Gambling addiction affects thousands of local residents and their families every year. Committed to helping victims recover their lives from gambling addictions, Price Benowitz attorneys seek to hold gambling operators accountable for predatory practices. If such an addiction has taken a devastating financial and personal toll on your life, an experienced Maryland gambling addiction lawyer can help.
Statewide Gambling Expansion
Maryland has significantly expanded gambling opportunities over recent years, and local attorneys can attest that this exposure correlates with increased addiction rates. Online gambling platforms are available to anyone with a smartphone, lottery games continue to be popular, and there are now six casinos operating in multiple locations across the state:
- MGM National Harbor (Prince George’s County and the surrounding areas)
- Live! Casino (Anne Arundel County)
- Horseshoe Casino (Baltimore)
- Hollywood Casino (the Perryville area)
- Ocean Downs
- Rocky Gap
Sports betting has also exploded after its recent launch across the state. Multiple online platforms compete for customers, and in-person betting is available at casinos and other venues. Mobile betting enables constant gambling access, and this rapid growth raises addiction concerns.
Problem Gambling Recognition by Operators
Casinos and their operators should look for warning signs to identify problem gamblers. These include watching for behavioral patterns that indicate addiction issues, such as spending beyond reasonable limits, and demonstrations of compulsion, such as chasing losses.
Self-Exclusion Programs
State law requires casinos to have strict self-exclusion programs and to avoid marketing to excluded individuals. These programs allow problem gamblers to voluntarily ban themselves from gaming establishments. If a Maryland casino breaches a gambling addict’s self-exclusion, the addicted person’s attorney likely can sue the casino for liability.
Responsible Gaming Requirements
To protect vulnerable individuals, state law also mandates responsible gaming programs. Employee training should identify problems, and information about addiction resources must be available. Inadequate programs may constitute negligence.
For example, extending credit to problem gamblers enables addiction, easy credit access from casinos removes spending barriers, and allowing known addicts to borrow money shows disregard. These practices may create operator liability.
VIP and Rewards Programs
Certain promotional programs may constitute unfair practices. Player rewards programs may target vulnerable individuals, as high-loss players receive special treatment. Comps and perks encourage continued gambling, and loyalty programs can exploit addiction.
Potential Legal Claims Available for Gambling Addiction
Gambling addiction often causes severe financial devastation, especially when encouraged by establishments. Not only can habitual gamblers lose significant money, but they can also face issues at work and at home. Bankruptcy becomes necessary for many victims if the addiction persists for too long.
When considering potential legal recourse, several distinct legal theories may be applicable. Attorneys often pursue all applicable theories to maximize the chances of recovery and to explore all avenues of justice.
The first is a broad area of law, negligence, in which one party alleges that another party breached a duty of care owed to them, and that this breach directly caused the initial party harm. Consumer protection laws, designed to safeguard the rights of individuals in commercial transactions, may also offer recourse. Businesses that engage in unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices that harm consumers may be in violation of such laws.
Fraud claims constitute another potential legal basis for recourse, though they can be more challenging to prove than negligence claims because they require demonstrating an intent to deceive. Fraud is intentionally deceiving another party for personal gain, resulting in harm to that party.
Recoverable Damages
Several categories of damages may be recoverable, such as:
- Economic harm, such as direct gambling losses
- Treatment costs, including therapy and programs
- Impacts to employment, such as lost wages
- Emotional harm, including pain and suffering
- Punitive damages in the case of egregious conduct
An experienced lawyer can identify the different types of legal damages that a victim of compulsive gambling in Maryland may seek.
Contact a Price Benowitz Lawyer in Maryland About Your Gambling Addiction
If a gambling addiction has destroyed your finances and relationships, legal recourse may exist. Contact a Maryland gambling addiction lawyer at Price Benowitz for a free case evaluation. They can discuss your situation confidentially and inform you about potential legal remedies.
