A class action lawsuit has been filed by four U.S. slot players against slot maker International Game Technology, or IGT. The plaintiffs, including a woman from Las Vegas, all lost money gambling at casinos on the popular Wheel of Fortune slot series.
The lawsuit claims IGT doesn’t explain clearly to players that the game’s titular bonus prize wheel doesn’t pay out like a traditional spinning wheel game. In other words, despite having 23 equally-sized segments, there is not a one-in-23 chance of hitting any individual prize.
It also adds that the game’s licensing of the TV show Wheel of Fortune makes it additionally deceptive, as the TV show uses a mechanical spinning wheel where the prize segments are not determined by a computer.
The computerized kind of prize wheel, where the chance of each segment hitting is determined by a computer Random Number Generator (RNG) and not a mechanical spin, has been commonplace for decades now with casino slot machines.
The Lawsuit
The lawsuit alleges that what they say is the undisclosed nature of the RNG computers behind the spinning wheels’ outcomes amounts to deceptive and fraudulent practices under common state law.
It also mentioned the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) on a federal level.
Casinos and IGT “illegally siphon billions of dollars from consumers’ pockets into their own coffers,” the lawsuit says.
Also named in the filings are half a dozen casino operators that host the Wheel of Fortune games on their casino floors, including Bally’s, MGM Resorts, and Penn Entertainment.
The case was filed in a Nevada District Court in late November. It seeks a jury trial and also class action status, which means if they win the case, anyone who has lost money on a Wheel of Fortune game could potentially join the case for compensation.
The Game
IGT has been producing Wheel of Fortune slots with a nonmechanical wheel since 1997. It is a licensed brand deal with the long-running TV show of the same name, including voice lines from the show’s hosts and licensed audio-visual effects.
IGT’s games, and the exceedingly popular Wheel of Fortune in particular, are found in casino floors across the world, including in Las Vegas, Reno, Atlantic City and others.
Jackpot wins from the slot regularly appear in these pages, such as our monthly Las Vegas winners roundup.
The RNG odds of the bonus wheel (part of its Return to Player or RTP) have been licensed by the Nevada Gaming Commission since its debut on casino floors. They have been regularly reviewed since then, as well as for each new iteration of the machines.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
