Colorado’s Ameristar Casino Faces Lawsuit After Accusing Gambler of Cheating

    Colorado News
    Article by : Erik Gibbs Aug 14, 2023

    A casino player claims to have been recently banned from playing due to the suspicions he raised about card counting. The player claims that we have not allowed him to leave the premises nor cash out his chips, which was sufficient for him to take legal action against the casino.

    The casino player has decided to take legal action against Ameristar Casino. The Georgian player claims that he was denied the right to exit the game because of the accusations made against him of alleged card counting. He claims that he was illegally detained and that not allowing him to cash out was the last trigger to have him file a lawsuit against the casino.

    All casinos disapprove of card counting. However, this practice can be challenging to detect, demonstrate, prove, and in some contexts and under certain circumstances, even prohibited.
    According to official regulations for each gambling establishment, casinos certainly do not appreciate players who count cards. These can therefore impose sanctions such as permanent bans. Yet, the practice is not considered illegal in many areas nationwide.

    However, even though it may not be against the law, card counting can be problematic for the players who engage in the scheme and the casinos that decided to prosecute it. This is precisely the situation with Ameristar Casino in Black Hawk, Colorado, which is reportedly facing legal action from the player accused of the underside practice.

    According to local sources, the alleged incident occurred on October 19, 2021. While the Georgian player faced a layover at the Denver International Airport, he decided to leave the premises instead of just remaining in the airport.

    The player then chose to go to Ameristar Casino while his layover was defined. Unfortunately, due to the claims of card counting that took place that evening, the player could not cash out on his winnings.

    The man, who is thought to be from Georgia, is said to have played blackjack at the casino premises and claimed in his lawsuit that he was denied permission to leave the establishment. He was accused of counting cards, which, in the state of Colorado, is considered to be a criminal offense.

    According to various reports, the player filed a lawsuit seeking $3 million in damages, including $1.5 million in punitive damages and $1.5 million in economic and compensatory damages. The Georgian gambler is additionally requesting the reimbursement of the cost of his trial.