Casino keeps gambler's jackpot

Johannesburg - A Johannesburg casino confiscated a banned gambler's winnings and charged him with trespassing after he hit a jackpot, a weekend newspaper reported.

Businessman Mahesh Kalidas, 53, voluntarily had himself banned from all casinos in the country last year, but continued to gamble, the Sunday Times reported.

Kalidas claimed that Montecasino allowed him to withdraw money, and to spend nearly R40 000 on slot machines, but confiscated his R129 000 winnings when he hit the jackpot on 31 October 2012.

"Casinos are happy to allow banned gamblers back to lose, but the moment they win they are charged with trespassing and thrown out," Kalidas said.

He was arrested and paid an admission-of-guilt fine at the Douglasdale police station.

Kalidas said he wanted a refund of the R200 000 he spent in the casino in February and October last year.

He said he had continued gambling after he agreed to be banned because he had "lost control".

This is a sick story in more ways than one.
The man was aware he was sick and asked for help, the casino must have been aware the high profile gambler was still punting but allowed him to continue and collecting his losses, but then to deny his win is very sick.
A very sick and sad story

Im sure the win would have cured him.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Not only do punters get screwed in horse racing,but also casinos.lol.
But seriously this guy is a little stupid, how can he ban himself and then continue to go. Surely he knew he would never have been able to cash out. Any amount over R1000 they check names and IDs

This could be the best thing to happen to him. It is the big wins that definitely keep you coming back for more.

If the casino keeps the money then it has unjustly enriched itself at the expense of Mr Kalidas. The money needs to be moved somewhere.

ShezaPunter Wrote:

---

> I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
> Not only do punters get screwed in horse
> racing,but also casinos.lol.
> But seriously this guy is a little stupid, how can
> he ban himself and then continue to go. Surely he
> knew he would never have been able to cash out.
> Any amount over R1000 they check names and IDs

addiction to gambling is a desease like all addictions...those addicted require therapy...like many many others he was probably forced to ban himself...we all know of people who have been very badly affected by gambling

This is true FC, my statement was a bit heartless.
Being a gambler,I myself am aware of the addiction

I wonder if they will give him back the money that he lost whilst trying to win the jackpot. Somehow I doubt it.

The casino has a right to pay him his winnings no Qualms

the casino should pay him or give his money back that is if he made a with draw at the casino- as you walk into the casino they know exactly who you are your name and all. There is no excuse for them to get past that one and especially if you have a ban on That is a Fact I know of a friend that was banned and he tried to get in and he only got as far as the first table when they bounced on him so if i was the casino PAY PAY

The best thing about going to Casinos is too people watch. I used to hang around the door and pick a person to follow. Its amazing just by watching how their mood swings from hope to despair then to joy and euphoria and then down again. 99% of the people who I watched walked out of the casino as losers. Waste of time and money.