Encore Boston Harbor Casino is accused of cheating patrons in the games of blackjack and slots. The newly opened casino is named in a lawsuit filed by A. Richard Shuster of New York, who claims the casino is using odds tilted in its favor rather than what is required under Massachusetts state law.
The lawsuit holds that the casino’s 6 to 5 blackjack games offered are violating gaming rules to maximize the facilities’ advantage in excess of what is allowed by law.
In a 6 to 5 blackjack game, the odds are 6-5 instead of the traditional 3-2 odds when a blackjack is hit. With a 3 to 2 payout, a player who wagers $10 would be paid $15. But in a 6 to 5 payout game, a $10 bet is only worth $12 with a blackjack. The player earns less with the 6 to 5 payout option.
In Massachusetts, the state allows the 6 to 5 payout blackjack games at casinos, but only if certain conditions are met. Shuster has accused the Encore Boston Harbor of breaking regulation conditions because it combines the 6 to 5 rules with traditional blackjack rules that favor the casino.
The lawsuit also states that lower-payout games require one or two decks. Traditionally, the games would have six to eight decks. Allegedly, Encore does not use single- or two-deck shoes at some of its blackjack tables.
According to Shuster’s lawsuit, with the blackjack odds being shifted, the casino could be taking as much as $85,000 each day from consumers.
Shuster also maintains that Encore is not refunding the proper amounts to slot players. The machines used for ticket redemption of slot wins are paying out whole dollar amounts without change. Allegedly, the machines do not provide instruction on how to obtain the balance.
The casino is being accused of keeping the unredeemed change, profiting from this action.
However, the accusations have been denied by Encore Boston Harbor. They claim the casino is following state regulations for blackjack payouts and for the redemption of slot machine tickets.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is aware of the lawsuit and has started to review the content of the filing.
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