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Eastern Time (GMT-5:00) | Woman denied $43 million jackpot, offered steak dinner instead Gambling: Woman denied $43 million jackpot, offered steak dinner insteadRating:It was a selfie she thought was worth nearly $43 million. Katrina Bookman hit the jackpot on a slot machine in late August at Resorts World Casino in Jamaica, Queens. She even took an excited self-portrait with the machine displaying her winnings: $42,949,672. It would have been the largest slot machine jackpot in US history. "I can't even describe the feeling. It's like my whole body just got numb," Bookman said. But when she came back the next day to find out the exact size of her jackpot, a casino employee crushed her excitement. "I said, 'So what did I win? He said, 'You didn't win nothing,'" she said. The New York State Gaming Commission said that Bookman's machine had malfunctioned. The machine, like all the ones in the casino, has a disclaimer stating, "Malfunctions void all pays and plays." Instead, the casino offered Bookman a complimentary steak dinner. "All I could think about was my family," Bookman said, her voice breaking. She grew up in foster care and raised 4 children as a single mother. The New York State Gaming Commission said that they immediately pulled the machine from the casino floor to fix it, and it is now up and running once again. The commission said that by law they can only award Bookman her actual winnings of $2.25, printed by the machine. "They win, and now the house doesn't want to pay out. To me that's unfair," says Bookman's attorney, Alan Ripka. He's fighting for the casino to pay Bookman the maximum amount allowed by the Sphinx slot machine — $6,500. "The machine takes the money when you lose. It ought to pay it when you win," Ripka said. Resorts World spokesman Dan Bank said, "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." The casino couldn't send a portion of its revenue to a New York state education fund, as mandated by law, if had to pay out massive jackpots like the one displayed on Bookman's machine, Bank said. In five years, the casino has generated more than $1.6 billion for the fund, he said. But Bookman remains frustrated. "I should win the max. And I feel like I should treat him (the casino employee) to a steak dinner," she said.  (Click to display full-size in gallery)
Thanks to LottoAce for the tip. CNN, ABC, Lottery Post Staff
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New Jersey United States Member #17842 June 28, 2005 155294 Posts Offline | Tilt!
Strange How Machine Malfunctions Only Occur on Big Payouts! A mind once stretched by a new idea never returns to its original dimensions!
Catch-22: A dilemma or difficult circumstance from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting or dependent conditions.
Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges: When the republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous.
The best way to learn is to never stop being a student! | | |
New York, NY United States Member #39470 May 16, 2006 2818 Posts Offline | And I had the foolish thought every time I saw the signs posted on the machines that it doesn't mean what it says---they would never do that to a victim of their greed.
What an idiot I have been! Shame on these casino <snip>s and the politicians who make them screw the poor after they're screwed by the politicians. This post has been automatically changed by the Lottery Post computer system to remove inappropriate content and/or spam. | | |
georgetown sc United States Member #112483 June 20, 2011 6021 Posts Offline | ms bookman keep the faith i could only wonder how you felt god will give you a chance again and this time it will be for real. start playing your kids birthday and age. lottery mega million and power ball casino s r rip off i think they should put on machines for fun only  | | |
United States Member #141028 April 2, 2013 1481 Posts Offline | "Malfunctions void all pays and plays." THERE OUGHTA BE A LAW. This is total bullcrap. If you lose it's ok but if you win it's a malfunction. SERIOUSLY? Seek and ye shall find -Matt. 7:7 ...Ask and ye shall receive -John 16:24 ...Give and it shall be given unto you -Luke 6:38 ...Be careful what you ask for!!! -Mypiemaster 1:1 Having Money Solves Problems That Not Having Money Creates  ****John Carlton**** | | |
Simpsonville United States Member #163182 January 22, 2015 2875 Posts Offline | OK everyone: 1) What was the jackpot stated on the machine? I seriously doubt it was even close to $10K. 2) WHY did she come back THE NEXT DAY to see what her jackpot was? When I've won jackpots on slot machines, I'm paid right then and there. She hired an Attorney? Good luck with that, paying $300/hour for an unwinnable case, she needs her head examined. Am I supposed to feel pity because she's a single mother of several children? No, I don't. Sorry to sound harsh, but this is clearly a no-brainer. She better be careful drawing all this attention to herself over this foolishness or she'll be a defendant from the casino's side of the law. | | |
* In hot pursuit of $ *
White Shores- California United States Member #136471 December 12, 2012 6799 Posts Offline | If my memory serves me correctly: There was a previous incident similar to this one where a person "won millions" playing the penny slots- it was ruled null & void as well. Something like " You can't win millions of dollars playing pennies. Go figure. * Voice of Reason * * People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it- George Bernard Shaw. | | |
United States Member #162624 January 7, 2015 780 Posts Offline | Tilt!
Strange How Machine Malfunctions Only Occur on Big Payouts! . Exactamundo!, Mr./Ms. Raven62, That's exactly how I feel about this whole doggone mess.
To hell with slot machines and casinos altogether!
(except my poker, please don't take poker away. You can empty the casino, just keep a place for others and myself to play hold 'em. And maybe that video craps game.). Imagine them pulling a stunt like this. If I were a nearby employee, and witnessed this injustice,
I'd walk off the job. Who wouldn't? At least with Cash, Mega and PB, if the state tried something like this, you'd have the whole country's/whole world's attention. What do you have after you pull some old slot handle?
(shoo', afta I pull the slot handle, I be lucky if I gots a bus ride back home.) Groppo - Don't chase the numbers you play.
- Play only numbers you've already played, plus however many random picks.
- But, ALWAYS the regular numbers you play. This will make you a winner, not a chaser.
(so far, though, I've yet to win any significant lotto prize)
- Oh, but always know where your tickets are, as well as your ticket's deadline.
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United States Member #162624 January 7, 2015 780 Posts Offline | . Casinos are always getting richer; No thanks to casino goers' illusions.
(But with lotto, I expect to lose anyway, every week. Still, I can dream though.) - Don't chase the numbers you play.
- Play only numbers you've already played, plus however many random picks.
- But, ALWAYS the regular numbers you play. This will make you a winner, not a chaser.
(so far, though, I've yet to win any significant lotto prize)
- Oh, but always know where your tickets are, as well as your ticket's deadline.
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UNC United States Member #106255 February 15, 2011 33899 Posts Offline | . Casinos are always getting richer; No thanks to casino goers' illusions.
(But with lotto, I expect to lose anyway, every week. Still, I can dream though.) Lol why do u play if u expect to lose, u can dream for free, I'm jus saying.. | | |
United States Member #165236 March 30, 2015 229 Posts Offline | That's why the house always wins... Take Risks: If you win, you'll be happy. If you lose, you will be wiser... | | |
Fresno, California United States Member #157849 August 2, 2014 3959 Posts Offline | I will never set foot inside a casino. Even for the shows. Bunch of crooks. "We are all in this together!" | | |
Little Rock, AR United States Member #68363 December 19, 2008 254 Posts Offline | So, the maxium payout of the machine was 6500, which she did not even win. So why is this unfair? | | |
United States Member #162624 January 7, 2015 780 Posts Offline | Lol why do u play if u expect to lose, u can dream for free, I'm jus saying.. . Mr./Ms. EZMONEE, Simply because of all the success stories we've read on here.
This or that guy or gal, in Georgia or North Carolina won so many doggone millions.
This or that person in Californy or Ohio won another set of millions, or at least the second prize.
Yet, another in New York, wins enough to liberate them from that hell hole. How many success stories (I mean with what frequency), are published on some guy's successful weekend trip to the casino? I don't spend as much doing my lotto thing.
I still do wish some lotto winner would come my way, and offer me a bunch of their extra loot. I'm several thousand in debt with credit cards.
So, that's not a real problem. I just want the extra money, with the least possible BS. Who doesn't? Mr. Groppo (good question, though) - Don't chase the numbers you play.
- Play only numbers you've already played, plus however many random picks.
- But, ALWAYS the regular numbers you play. This will make you a winner, not a chaser.
(so far, though, I've yet to win any significant lotto prize)
- Oh, but always know where your tickets are, as well as your ticket's deadline.
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USA USA United States Member #134247 October 22, 2012 9916 Posts Online | They are soo full of do do. they remove the machine and fix it alright didnt even give her cab fare...smfh thieving as$!! $6k at least should been her pay out!! yes girl sue for a couple more steak dinners! Wow!!!ssmdh!! 421 216 301 304 801 890 420 427 608 581 119 1420 0216 9998 3323 1991 1771 1881 2288 5185 1222 Gl all. | | |
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