Packer's Crown Casino Sued By Developer Over Gambling Binge

Harry Kakavas has a well known gambling problem. He had been barred from every casino in Australia. When Crown Casino decided to ignore that ban, they put themselves in jeopardy of legal action.

That legal action has come in the form of a lawsuit filed on behalf of Kakavas. he claims that managers lured him back to the casino despite the fact that he was banned. A fourteen month gambling binge cost Kakavas $37 million.

He is suing Crown, which is owned by Australian James Packer, for $50 million in damages. Part of the lawsuit claims that managers at Crown new that Kakavas had a gambling addiction, yet they lured him in anyway. They had found that he lost millions of dollars in Las Vegas.

Crown and Packer have no plans of backing down from the lawsuit. They claim they are innocent. "We have no intention of responding to the allegations made publicly. We are defending the action vigorously," said Crown spokesman Gary O'Neill to Reuters.

The main issue at stake for Crown is whether they have violated Australia's Trade Practices Act. They also are in jeopardy of breaking various laws that are set for casinos in Australia.

Kakavas may have some proof on his side as well. He wore a concealed taping device that caught managers from Crown trying to coerce Kakavas back to the baccarat tables. That is where he lost millions on his gambling binge.

October 30, 2008
Posted By April Gardner
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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