A class-action lawsuit launched against the provincial government and the British Columbia Lottery Corp. alleges video slot machines in gaming facilities across B.C. are 鈥渋nherently deceptive, inherently addictive and inherently dangerous when used as intended.鈥�
Lead plaintiff Corina Riesebos filed a notice of civil claim under the Class Proceedings Act in B.C. Supreme Court on Feb. 10. According to the claim, video slot machines deceive users with hidden odds and 鈥渃reate cognitive distortions鈥� to keep people playing and losing money.
鈥淪imilar to loaded dice or games of sleight of hand, video slots combine randomness with subliminal priming, concealed asymmetry and non-linear payables to deceive the user as to the operation of the game and the real chances of winning,鈥� the claim states. 鈥淪ome video slots also have a 鈥榮top鈥� button or similar input that further reinforces the illusion that the user has some control over the outcome of play.鈥�
But the lawsuit claims video slots cannot be controlled by users since the outcome is predetermined at the start of play by a random number generator. The machines are in use at 15 casinos, two racecourses and 18 community gaming centres, according to the lawsuit. The defendants, it claims, knew or should have known of the 鈥渄eceptive, addictive and dangerous design features of video slots.鈥�
鈥淯se of the video slots as intended resulted in the Plaintiff and the Class suffering economic losses, emotional distress and mental anguish, and other expected harms flowing from these losses and injuries such as addiction, dependency, self-harm and/or suicide,鈥� the claim states. 鈥淕iven the Defendants鈥� unique positions as the monopolists and sole regulators of video slots, charged with a duty to act in the public interest, knowledge of the design features and effects of video slots should be attributed to the Defendants.鈥�
Riesebos seeks class certification on behalf of all people who paid to play 鈥渓ine games on video slots鈥� in B.C. from Feb. 7, 2018. The class action seeks declaratory relief that the defendants failed to provide a 鈥渇air and safe way to play video slots鈥� and an order to disgorge $1 billion in profits and revenues for the 鈥渦nlawful鈥� promotion and authorization of video slot machines. The allegations have not been tested or proven in court, and the defendants had not responded to the claim by press time.
