Sports Betting Influencer Suing NC Casino Over $500,000 Ticket

A sports betting influencer filed a lawsuit against a North Carolina casino that attempted to prevent him from redeeming $500,000 in winnings.

Emmanuel Kromah, also known as Fort Manny on his social media platforms, submitted a lawsuit against Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Caesars Entertainment, and an affiliate of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. This is after Kromah alleged he was the victim of defamation and prejudice.

Kromah last February bet $143,000 at +250 odds on the Boston Celtics to win the 2024 NBA Finals. His wager promised a $500,000 payout, which the casino refused to pay him after the Celtics’ championship. 

What caused the lawsuit?

Kromah’s lawsuit was filed in North Carolina’s Western U.S. District Court. It states that Kromah was removed from the casino and posted online in a video that “received millions of views,” causing damage to his online reputation and making him “appear as if he was a criminal being arrested.”

The complaint also suggested that Kromah, who is Black, could have been treated poorly because of his race. 

It continued to say he was “met with rudeness, discrimination, and accusations of being a fraud and criminal from the employees when he attempted to obtain answers for why he was not able to collect his rightly owed monies.”

Kromah returned to claim his winnings on June 30 but was once again told that he would not be given the money. He was finally wired the money on July 10, 2024, and sent a notice that informed him he was no longer welcome at Harrah’s Cherokee or any Caesars property nationwide or abroad.

“This letter is to inform you that, based on regulatory considerations, a decision has been made by the management of Caesars Entertainment Corporation that you may not conduct further gaming or other business with any Caesars-owned or operated property in the United States or abroad,” the letter read.

The fallout

According to the lawsuit, Kromah is seeking at least $300,000 in damages and the full cost of attorney and court fees. A jury trial has also been requested.

Kromah’s attorney, defamation lawyer Ranchor Harris, said that the “tipping point” in the case was Caesars’ ban, which they claim was given without explanation.

Caesars has not provided a statement on that matter, which is in line with their company policy.

Kromah’s “Fortmannybets” Instagram page has 207,000 followers, and his YouTube page has 25,800 subscribers. 

Caesars owns or operates 58 casinos in 16 states across the country. 

North Carolina, meanwhile, is home to three retail casinos—Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, Catawba Two Kings Casino, and Cherokee Casino.