Schuster also claims that when he played the slots, the machines only paid out in whole dollars, withholding his change. The lawsuit estimates that players who are disadvantaged in this way could lose $35.60 per hour on $50 wagers. At the Encore, the suit alleges, eight decks are used and players are not allowed to touch the cards, which are dealt face up, all of which the lawsuit says gives the casino a statistical advantage. Massachusetts Gaming Commission law does lay out a different playing style for 6-5 payout blackjack games-instead of playing with 6-8 decks, the game should be played with 1-2 decks, and the player must be dealt two facedown cards that they can look at. “The Encore Boston Harbor casino (‘Encore’) has done just that.” “With the odds so drastically in its favor, it is unfathomable that a casino would intentionally resort to cheating so as to increase its statistical edge over the player even more,” the lawsuit reads.
The lawsuit filed on Schuster’s behalf claims that at the Encore, the 6-5 payout rule is actually coupled with more rules that tip the scales in favor of the casino even further, giving the casino an advantage beyond what is legally permissible.
