Case Citation
Legal Case Name

Gottlieb v. Tropicana Hotel & Casino Case Brief

District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania2000Docket #2386577
109 F. Supp. 2d 324 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9672 2000 WL 962752 Contracts Torts Civil Procedure

Why Top Law Students (And Those Aspiring to Be) Use LSD+ Briefs

Let's be real, law school is a marathon. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full case system is designed by Harvard Law School and MIT grads to match your pace: Quick summaries when you're slammed, detailed analysis when you need to go deep. Only LSD+ offers this kind of flexibility to genuinely fit your study flow.

Adaptive Case Views

Toggle between Flash, Standard, and Expanded. Get what you need, when you need it.

Exam-Ready IRAC Format

We deliver the precise structure professors look for in exam answers.

Complex Cases, Clarified

We break down dense legal reasoning into something digestible, helping you grasp core concepts.

Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
3 min read

tl;dr: A casino patron sued a casino for refusing to pay a $1 million prize from a promotional game. The court held that her participation—waiting in line and swiping her player’s card—was sufficient consideration to form an enforceable contract, denying the casino’s motion for summary judgment.

Legal Significance: This case clarifies that participation in a no-purchase-necessary promotional contest constitutes legally sufficient consideration to form an enforceable contract. The minimal detriment to the participant, if bargained for by the promisor, is adequate to support the promise of a prize.

Gottlieb v. Tropicana Hotel & Casino Law School Study Guide

Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.

Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

Plaintiff Rena Gottlieb, a member of the Tropicana Hotel & Casino’s “Diamond Club,” participated in the casino’s “Fun House Million Dollar Wheel” promotion. Membership in the Diamond Club was free, but required patrons to provide personal information. The club card, when used, allowed Tropicana to track patrons’ gambling habits for marketing purposes. The promotion offered Diamond Club members one free spin per day for a chance to win a $1 million grand prize. To participate, Gottlieb had to be present at the casino, wait in line, and have her Diamond Club card swiped by a casino employee. Gottlieb alleged that the wheel landed on the $1 million prize, but that the attendant immediately intervened and re-spun the wheel to a lesser prize. Tropicana denied this occurred and moved for summary judgment on Gottlieb’s breach of contract claim, arguing that no enforceable contract was formed because her participation did not constitute legal consideration.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Does a casino patron’s participation in a promotional game, which requires no monetary payment but involves being present, waiting in line, and allowing a player’s card to be swiped for data collection, constitute sufficient consideration to form an enforceable contract?

Yes. The court denied Tropicana’s motion for summary judgment, holding that Gottlieb Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolo

Master Every Case Faster

Unlock premium legal analysis that helps you quickly understand complex cases, designed by Harvard Law and MIT graduates. It's about working smarter, not just harder.

Start 14-Day Free Trial

Thousands of students are already saving time and gaining clarity. Why not you?

IRAC Legal Analysis

Premium Feature Unlock

Complete IRAC Analysis for Higher Grades

IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.

Legal Issue

Does a casino patron’s participation in a promotional game, which requires no monetary payment but involves being present, waiting in line, and allowing a player’s card to be swiped for data collection, constitute sufficient consideration to form an enforceable contract?

Conclusion

The case establishes that the act of participating in a commercial promotion, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation

Legal Rule

To form an enforceable contract, there must be adequate consideration, which is Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupida

Legal Analysis

The court began by conducting a choice-of-law analysis and determined there was Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut eni

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • Participating in a free casino promotion can be sufficient consideration to
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteu

Master Every Case Faster

Unlock premium legal analysis that helps you quickly understand complex cases, designed by Harvard Law and MIT graduates. It's about working smarter, not just harder.

Start 14-Day Free Trial

Thousands of students are already saving time and gaining clarity. Why not you?

If the law is on your side, pound the law. If the facts are on your side, pound the facts. If neither the law nor the facts are on your side, pound the table.

✨ Enjoy an ad-free experience with LSD+