Harrah’s Voucher Class Action Settlement

Over 80,000 players who received birthday vouchers from Harrah’s Casino are entitled to $100, thanks to a class action lawsuit settlement reached earlier this month. At least 270,000 additional people may also be able to claim money from the settlement.

The Harrah’s birthday voucher class action lawsuit was filed after plaintiff Debra Smerling attempted to redeem a $15 “Birthday Cash” promotional coupon mailed to her from Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. at the casino’s Atlantic City location. Smerling attempted to use the coupon at 12:30 a.m. the morning of August 10 — the date the coupon was redeemable. However, casino staff refused to honor her voucher, claiming the coupon was only valid after 8:00 a.m. Smerling sued Harrah’s, claiming the company violated New Jersey’s truth-in-advertising laws by failing to state the 8:00 a.m. restriction on the birthday voucher. Seven years later, a judge has agreed, ordering Harrah’s to pay up to $8 million or more, depending on how many class members file claims.

There are two classes of individuals that can claim money from this class action settlement:

Main Class: All persons who received a “Birthday Cash” coupon from Harrah’s at any time on or after December 2, 1998 redeemable in New Jersey that was similar to the “Birthday Cash” coupon that Harrah’s mailed to Smerling in 2003.

Subclass: All persons who received a “Birthday Cash” coupon from Harrah’s at any time on or after December 2, 1998 redeemable in New Jersey that was similar to the coupon Smerling received and who redeemed the coupon according to Harrah’s records.

All Subclass members are entitled to receive $100 under the class action lawsuit settlement. If you are not a member of the Subclass, you’re entitled to statutory damages of at least $100, actual damages or both if you show that you were “an aggrieved consumer.”

If you prefer not to remain in the Class or Subclass, you must submit your request for exclusion by October 27, 2010.

For more information, see the Harrah’s birthday voucher class action settlement notice.

UPDATE: Harrah’s tells SEC it plans to appeal the class action settlement.