A woman from Michigan is suing the MGM Grand Casino, Detroit, after alleging that she has been ‘unlawfully’ denied a $127,000 jackpot by the casino.
Denise Ezell, 65, is seeking damages of $75,000 plus the original jackpot amount from the MGM Grand, via the US District Court Eastern District of Michigan after making the complaint following a game of blackjack at the casino.
As originally reported in the Detroit Free Press, on October 30 2023, Ms. Ezell won the $127,000 jackpot playing progressive blackjack at the tables of the MGM Grand. She made a side bet during her game, and was dealt a straight flush with a Jack and King of Spades. This won against the dealer’s Ace and Queen of Spades, and she was congratulated by both the dealer and the other players at the table.
However, this is where the tale turns. Despite her win, Ms. Ezell was informed by the casino that she were trespassing at the venue, and therefore she wasn’t entitled to her winnings.
Those Who Trespass Against the MGM Grand
The trespassing allegation stems from an incident in 2015, and despite Ms. Ezell regularly gambling at the casino in the eight years that followed, according to her, it hadn’t been raised with her prior to her big win.
Do you think I would have gone down there and spent my money for eight years, knowing I was trespassing?
Denize Ezell, jackpot winner.1
A pit boss at the MGM Grand informed Denise that she wasn’t being paid her jackpot winnings due to the trespassing allegations, which followed an altercation with casino security earlier the same night.
Denise was gambling with her cousin, and following a disagreement about sharing stake money, she was told by a security guard to “stop bothering patrons” and that there ‘was no “panhandling’ allowed in the casino”.
Blackjack Side Bets and a Side of Trouble
The incident at the center of the lawsuit occurred around 2:30AM at the casino. Ms. Ezell, who was an avid player of progressive blackjack, would always play a side bet during her games, and it was one of these side bets which saw her win her jackpot.
Blackjack side bets are placed during a standard game of blackjack, and are additional bets that aim to predict which cards the player, and sometimes the dealer will receive.
These additional wagers are made prior to any cards being dealt, and so are entirely based on chance, although some players allege they can count cards to gain the edge when making a side bet.
During her last bet of the blackjack session, Denise placed a side bet and had a Jack and King of Spades. The dealer showed an Ace and Queen of Spades, and therefore, Denise had beat the house.
After three months of attempting to get her jackpot winnings, Denise filed suit against the casino. A casino employee had allegedly informed her that she would be paid her winnings, but this came to nothing, and so she resorted to legal routes to attempt to get her jackpot.
Ivan Land, the attorney representing Ms. Ezell, argues that the casino have acted improperly, both by not informing her of any ban and taking her gambling money for eight years since the original trespassing incident.
The case is yet to be heard, but is one all casinos will surely be paying close attention to.
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