Legal Question in Technology Law in Washington

i am having problems collecting my money from an online casino

i won some $$ at an online casino and they are trying to tell me that i am wrong. i need to know how to proceed


Asked on 2/18/00, 12:06 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Lawrence Graves Coolidge & Graves PLLC

Re: i am having problems collecting my money from an online casino

I don't know the particulars on this online casino, nor am I confident of your state of residence (tag indicates WA), but here's the generic answer:

Casino gaming is illegal in every state but NV, with certain limited exceptions for some Indian tribe operations. Thus, unless you are a NV resident, the gaming agreement that you have with the online casino is for an illegal purpose and therefore unenforceable in your state (or federal) courts. Various states' attorneys general have pursued online casinos, and they get shut down under criminal sanctions. I am assuming that your online casino is in some off-shore venue, like the Cayman Islands, and that you used a credit card or sent a money order in order to establish your account.

Your only real remedy is to engage local counsel in the jurisdiction where the online casino operates and sue it there, unless there is an arbitration clause in your account subscription agreement. Most likely (unless you've been REALLY lucky), the cost of chasing the casino will exceed your winnings. And, unfortunately, complaining to your state's attorney general will not do a thing to get your money (it will, however, probably shut down the online casino).

Good luck chasing your winnings.

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Answered on 2/23/00, 3:26 pm


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