Casino Jackpot Malfunction
Slots player denied $8.5m prize
Casino: Manufacturer Liable in Slot Machine Jackpot Malfunction. Katrina Bookman was playing penny slots when the screen indicated she had won a $42.9M payout. But when she tried to collect, the casino told her it was all a big mistake. NEWCASTLE, Okla. (KOKH) - An Oklahoma woman gambling at the Newcastle Casino Friday morning claims she hit the jackpot for nearly $8. 5 million, but she said the casino won’t pay her.
Maribel Sanchez has said the Newcastle Casino in Oklahoma is refusing to award her almost $8.5m which she won playing slots at the facility. The venue claims the win was due to a game malfunction.
The gambler from Oklahoma proceeded to inform the FOX 25 news station, which provided details of the incident on Twitter. Sanchez also shared an image of the slot machine screen indicating the win amount:
Liberty 7s machine shut down after win
Sanchez said she visited the Newcastle Casino at 7am on Friday morning. She decided to play the Liberty 7s slot and had wagered only $1.25 when she hit the jackpot. But as soon as the win occurred, the machine shut down and the screen went black.
Sanchez took a photo of the on-screen win announcement, which showed a total of $8,469,498.95.
Maribel’s daughter, Linda, commented on the incident, stating:
It says clearly the amount that she won, but now they’re saying it was a malfunction and not give (sic) her the amount.”
Taking legal action
Sanchez is working on taking legal action to receive the payment she claims she is owed by the casino. Her attorney, Bill Zuhdi, said:
We’re going to look at all her legal options and aggressively pursue her rights. She should be paid what she won.”
FOX 25 contacted the Newcastle Casino about the incident. The gambling facility responded, saying the claim is currently under review following the venue’s protocols, and that it is working with Sanchez through the process. The casino added it is unable to comment on the review at this time.
Katrina Bookman was playing penny slots when the screen indicated she had won a $42.9M payout. But when she tried to collect, the casino told her it was all a big mistake.
NEW YORK (AP) — 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.
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Resorts World said Bookman printed out a voucher ticket to receive her $2.25 balance on the machine, but her lawyer disputes that.
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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.
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'If the machine was broken, does that mean nobody could have ever been a winner?'