Casino handicap patron awarded $320,000 compensation
Uncompromising Casinos: A Tale of Jackpots and Justice
Casinos are a melting pot, welcoming players of all ages and abilities. Even in the face of disabilities, these establishments keep their doors open to gamers who play by the rules. Such was the case at a Star casino, where an elderly gent with a motor neuron disease, known as Mr. Joe, found himself in the middle of a courtroom drama.
Mr. Joe, a frequent visitor and a Platinum Vantage VIP member, often played pokies with his buddy, Mr. Lie. However, Mr. Joe's disability made it impossible for him to navigate the games on his own, so he required his pal's assistance.
One fateful day, as they played the Year of the Tiger game, their luck took a turn for the better when Mr. Joe struck a whopping $285,000 jackpot. With victory in sight, they headed to the cashier, only to be turned away. The casino didn't hand over the prize. Furious, Mr. Joe took the matter to court, and things started to unravel.
It turned out that Mr. Lie, who had been pushing the buttons and setting the bets, held a voluntary exclusion order from 2016. This order was meant to bar him from casino premises, but he had managed to slip through the cracks every time he visited Star casino.
The court, however, saw things differently. Mr. Lie wasn't playing the game; Mr. Joe was. Given his condition, he couldn't operate the game solo. With that in mind, the casino was found guilty of denying Mr. Joe his hard-earned winnings.
This blunder cost the casino dearly. They were ordered to pay Mr. Joe's legal expenses, the original jackpot sum of $285,000, accrued interest of $35,000, amounting to a grand total of $320,000. Their failure to pay out the jackpot was a clear breach of regulations.
Moreover, the casino was criticized for allowing Mr. Lie to play, despite his voluntary exclusion. The lesson here is crystal clear: casinos must adhere to the rules and regulations. They have a moral obligation to do so, not just to uphold the law, but also to ensure equal opportunities for all players, irrespective of their abilities.
The Fine Print: Accessibility in Casinos
While specific rules for disabled players at casinos, particularly Star casino, were not found in the initial search results, general knowledge reveals that:
- According to Australian laws, casinos must comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) that mandates public venues to provide reasonable access and support to people with disabilities.
- This includes wheelchair access, clear signage, accessible gaming areas, and allowing assistance from companions or support persons.
- Casinos often have policies in place that detail how disabled access is facilitated, including priority services or dedicated facilities.
- Lawsuits involving disabled players at casinos usually revolve around whether the venue met their legal obligations for accessibility and reasonable adjustments.
For exact and updated information specific to Star Casino or other Australian casinos, consulting the casino's policies, official legislative documents, or court rulings regarding accessibility and disability rights in gambling venues is recommended.
In case you're looking for specific rules related to the Star Casino lawsuit, that information is not available in the search results. Additional research in legal databases or official statements from the casino and regulatory bodies would be necessary to get the full picture.
In essence, the story of Mr. Joe serves as a stark reminder that casinos have a responsibility to treat all players fairly and to abide by the rules they have set for themselves.
- Despite the lack of specific rules in the initial search results, it is a general awareness that casinos, including Star casino, should abide by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), providing reasonable access and support to people with disabilities.
- In the light of the court ruling, it becomes evident that casino-games like pokies require efficient accessibility not just for compliance with laws, but also to provide a fair chance for all players, including those with disabilities, to potentially hit the casino-and-gambling jackpot.
