A Louisiana resident has initiated a class-action lawsuit against MGM Resorts International over the operator’s policy of keeping the change portion of cash-out tickets.
Like many casino operators, MGM deploys ticket redemption kiosks that do not dispense change. When a slot player uses a kiosk to cash out a ticket for, say, $15.80, it dispenses $15 and a voucher for the remainder. If the player wants the 80 cents, a visit to the casino cage within 30 days is required. The operator uses the leftover change from thousands of tickets to fund promotional programs.
New Orleans resident Leane Scherer filed suit and invited others to join the class action, saying casino customers “have been deprived, little by little, of millions of dollars” by MGM’s no-change policy. The lawsuit notes that there are no signs or kiosk messages noting that the kiosks do not dispense change, and nothing on the loose-change ticket says it can only be redeemed by a cashier.
The lawsuit alleges breach of contract, conversion, unjust enrichment and quantum meruit, the doctrine requiring parties to be paid what they deserve or have earned.
The potential class consists of patrons who played at an MGM Resorts casino after September 19, 2012 and were deprived of leftover change.
MGM has declined to comment on the case.
