Appellate Court Upholds Ruling That Contracts Regarding Gambling Debts Are Void

In its non-precedential decision in the case of Dhaduk v. Patel, No. 576 MDA 2025 (Pa. Super. March 16, 2026 Kunselman, J., McLaughlin, J., and Lane, J.) (Mem. Op. by McLaughlin, J.), the Pennsylvania Superior Court sustained a trial court decision by Judge Terrence R. Nealon of the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas granting demurrers against a Plaintiff’s claims in a case arising out of a neurologist and his wife who sued an internist seeking to recover $700,000.00 for gambling losses that allegedly occurred at a Florida casino. 

The Plaintiffs alleged that the neurologist agreed to play blackjack on behalf of the internist with the express understanding that the internist would be responsible for any resultant gambling losses suffered by the neurologist in the process.

The Plaintiffs claim that the internist had not reimbursed the neurologist for $200,000.00 for chips that the neurologist purchased and lost and for an additional $500,000.00 that the neurologist obtained from his casino line of credit and ultimately lost playing black jack.

The Defendant internist filed demurrers against the Plaintiff’s claim of breach of contract, promissory estoppel, fraud, and unjust enrichment.

The Superior Court agreed with the trial court’s decision that a Pennsylvania statute held that gambling debts between private individuals were uncollectable and that any related contracts regarding gambling are void. The Superior Court upheld Judge Nealon’s ruling and agreed that Pennsylvania law precluded the recovery of the debt.

Anyone wishing to review a copy of this non-precedential decision may click this LINK.


Source: Article – “Court: Pair Can’t Recoup $700K Loan Friend Used For Gambling,” By Jim Lockwood of The Scranton Times (March 20, 2026).

Source of image:  Photo by Dusan Kipic on www.unsplash.com.