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A lawsuit filed by an online casino player against BetMGM will go to trial in January after several years of legal wrangling and an attempt at arbitration.
Laurence Murk, the player in question, sued in 2022, alleging BetMGM broke the rules of a contest it ran in 2021 that promised a $500,000 prize to the person who earned the most points in a leaderboard-style competition.
How BetMGM’s online casino contest turned into a lawsuit
In 2021, BetMGM ran a $500,000 contest in which players received points for every $1 wagered on certain slot machines. At the end of the contest, the player with the most points would win the half-million-dollar prize.
To enter, players had to opt in. Murk joined the contest believing he would win.
“Plaintiff Murk reviewed the published Rules and elected to accept the offer and enter the Contest,” court documents said. “At the time he entered the Contest, Plaintiff Murk executed a strategy that would result in his winning the $500,000 prize. This strategy included placing significant sums in the designated Contest Slot Machines so as to become the person with the highest amount of sums bet.”
The leaderboard was public, allowing Murk to track his points and his lead over other players.
Through his strategy, Murk found himself atop the leaderboard after wagering approximately $350,000 with the real-money online casino. Then, on the 11th day of the contest, Murk’s dreams of winning $500,000 appeared dashed.
“On…the 11th day of the Contest, the name ‘Broker’ suddenly appeared in first place on the Leader Board with 810,000 points of play credited to him and Mr. Murk was moved into second place,” court documents said.
BetMGM Casino accused of favoring VIP in online slot contest
Murk asked BetMGM how the mystery account had passed him. The response sparked what would become a lawsuit and now a trial scheduled for early next year.
“Mr. Murk…was told by representatives of the Defendants that they had changed the Rules of the Contest for Broker and credit Broker with 818,000 points in the Contest because he was a valued customer whom Defendants believed had mistakenly played non-Contest-eligible slot machines during the Contest period.”
Murk’s attorneys argue BetMGM bent the rules for a high roller, leaving Murk with complaints that went nowhere.
Murk ultimately finished fourth and received a $50,000 prize after wagering a total of $1.5 million on eligible online slot games, according to court records.
DGE says dispute falls outside its authority
After failing to resolve the issue with BetMGM, Murk turned to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. The DGE told him the contest was “not a casino gambling game,” meaning the agency could not intervene. Murk filed his lawsuit in late 2022 seeking $450,000 in compensatory damages.
BetMGM trial scheduled for early 2026
Late last month, the Superior Court of New Jersey in Atlantic County notified both parties that the trial had been moved to Jan. 26 from Oct. 6.
It remains unclear what the trial will yield. BetMGM admitted it changed the rules for a favored customer. However, that customer did not win the contest. And Murk’s case may face challenges because he ultimately finished fourth, not second.
