New Jersey Man Sues BetMGM Over Alleged Contest Manipulation
A New Jersey resident, Lawrence Murk, has filed a lawsuit against BetMGM and related casino interests. The suit alleges manipulation of a promotional contest, costing Murk the top prize.
Murk participated in the '$2 Million Super Series' promotion in May 2021, wagering around US$1.5 million. The promotion was a 'race to the top', rewarding players based on total points accumulated by playing specific slot machines.
Murk led the leaderboard for 11 days. However, he was eventually overtaken by an unlisted player, 'mjbroker11969', who was retroactively added to the contest. Murk finished fourth, winning a $50,000 bonus instead of the $500,000 grand prize and daily free spins.
Murk contends that 'mjbroker11969' was improperly added to the contest and given a head start, violating the promotion's rules and contract terms. BetMGM argues that the promotion's terms and conditions allow the operator to suspend, modify, or end the promotion at any time.
Murk is seeking at least $600,000 in damages, including punitive and treble damages under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. The person referred to as mjbroker11969 in the proceedings is not publicly identified by their real name. The case is ongoing.
