The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) has filed a lawsuit in Pennsylvania targeting Caesars Online Casino and its land-based partner, Harrah’s Philadelphia, for what the group describes as a deceptive and dangerous promotion. At issue is Caesars’ advertised “$2,500 deposit match” for new customers—a bonus that, according to the lawsuit, is functionally out of reach for typical players due to its extreme wagering conditions.
The lawsuit, filed in Philadelphia County under the case Brubaker vs Chester Downs and Marina, LLC et al., accuses the casino of misleading advertising and of crafting terms that effectively rewrite Pennsylvania’s gambling rules. While Caesars markets the bonus as a generous match offer, customers are reportedly only able to access any winnings or bonus funds after wagering a staggering $375,000 within seven days of creating an account.
Terms Buried in the Fine Print
According to PHAI, this condition is hidden deep within the fine print. “Only in the small-print terms and conditions is it disclosed that a new customer playing Blackjack is required to gamble and risk $375,000 in just the first seven days after opening an account,” the group noted. Any losses during that period, it adds, are kept by Caesars and Harrah’s.
PHAI Executive Director Mark Gottlieb called the promotion “among the most egregious we have seen to date,” criticizing both Caesars and regulators for failing to protect consumers. “The math alone demonstrates the predatory design of Caesars’ conduct,” he said, adding, “If the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board… is incapable of applying the law… we at PHAI must turn to the courts.”
“Impossible” Wagering Requirements
To illustrate the burden placed on players, PHAI presented a scenario involving a Blackjack player wagering $10 per hand at two hands per minute. To meet the $375,000 requirement, that player would need to gamble continuously for 312.5 hours—or 44 hours each day for a full week—something clearly impossible.
Dr. Harry Levant, Director of Gambling Policy at PHAI, underscored the risk such promotions pose to mental health: “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.”
He added that “nothing in Pennsylvania’s gambling rules or laws permits a casino to refuse payment unless and until customers begin gambling to excess.”
A Pattern of Legal Action
This case is not PHAI’s first action against the gambling industry. In 2023, it filed a class action suit against DraftKings in Massachusetts over bonus practices. The following year, it sued the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for failing to collect anonymized player behavior data required by law since 2011—data PHAI says is crucial to identifying and mitigating gambling-related harm.
PHAI Founder Dr. Richard Daynard emphasized the group’s broader mission: “The days of the gambling industry disregarding public health and safety are coming to an end. When Caesars doesn’t play fair, it puts players’ health at risk.”
As scrutiny grows around online gambling practices in the U.S., PHAI’s lawsuit may fuel broader calls for third-party oversight and regulatory reform—particularly in states where online gambling is already legal.
Source:
“Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) Files Lawsuit in Pennsylvania Over Caesars’ Dangerous Online Casino Promotion and “Pay Through Bonuses””, prnewswire.com, June 20, 2025
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