Former gambling addict loses case against Crown and Aristocrat

In what has been described as a landmark Australian gambling case, a federal judge has found that land casino operator Crown Resorts and slot machine manufacturer Aristocrat did not mislead or deceive players about their chances of winning.

Our readers may recall the case was filed by a former gambling addict, Shonica Guy, who was a big loser on the machines at Crown and alleged that the design of “Dolphin Treasure” electronic gaming machines misrepresented the player’s chances of winning.

Judge Debra Mortimer ruled against Guy on Friday, finding that the machines were “not misleading or deceptive as the law defines those concepts” and rejecting Guy’s complaints that the companies involved take advantage of vulnerable gamblers.

She found that the companies were compliant with a stringent and comprehensive regulatory regime that includes assessments about the fairness of the way an electronic gaming machine operates, prohibits certain kinds of features, but not others, and includes approval of particular machines.

The judge did comment however that the case has raised important issues such as expert opinions that more research needs to be carried out regarding the relationship between machine design and gambling addiction.

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