A woman, Katrina Bookman, thought she hit the jackpot at Resorts World Casino in Jamaica, New York, only to find out she was actually being offered a steak dinner instead. Katrina was playing a slot machine, known for their tough odds which, according to Investopedia, range from one-in-5,000 to one-in-about-34-million for winning the top prize with maximum coin play. Despite the odds, Katrina believed she had won a life-changing amount when the machine displayed an eight-figure sum.
She described feeling ‘numb’ at the thought of winning such a substantial amount. Excited, she informed a casino staffer about her win, but her joy was short-lived. When she returned the next day, she was informed by the New York State Gaming Commission that her slot machine had ‘malfunctioned’ and she had actually only won $2.25, due to a disclaimer on the machine that stated ‘malfunctions void all pays and plays.’
As a consolation, the casino offered her a free steak dinner and an apology for the mix-up. Dan Bank, a spokesperson for Resorts World, told CNN, “Upon being notified of the situation, 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. 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, and we would like to extend our apologies to Ms. Bookman for any inconvenience this may have caused.”
.webp)
Dissatisfied with the resolution, Katrina decided to file a lawsuit against Resorts World Casino, Genting New York LLC, and software provider IGT, demanding the millions she thought she had won. Her lawyer argued that at the very least, she should be paid the maximum jackpot available on that machine, which was $6,500. However, the court ruled in favor of the casino, and Katrina did not receive any payout beyond the $2.25.
The incident serves as a reminder of the complexities and potential disappointments of casino gambling, where even what seems like a life-changing win can quickly turn into a mere dinner offer.