HIGH ROLLER SUES AUSSIE CASINO

31 October 2008

A$1,4 billion later, gamblers claims casino staff exploited his addiction

 

Australian high roller Harry Kakavas has initiated litigation against Melbourne's Crown Casino, alleging that he lost millions in a A$1.4 billion (GBP548.5 million) 14 month gaming spree in which his addiction to gambling was exploited by casino managers.

Kakavas, who is a property developer, is suing the casino for A$50 million damages after a mammoth baccarat binge in 2007 in which he lost A$37 million. At the time, Kakavas had been barred from every casino in Australia and had been so since 2004. Court documents in Melbourne allege that emails detailed a Crown plan to lure back Kakavas after managers discovered he had lost millions of dollars gambling in Las Vegas.

Supreme Court documents revealed that Kakavas wore a concealed recorder that captured casino managers at the Crown attempting to lure him back to its riverside baccarat tables.

Approached by Reuters news agency for comment on the case, Crown spokesman Gary O'Neill said: "We have no intention of responding to the allegations made publicly. We are defending the action vigorously."

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