A judge has reaffirmed her ruling in a case where 14 gamblers won .5 million after noticing the cards in a baccarat game were unshuffled. After recognizing the pattern, the gamblers won more than 40 hands in a row.
However, Judge Donna Taylor ruled that the game did not conform to the state’s gambling regulations—which requires the cards be shuffled—and ordered the gamblers to return the money. The group asked the judge to reconsider her ruling saying that if the ruling stands, it would send a chilling message to the gambling public that no jackpot is ever safe.
Taylor, however, again ruled for the casino. The gamblers can now appeal the ruling.
The incident happened in at the casino during a mini-baccarat game in April 2012. The casino bought what were supposed to be pre-shuffled cards from a Kansas City manufacturer, which acknowledged in court it failed to shuffle them. The casino said its litigation with the manufacturer has been resolved, but a confidentiality agreement prevents it from revealing details, according to the Associated Press.
The casino paid out about $500,000 in winnings for the games and another about $1 million in chips remains outstanding.
