London’s The Ritz casino is facing a lawsuit from the wife of an Omani government minister who lost .4 million gambling at the casino.
Nora Al Daher says the staff of the casino took advantage of her gambling addiction by extending her credit limit and encouraging her to keep playing in April 2012. Daher is the wife of Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi.
Daher told a London High Court that she shouldn’t be held responsible for the debt.
“I needed someone that night to tell me to stop playing and bring me to my senses. If I had been told to stop, of course I would stop immediately. No one ever told me to stop or think about my gambling,” she said according to the Daily Mail.
Al Daher reached her £1.7m check-cashing limit within a few hours but was allowed to continue playing and eventually lost £2m.
“The staff paid no regard to her distraught demeanor or what she told them and did nothing to discourage her from gambling or to reflect on the wisdom of further gambling,” said her lawyer, Robert Deacon.
The Ritz is counter-suing Al Daher for £1m still outstanding on her debts.
