Despite opening less than a month ago and the new Encore Boston Harbor is reportedly already being taken to court by a group of players angered at the way it is allegedly operates its slots and games of ‘6 to 5’ blackjack.

Triumphant takings:

According to a Monday report from The Boston Globe newspaper, the $2.6 billion property from Wynn Resorts Limited began welcoming punters to its 210,000 sq ft casino from June 23 and managed to chalk up impressive first-week gross gaming revenues of slightly over $16.7 million.

Slot strife:

However, a class-action lawsuit filed with Middlesex Superior Court reportedly alleges that that the Massachusetts venue is cheating its players by not allowing them to completely refund slot credits that have been cashed out from its collection of over 3,100 machines. The action purportedly contends that the property’s ticket redemption units only pay out whole dollar amounts ‘without paying change and without instruction on how to obtain the balance.’

Reportedly reads the lawsuit…

“The unredeemed change, therefore, is never returned to the player and is simply added to [the casino’s] coffers.”

Blackjack blame:

The Boston Globe reported that the legal complaint names Encore Boston Harbor and Wynn Resorts Limited as defendants and is also alleging that the giant Everett facility is not following rules laid out by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission concerning games of ‘6 to 5’ blackjack in order ‘to maximize the casino’s advantage far in excess of that which is permitted’.

The newspaper described ‘6 to 5’ blackjack as a game where players compete at odds of 6-to-5 rather than the traditional 3-to-2. Under this novel format, it additionally explained that punters who had wagered $50 and managed to collect cards with a face value of 21 would be rewarded with $60 rather than the $75 that is awarded under the more conventional rules.

Undue advantage:

But, in order to offer this novel format, the newspaper reported that Encore Boston Harbor is required meet a list of special conditions that include the use of one or two card decks rather than the usual six to eight. These stipulations moreover purportedly encompass a requirement that competitors be dealt two face-down cards and be permitted to pick up and observe their hands before deciding whether to continue.

The lawsuit contends that Encore Boston Harbor is breaking these provisions and gaining a ‘statistical advantage’ by using ‘traditional rules that are also favorable to the house’ in its games of ‘6 to 5’ blackjack. It purportedly furthermore alleges that the casino is dealing cards face-up and not allowing punters to touch their hands while often running games where there are ‘no single or two-deck shoes.’

Considerable compensation:

The newspaper reported that the legal complaint is seeking actual and statutory reparations alongside triple damages, attorneys’ fees and costs in addition to an order that would stop Encore Boston Harbor ‘from continuing to engage in the unlawful conduct alleged’.

Innocence assertion:

For its part, an Encore spokesperson refuted the allegations contained in the lawsuit and told The Boston Globe that the facility had been following all state regulations concerning its games of blackjack. The representative also purportedly stated that the venue’s slot ticket redemption system ‘and our operational procedures have been approved by the’ Massachusetts Gaming Commission.