Oman's ex-minister's wife sues London's Ritz Club over £30m gambling losses
A high-profile legal battle has erupted between Nora Al-Daher, the wife of Oman's former foreign minister, and London's exclusive Ritz Club. She claims the casino fuelled her gambling addiction and failed to stop her losing millions. The dispute centres on a single night in April 2012 when she lost £2 million in just a few hours.
Al-Daher had been a regular at the Ritz Club since 1999, often wagering hundreds of thousands of pounds in an evening. Over 13 years, her total losses at the casino exceeded £30 million, averaging around £2 million a year. On the night in question, staff allowed her to cash checks and raise her gambling limit to £2 million.
Her legal team argues the club encouraged her to keep playing despite knowing she was addicted. They also claim she was illegally allowed to gamble on credit. The Ritz Club denies pressuring her, stating that high-rollers often receive increased check-cashing facilities. The casino initially sued Al-Daher for $1 million in unpaid debts. She countered by suing the club, alleging it exploited her addiction and broke gambling laws.
The case hinges on whether the Ritz Club acted responsibly toward a vulnerable customer. Al-Daher's total losses at the venue reached over £7 million by 2012. The outcome could set a precedent for how casinos handle high-stakes gamblers with addiction issues.
