Michigan Supreme Court Gets Involved in BetMGM $3.2 Million Dispute
The Michigan Supreme Court is getting involved in the case of Jacqueline Davis, a player who sued BetMGM Casino in 2021 for not paying out a $3.2 million win.
The case has lingered in lower courts for three years, after several rulings that the complaint was not in their jurisdictions. Now, the Wolverine State’s Supreme Court is examining the lawsuit, and its decision might create a precedent for future judiciary involvement in similar cases.
The issue started after BetMGM decided to void Davis's $3.2 million online casino win, claiming a technical glitch was responsible for the winnings. According to this Michigan casino online, Davis’s wins were inaccurately multiplied and the inflated winnings were credited to her account. Malfunctions have created similar situations in retail casinos, but voiding of an online winning is extremely rare in the iGaming industry.
The Supreme Court Verdict Can Have Future Ramifications
The legal battle started in 2021, when the Wayne County Circuit Court dismissed Davis' case, agreeing with BetMGM’s argument that Michigan’s Lawful Internet Gaming Act (LIGA) preempted Davis’ claims.
The next development in the case occurred in 2023, after the Michigan Court of Appeal panel upheld the lower court decision, motivating the plaintiff to seek justice at the higher court.
Now, Davis receives another opportunity to plead her case after the Supreme Court agreed to hear the appeal. The complaint filed by Davis revealed additional details about the case.
Apparently, the plaintiff played Luck o’ the Roulette slot for several days, wagering amounts ranging from $4,5 up to the maximum of $5,000. Over 5 days, Davis won $3.2 million and was able to withdraw $100,000 before the operator suspended her account.
This new development in the case can have future ramifications in the Great Lakes State iGaming industry because the Supreme Court's decision will determine if the MGCB or the courts have the final word in conflicts between operators and players.
The MGCB Investigated Delayed Withdrawals
In April, the Michigan Gaming Control Board investigated a significant number of complaints from players about delayed payouts. The investigation revealed that operators did not process withdrawals to eligible bettors in the regular time window and did not communicate the reason for the delays.
The report published by the MGCB stated that online casinos raised unnecessary issues and prevented timely payments. The report also specified that the tactics employed by operators did not mean players didn’t receive their funds, but only that the process was prolonged.
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