NJ judge rules Harrah’s must pay $8M in disputed ‘birthday cash’ promos sent to gamblers

NJ judge: Casinos must pay $8M for misleading ads

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — It was Debra Smerling’s birthday, but 80,000 others may have reason to celebrate after a New Jersey judge ruled that casinos owned by Harrah’s Entertainment sent them misleading advertisements offering “birthday cash.”

Because the ads did not disclose that the $15 vouchers couldn’t be redeemed until after 8 a.m. on the days in question, 80,000 people will get $100 each in damages — a potential $8 million hit to the casino giant’s bottom line.

On Aug. 9, 2003, Smerling went to Harrah’s Atlantic City clutching a voucher good for Aug. 10.

She tried to redeem the voucher at 12:30 a.m. on Aug. 10. But the casino refused, saying the offer wasn’t good until 8 a.m. So she sued.

Harrah’s plans to appeal.