of our experienced personal injury lawyers in Atlanta
You Are Responsible for Your Own Financial Losses
While there are no casinos in Georgia, there are some that are awfully close. For example, Harrah’s Cherokee Hotel isn’t far from Atlanta. You could take a weekend trip there and press your luck at slots or the blackjack tables. And, if you do, there’s a good chance that you’ll lose. Gambling is a billion-dollar industry. It didn’t get that way by letting people win. Most people who go to the casino do lose. You can’t turn around and then demand that the casino pay your money back.
If you decide to gamble, that is your choice. Whether you lose $20 or $20,000, you can’t blame anyone else for your loss. You can’t expect your Atlanta personal injury lawyer to file suit against the casino demanding your losses be paid back to you. Even if you could show that the casino did ply you with drinks, you’ll be hard-pressed to win any sort of lawsuit against them.
The Casino May Be Liable for Physical Injuries That Happen on Their Property
Now, if you go to the casino near Atlanta and get injured, that’s a different story. If you fall or get hurt while on casino property, you may have a claim for damages. You can call a personal injury attorney in Georgia and ask them to evaluate your case. They may tell you that you have no solid case. You would rather your attorney be honest with you rather than guarantee you money they cannot possibly get you. But there’s a good chance they may tell you that you have a valid claim.
If this is the case, the first thing you’ll need to do is file a claim against the casino’s insurance company. They have insurance for these types of situations. Hopefully, your claim will be paid, and you’ll have your check in a week or two. If your claim isn’t paid, your Atlanta injury attorney can try to negotiate a settlement of your claim. If this doesn’t work, you can always file suit against the casino. Your attorney will handle this for you.
What Kind of Damages Will You Be Entitled To?
If you’re hurt while on the casino’s property, you may be entitled to damages. Your Georgia personal injury lawyer will demand the following:
- Medical bills – If you’re physically injured in the accident, you may suffer a lot of medical bills. It depends on what kind of treatment you need. The casino will be liable for any medical bills related to your accident.
- Lost wages – If you miss time from work, your attorney will demand compensation. They’ll also demand that you be paid for any future income you lose. For example, if you end up on disability because of your injuries, you won’t earn as much as you did before the accident. You can demand compensation for the difference between what you would’ve earned compared to what you’ll earn on disability.
- Pain and Suffering – These are meant to compensate you for the mental and physical anguish caused by the accident.
Call an experienced personal injury lawyer in Atlanta today and schedule your free initial consultation.
