In a surprising turn of events, a judge has dismissed a high-profile lawsuit accusing several Atlantic City casino-hotels of price-fixing in the iGaming industry. The lawsuit, which was filed by a group of online casino operators, alleged that the casino-hotels engaged in anti-competitive behavior by colluding to artificially inflate room rates and restrict access to online gambling platforms.
The judge’s decision to dismiss the case came as a shock to many in the iGaming community, as the evidence presented by the plaintiffs seemed to suggest a clear pattern of anti-competitive behavior among the defendants. However, the judge reportedly found that the evidence was not sufficient to establish a conspiracy among the casino-hotels, and thus ruled in favor of the defendants.
The lawsuit, which was filed last year, named several prominent casino-hotels in Atlantic City as defendants, including Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Tropicana Atlantic City, and Caesars Atlantic City. The plaintiffs alleged that these casino-hotels had conspired to drive up room rates and limit access to their online gambling platforms, thereby stifling competition in the iGaming market.
In response to the judge’s decision, a spokesperson for the plaintiffs expressed disappointment but vowed to continue fighting against anti-competitive practices in the iGaming industry. “We believe that the evidence we presented clearly shows a concerted effort by these casino-hotels to manipulate the market and limit choice for consumers,” the spokesperson said. “We will be exploring all legal options to hold these defendants accountable for their actions.”
On the other hand, representatives of the casino-hotels named in the lawsuit welcomed the judge’s decision, describing it as a victory for the iGaming industry as a whole. “We have always maintained that these allegations were baseless and without merit,” a spokesperson for one of the defendants said. “We are pleased that the judge saw fit to dismiss this frivolous lawsuit and vindicate our reputation.”
The dismissal of this lawsuit marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over competition and regulation in the iGaming industry. As online gambling continues to grow in popularity, concerns about anti-competitive behavior and market manipulation are likely to remain at the forefront of the industry’s agenda. It remains to be seen how this case will impact future legal challenges and regulatory actions in the iGaming sector.