Two poker players sued a handful of local casinos, including the Hustler, for allegedly not letting them qualify for a "no purchase necessary" jackpot unless they paid table fees.
Poker players Dennis Chae and Jeff Kim contend that the Bicycle Club, Commerce, Hustler, Hollywood Park and Hawaiian Gardens casinos wouldn't let them qualify for a jackpot unless they paid the customary $1-per-hand fee.
The table fees are the only way California's card clubs make revenue. Unlike Nevada casinos, card clubs can't participate in the gambling. Instead, players gamble against bankers, and the table fee is like a rent payment to use the casino facilities.
But, in a 2005 advisory, then-Attorney General Bill Lockyer cautioned card clubs that the promotions violated state law unless players are allowed to win the jackpots without paying the fee.
The "bad-beat jackpots" are consolation prizes the card clubs offer losing players who hold strong hands.
Chae and Kim's May 1 lawsuit says that the casinos used false advertising and unfair competition, and asks for millions of dollars in damages and an injunction ending the jackpots.
I went to the hustler casino in gardena.. on july 4th 2009! the people who work there are crooks! I am a minority woman and I had 5 cards on the black jack table that were 21. each time you get 5 cards on the table that equals to 21 you get a point..well the casino tried to rip me off and say I had only 2 points. when I had a total of 6 points. they didn't want to pay me what thet owe me; until I threaten too sue..because; I will be on there tax paperwork, each time I got a 5 card black jack they asked for my I'd!! you guys ranting an raving about jackpots, I personally have been mistreated and ignored by asian workers in casino because they are the majority and I was non-asian! they will literally stare me down in the casino! because I have good luck in winning! the pit bosses are horrible and childish! when I stated they were being racist, that's when they gave me 75 dollars for have a 5 card black jack, 5 times which is still low of a payout! they cheat on their taxes too!