Harrah’s $5.8 Million Dollar Promotional Mistake
Wednesday November 23, 2005
A misprint in a promotional coupon sent out by Harrah's casino in Joliet, Illinois will cost the casino $5.8 Million dollars. Harrah's sent out coupons to 11,000 players that were misprinted for $525 instead of a lower amount. On Friday 11/18 players were denied their money when they tried to redeem the coupons. Harrah's blamed the mistake on a third party vendor.
Company officials said there is a legal disclaimer on the back of the coupon that allows them to change the offer at any time, and that's what they did after they discovered the error. The disclaimer "gives us the right to change or cancel that offer," Harrah's spokesman Doug Lima said.
Harrah's had redeemed about 13 coupons before realizing the mistake and started denying payment to the other patrons. A complaint was made to the Illinois Gaming Board and they ordered Harrah's Joliet Casino to honor nearly $5.8 million worth of misprinted coupons. The company said it would abide by the ruling and honor the coupons.