BetMGM Lawsuit Dismissal Upheld in Antar Case

A Costly Legal Battle Ends

Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of Samuel A. Antar’s lawsuit against BetMGM, MGM Resorts International, Borgata Online, and others, ending his bid to recover nearly $25 million lost gambling.

Antar, who placed over 100,000 online bets from May 2019 to January 2020, claimed BetMGM exploited his addiction with bonuses, violating New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act, negligence, and unjust enrichment laws. The court rejected these claims.

Antar, nephew of “Crazy” Eddie Antar, alleged VIP hosts pushed him to gamble despite knowing he couldn’t afford it, losing $5 million in just 16 days in January 2020.

The appeals panel ruled that New Jersey’s Casino Control Act overrides the Consumer Fraud Act, and casinos have no legal duty to protect compulsive gamblers.

Courts Find No Wrongdoing

The lower court’s dismissal, upheld by the Third Circuit, found BetMGM’s bonuses were clear incentives, not deceptive. Antar knew the texts offering credits and deposit matches were meant to keep him playing, the judges said.

His failure to prove specific financial losses tied to BetMGM’s actions weakened his Consumer Fraud Act claim. The court noted gambling’s inherent risks.

Antar couldn’t distinguish losses from BetMGM’s conduct versus normal gameplay, where odds favor the house. The judges also ruled BetMGM provided no faulty product, and Antar got what he paid for, a chance to gamble.

Antar’s history added context to the case. Convicted twice for fraudulent investment schemes, he served three years for a 2022 fraud case, ordered to repay $650,000, and admitted to a 2023 SEC securities fraud, owing $655,754.

Released from prison, Antar’s claims of being targeted as a problem gambler didn’t sway the court. His past, tied to the “Crazy” Eddie legacy, drew scrutiny.

The ruling aligns with prior cases like Taveras v. Resorts, where New Jersey courts declined to impose a duty on casinos to curb compulsive gambling.