New York woman wins $42 million jackpot — casino gives her a steak dinner and $2.25 instead
Winning the jackpot at a casino slot machine is a dream too good to be true. But a woman from New York came close to it after hitting a $42 million jackpot at Resorts World Casino. The illusion of a new life flashed before her eyes as the slot machine blinged, flashing the grand number on the screen. Katrina Bookman was overjoyed thinking about how her and her family’s lives would change. However, fate had different plans for her. The casino refused to pay out her winnings citing a malfunction in the slot machine, as Inside Edition (@InsideEdition) reported on YouTube.
In November 2016, Bookman gambled a penny on a slot machine and waited anxiously as it whirred. Moments later, a grand display of $42,949,672 consumed the screen, and after pinching herself she ensured there was proof of her great fortune. “I can’t even describe the feeling. It’s like my whole body just got numb,” she later told WABC in an interview, as per Market Realist. The New York resident waited until the next day to claim her whopping jackpot but was disappointed to receive a cold reaction from the other end.
A Casino employee killed her joy by informing her that she had not won any prize because the machine had actually malfunctioned. “I said, 'So what, did I win?' He said, ‘You didn’t win nothing,’” Bookman sadly recalled during the interview. Simultaneously, the New York State Gaming Commission confirmed that the slot machine Bookman had gambled on had actually malfunctioned and as per their disclaimer, all winnings are erased in case of such an event. “Malfunctions void all pays and plays,” the disclaimer declared. The slot machine was pulled out from the casino floor for repairs. To compensate as per legal regulations, the casino offered Bookman a free steak dinner and apparently the real prize she had won, which amounted to only $2.25.
Disheartened, Bookman could barely hold back her tears as the reality sunk in. However, she was not one to give up and sued the casino for misleading her. Her attorney, Alan Ripka, said, “They win, and now the house doesn’t want to pay out. To me that’s unfair. The machine takes the money when you lose. It ought to pay it when you win.” Nevertheless, he was aware that going for $42 million would be a futile attempt and hence, was eyeing the maximum amount of $6,500 accommodated in the Sphinx slot machine.
Dan Bank, a Resorts World spokesperson, explained to CNN, “After explaining the circumstances to Ms. Bookman, we offered to pay her the correct amount that was shown on the printed ticket. Machine malfunctions are rare.” He also extended apologies for any inconvenience the incident may have caused her and her family. Bank claimed the casino had paid over $1.6 billion to a New York state education fund, as mandated by law from the revenue generated. If they were to further pay massive payouts to gamblers, this feat would not be feasible for the establishment.
Regardless, Bookman remains adamant about her prize winnings and demands she be awarded the maximum prize. “And I feel like I should treat him (the casino employee) to a steak dinner,” she said. A judge at the Queens County Supreme Court later ruled in favor of the casino invalidating Bookman’s efforts to get the cash prize, per Techopedia.