Hard Rock Digital Faces Lawsuit over “No Regret First Bet” Bonus Offer

While the wording of the bonus implies users get their initial $100 back if they don’t succeed with their bet, the fine print means bettors often end up with far lessImage Source: Shutterstock.com

Hard Rock Digital, owned by the Seminole Tribe, is embroiled in a federal class action lawsuit filed in the Middle District of Florida. The lawsuit, initiated by plaintiff Brandon Montgomery, alleges that the company engaged in deceptive and misleadingadvertising practices with its “No Regret First Bet” promotional offer, which claims to provide “risk-free” bets for new users.

The Bonus Is Not So Clear-Cut

“Risk-free” promotions are notorious for causing legal drama, as this case closely mirrors similar action against gambling giant DraftKings. The lawsuit claims that Hard Rock Digital’s promotion is inherently deceptive. It alleges that users are not left in the same financial position after losing their first bet, contradicting the messaging in the promotional materials. 

Montgomery’s lawsuit emphasizes that the promotion requires users to wager real moneyupfront. Furthermore, if a user loses their initial bet, the bonus funds provided must be wagered again to be converted back into actual dollars. According to the lawsuit, this fact diminishes the value of the bonus bet by half since users do not recover their initial sngake.

New user losers are left with nothing but regret and half of the value they put into the app.

Montgomery v. Seminole Hard Rock Digital, LLC

The complaint, filed under Florida Statutes, Chapter 501, seeks to represent Montgomery and other similarly affectedusers. It highlights that while the promotion’s mechanics are disclosed in the fine print, they contradict the “No Regret” promise by leaving users with significant financial losses and frustrationas they are left with less than what they deposited.

Other Users Also Felt Misled

Montgomery’s attorney alleged the offer waspart of a schemeto incentivize new users into making riskier bets, such as parlays or bets with higher odds, during their first time using the app. This kind of strategy exploits the tendency of new users who might want to maximize returns, often leading them to make less conservative and more speculative bets.

If the bet is “free,” users are more likely to engage in riskier bets with higher payouts because the marketing leads them to believe they will get the initial bet back to make a less risky bet in the future.

Montgomery v. Seminole Hard Rock Digital, LLC

The plaintiff isn’t alone in his frustration. Many bettors expressedsimilar gripesabout Hard Rock’s promotional offer on social media. On Reddit, a user recounted placing a $100 bonus beton a -3000 play, receiving only $3due to the bonus’s structure. While in line with the fine print, the reality of how the bonus functions often leads to discontent in new bettors.

The Hard Rock Digital lawsuit draws attention to the growing scrutiny ofpromotional practiceswithin the online betting industry. As more operators enter the market, the legal landscape is becomingincreasingly complex, and companies facerising pressureto be as transparent and fair as possible in their marketing practices toward consumers.