The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) has filed a lawsuit in Philadelphia, accusing Caesars Online Casino and Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino of using what it calls a “misleading and dangerous” bonus promotion. At the center of the case is a deposit match offer advertised as a “100% Deposit Match Up To $2,500.” According to the legal complaint, players are not made clearly aware that unlocking this bonus requires gambling $375,000 within the first seven days after signing up.

Wagering requirement sparks legal and ethical concerns:

The lawsuit, Brubaker vs Chester Downs and Marina, LLC et al., was filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County. It claims that Caesars’ offer lures players in under false pretenses and imposes unrealistic wagering requirements that are nearly impossible to meet, especially within the limited time frame.

The complaint alleges that the promotion’s fine print reveals excessive play requirements, such as a 75x wagering multiplier for table games like blackjack. That multiplier applies to the combined value of the deposit and bonus, meaning a $2,500 bonus would demand $375,000 in total bets before any winnings could be withdrawn.

To illustrate the burden this places on players, PHAI Executive Director Mark Gottlieb and Director of Gambling Policy Dr. Harry Levant calculated that someone playing blackjack at $10 per hand would need to play nonstop—two hands per minute—for 312.5 hours. With only seven days to qualify, that would require playing 44 hours a day, which is physically impossible.

As reported by PR Newswire, Gottlieb declared in PHAI’s release, “The math alone demonstrates the predatory design of Caesars’ conduct and if the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, which has allowed this to go on for years, is incapable of applying the law and protecting the public from Caesars, we at PHAI must turn to the courts to put a stop to this injurious malfeasance.”

Dr. Levant added, “It is unconscionable for a gambling company to knowingly require people to gamble excessively and put their mental health at risk as a condition to cash out their winnings.”

Regulatory oversight under scrutiny:

The lawsuit not only targets Caesars but also questions the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s (PGCB) role in allowing such promotions. “The Pennsylvania Gambling Control Board is either complicit in this arrangement or completely unaware of what Caesars is doing to the people of Pennsylvania,” Levant stated.

The PGCB responded to the suit with a brief comment: “We are aware this lawsuit was filed and are reviewing it. As such we don’t have any comment.”

PHAI is no stranger to litigation involving the gambling industry. The organization previously sued DraftKings in Massachusetts in December 2023 and took legal action against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in 2024 for failing to collect player behavioral data required under state law.

PHAI, founded by Dr. Richard Daynard—well-known for successful litigation against the tobacco industry—continues to draw parallels between gambling and other public health threats. “The mission of the Public Health Advocacy Institute is to protect public health and advance social justice,” said Daynard. “The days of the gambling industry disregarding public health and safety are coming to an end.”

The organization argues that Caesars’ tactics are part of a broader trend. “This promotion, engineered by Caesars, is among the most egregious we have seen to date,” Gottlieb emphasized.

Dr. Levant concluded that Caesars’ design ensures “regular $10 or even $20 blackjack players can only lose money during the first seven days of gambling,” and added, “This is dangerous to Caesars’ customers, immoral, and just plain wrong.”