Malfunction Shows $42.9 Million Payout - Casino Paid Player $2.25

[Mben]

NEW YORK — A woman who appeared to win a life-changing $42.9 million jackpot at a New York City casino is threatening to sue after being told the big payout she was shown was simply the result of a malfunction.

Katrina Bookman was playing the penny slot machine at Resorts World Casino in August when it displayed a message that read, "Printing Cash Ticket. $42,949,642.76." She even took a selfie next to the screen to celebrate. But when Bookman tried to collect, the casino told her it was all a big mistake and she was only owed the $2.25 balance she had on the machine.

"Machine malfunctions are rare, and we would like to extend our apologies to Ms. Bookman for any inconvenience this may have caused," the casino said in a statement

The New York State Gaming Commission investigated and said the bogus payout was "clearly a display malfunction." The machine was taken out of service, repaired and put back a day later, the commission said.

The machine's maximum payout is $6,500. Resorts World tells The Associated Press that the Gaming Commission told it the casino cannot legally pay Bookman even that amount because a malfunction voids all plays under state law. However, the Gaming Commission told the AP that there are no rules barring Resorts World from offering Bookman money to resolve the situation, even though she didn't win anything.

Resorts World said Bookman printed out a voucher ticket to receive her $2.25 balance on the machine, but her lawyer disputes that.

Alan Ripka sent a letter to the casino demanding it resolve what he describes as "a terrible situation." The casino responded that the machine's manufacturer should be held liable, Ripka said. He believes a lawsuit could be Bookman's only option and added that the court can figure out who's at fault.

Ripka is hoping Resorts World will "come up with a resolution" to the dispute. He questions whether the broken machine means everyone who used it prior to Bookman should also get their money back.

"If the machine was broken, does that mean nobody could have ever been a winner?"

source

 

[krystalkitty]

Glad it wasn't me And am glad it has never happened to me. That would be awful!

 

[Mben]

Glad it wasn't me And am glad it has never happened to me. That would be awful!

It would be awful ... but I have read that players who have had this happen to them before have been compensated in one way or another by the casino, whether it was free rooms, food vouchers, maybe even a small cashout settlement. The huge let down would be awful, but getting something for the trouble, kind of for free, would be okay, I think?

 

[Sookie]

Now I am fully aware of the little sign posted somewhere on all the slot machines I've ever seen that say "malfunction voids all wins" but they certainly should have done something, it's just good business. It doesn't even look like they offered her a buffet poor thing

 

[Mben]

Now I am fully aware of the little sign posted somewhere on all the slot machines I've ever seen that say "malfunction voids all wins" but they certainly should have done something, it's just good business. It doesn't even look like they offered her a buffet poor thing

Another word of mouth version of this story said that the player was compensated with something. Can't remember what the something was though. lol

 

[Mben]

For those of you following this story ...


A slot machine told her she hit a massive jackpot, but the casino claimed it was a machine error and offered her a meal on the house. Now, she's taking this to court.

Katrina Bookman captured national attention last year when she played a "Sphinx Slot Machine" at Resorts World Casino in Queens, New York, and it appeared as though she'd won $43 million -- which would have been the largest jackpot ever won on the slots in U.S. history. She excitedly snapped a selfie with the screen, believing her life was forever changed.

But when Bookman came to collect her prize, a casino worker told her she hadn't actually won anything and offered her nothing but a complimentary steak dinner and $2.25.

Bookman's lawyer said she did not accept either the dinner or the $2.25.

At the time, Resorts World spokesman Dan Bank apologized and told CNN that "casino personnel were able to determine that the figure displayed on the penny slot was the result of an obvious malfunction -- a fact later confirmed by the New York State Gaming Commission."

The New York State Gaming Commission also said in August that the machine displayed a disclaimer stating, "Malfunctions void all pays and plays."

Bookman snapped a selfie with the slot machine she thought changed her life forever.

Bookman's attorney Alan Ripka says he has been fighting for months to get the casino to pony up more cash for Bookman, but to no avail. So, on June 14, he filed a lawsuit.

Ripka also says the casino's excuses are "ridiculous."

"You can't claim a machine is broken because you want it to be broken. Does that mean it wasn't inspected? Does it mean it wasn't maintained?," Ripka told CNNMoney. "And if so, does that mean that people that played there before [Bookman] had zero chance of winning?"

Ripka also said he's asked Resorts World Casino to explain how the machine malfunctioned, but the company did not offer him anything.

The complaint alleges that Resorts World Casino was "negligent" and did not adequately maintain their lottery equipment. It also posits that Bookman suffered "mental anguish" as a result of the incident and she sustained a "significant" monetary setback because she "lost the chance and/or opportunity to win" on the machine.

The complaint also names video lottery operator Genting New York LLC -- which is Resorts World Casino's parent company -- and slot machine maker International Game Technology as defendants.

Ripkin says he plans to seek at least $43 million in damages.

The casino did not immediately respond to CNNMoney's request for comment regarding the lawsuit.

The suit is similar to an earlier case against an Iowa casino.

The Chicago Tribune reported that a court ruled in favor of Isle Casino Hotel when a penny slot machine indicated that a 90-year-old woman won $41 million. The court ruled that "the game's rules capped jackpots at $10,000 and didn't allow bonuses," according to the newspaper.

source

 

[Sven Partanen]

For those of you following this story ...


A slot machine told her she hit a massive jackpot, but the casino claimed it was a machine error and offered her a meal on the house. Now, she's taking this to court.

Katrina Bookman captured national attention last year when she played a "Sphinx Slot Machine" at Resorts World Casino in Queens, New York, and it appeared as though she'd won $43 million -- which would have been the largest jackpot ever won on the slots in U.S. history. She excitedly snapped a selfie with the screen, believing her life was forever changed.

But when Bookman came to collect her prize, a casino worker told her she hadn't actually won anything and offered her nothing but a complimentary steak dinner and $2.25.

Bookman's lawyer said she did not accept either the dinner or the $2.25.

At the time, Resorts World spokesman Dan Bank apologized and told CNN that "casino personnel were able to determine that the figure displayed on the penny slot was the result of an obvious malfunction -- a fact later confirmed by the New York State Gaming Commission."

The New York State Gaming Commission also said in August that the machine displayed a disclaimer stating, "Malfunctions void all pays and plays."

View attachment 5500
Bookman snapped a selfie with the slot machine she thought changed her life forever.

Bookman's attorney Alan Ripka says he has been fighting for months to get the casino to pony up more cash for Bookman, but to no avail. So, on June 14, he filed a lawsuit.

Ripka also says the casino's excuses are "ridiculous."

"You can't claim a machine is broken because you want it to be broken. Does that mean it wasn't inspected? Does it mean it wasn't maintained?," Ripka told CNNMoney. "And if so, does that mean that people that played there before [Bookman] had zero chance of winning?"

Ripka also said he's asked Resorts World Casino to explain how the machine malfunctioned, but the company did not offer him anything.

The complaint alleges that Resorts World Casino was "negligent" and did not adequately maintain their lottery equipment. It also posits that Bookman suffered "mental anguish" as a result of the incident and she sustained a "significant" monetary setback because she "lost the chance and/or opportunity to win" on the machine.

The complaint also names video lottery operator Genting New York LLC -- which is Resorts World Casino's parent company -- and slot machine maker International Game Technology as defendants.

Ripkin says he plans to seek at least $43 million in damages.

The casino did not immediately respond to CNNMoney's request for comment regarding the lawsuit.

The suit is similar to an earlier case against an Iowa casino.

The Chicago Tribune reported that a court ruled in favor of Isle Casino Hotel when a penny slot machine indicated that a 90-year-old woman won $41 million. The court ruled that "the game's rules capped jackpots at $10,000 and didn't allow bonuses," according to the newspaper.

source

Ugh.. I don't know how I would react if this happened to me. She does have a point about the machine being broken would not be her fault though.