Pennsylvania woman sues online slots company after being refused jackpot payout

Nov 17, 2021, 11:34 am (23 comments)

Online Gambling

More than a dozen other players with similar complaints

By Kate Northrop

A Pennsylvania slots player filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer of an online slots game after it refused to pay out a $100,000 jackpot caused by a "bug."

More than a dozen other players lodged similar complaints against the same company, claiming that they won far more than what the company was willing to pay out, New Jersey regulators say.

Lisa Piluso, of Yardley, a Pennsylvania town near the New Jersey border, issued a statement through her lawyer, Paul D'Amato, in which she alleges she was refused payout of a $100,000 jackpot by Las Vegas-based American Gaming Systems (AGS).

"I'm an experienced online player, and I was shocked when AGS officials, including the company president, told me they weren't going to pay, even when I showed them the screenshot that I made of the $100,000 jackpot," she said in her statement.

Piluso said she was told she had won while playing on her cell phone in New Jersey on Oct. 2, 2020.

AGS reportedly told New Jersey regulators that "a bug" in the system triggered the wrong symbols to appear on players' screens, leading them to believe that they won larger amounts than what they were entitled to.

"We have worked with the Division of Gaming Enforcement to investigate the cause of the event and in turn have taken corrective action," AGS Chief Marketing Officer Julia Boguslawski told The Associated Press." Although Ms. Piluso may disagree with the outcome of that administrative process, there is no precedent for her demand, and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves in court, if necessary."

After the Division of Gaming Enforcement investigated the issue, they informed Piluso in August that AGS "had discovered an issue/bug within the game" that prevented the bonus symbols on her screen from properly clearing for the next rounds of play.

"This error caused the patron(s) to believe that their bonus round winnings were higher than the actual winnings," Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Russo-Belles told Piluso.

As opposed to the $100,000 jackpot that Piluso believed she was entitled to,  AGS offered her $280, but then increased the offer to $1,000.

On Thursday, Piluso filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Camden, New Jersey that accuses the company of consumer fraud and other wrongful acts.

The Division of Gaming Enforcement said they received the same complaint about AGS from 13 other players and fined AGS $1,000.

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Yeah, there was a bug alright, lol.

But I'm sure the fear of another HUGE $1000 fine will make them pay up. Yeah, right.

Bleudog101

A new can of worms.   At a casino all slot machines have a little sign 'Machine malfunction voids all plays'.   So what about this electronic gizmo???

sully16's avatarsully16

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Nov 17, 2021

Yeah, there was a bug alright, lol.

But I'm sure the fear of another HUGE $1000 fine will make them pay up. Yeah, right.

It's always a bug , I wonder does the same bug miss a win for the gamer?

GoldenGirl4's avatarGoldenGirl4

Does anyone have any information on Crypto Pick 3? They are an online lottery and they are pulling scams too. They are not paying people when they win the pick 3 or pick 4 games. Recently won $3,700 and they are refusing to pay. They won't even respond to emails so I'm trying to find a way to get their website shut down since I'm probably never going to see that money. Most likely they are out of the country but they still are operating in the U.S.  Anyone have any ideas on next steps to getting their website shut down so that they can't steal from anyone else?

crimewatcher

No direct knowledge but BAS and others are run by overseas companies to get around the online gambling laws in the states. If any of these companies would take the money and run so to speak, not too much could be done to recover the "lost" funds.

GoldenGirl4's avatarGoldenGirl4

Heyy Sully 16,

Does you have any information on Crypto Pick 3? They are an online lottery and they are pulling scams too. They are not paying people when they win the pick 3 or pick 4 games. Recently won $3,700 and they are refusing to pay. They won't even respond to emails so I'm trying to find a way to get their website shut down since I'm probably never going to see that money. Most likely they are out of the country but they still are operating in the U.S.  I would appreciate any information on them. 

GoldenGirl4's avatarGoldenGirl4

Still, there has to be a way to have the U.S. website shut down.

 

Thanks for your reply!

GoldenGirl4's avatarGoldenGirl4

Quote: Originally posted by crimewatcher on Nov 17, 2021

No direct knowledge but BAS and others are run by overseas companies to get around the online gambling laws in the states. If any of these companies would take the money and run so to speak, not too much could be done to recover the "lost" funds.

What is BAS?

Speler

Anything can go wrong online. It is just like that junkmail that's coming. Sometimes none, than to compensate much more. Maybe I should  write a mail to myself to stop the junkmails and the spyware reads it and the hackers stop sending. ...

sully16's avatarsully16

Quote: Originally posted by GoldenGirl4 on Nov 17, 2021

Heyy Sully 16,

Does you have any information on Crypto Pick 3? They are an online lottery and they are pulling scams too. They are not paying people when they win the pick 3 or pick 4 games. Recently won $3,700 and they are refusing to pay. They won't even respond to emails so I'm trying to find a way to get their website shut down since I'm probably never going to see that money. Most likely they are out of the country but they still are operating in the U.S.  I would appreciate any information on them. 

Nope, can't help you.

GoldenGirl4's avatarGoldenGirl4

Thanks for your reply.

grwurston's avatargrwurston

It's amazing how there are never any "bugs" until someone wins big.

Sounds like BS

moneybagz

Yeah it's too convenient she wins and then they say oh there was a bug in the system so you didn't win no it doesn't sound right at all and even if there was a bug it's not the winners fault they should pay up

TheGameGrl's avatarTheGameGrl

Its the same bug that folks get with LOSING!   

 

I don't think she has a right leg to stand on in this matter. Just an inkling that some law in some area where the server is housed has the NO pay for malfunctions.

grwurston's avatargrwurston

Quote: Originally posted by TheGameGrl on Nov 18, 2021

Its the same bug that folks get with LOSING!   

 

I don't think she has a right leg to stand on in this matter. Just an inkling that some law in some area where the server is housed has the NO pay for malfunctions.

If there was a "bug" in the system, it should have been fixed after the first occurrence or complaint. 

But since over a dozen players have lodged similar complaints about them not wanting to pay up, I tend to think they just don't want to pay up.

The DGE said AGS found the bug in August and Pelusi said she played Oct 2. It's pretty obvious they never fixed it. Pretty slick on their part though. Find out you have a bug, leave in there on purpose and then use it as a convenient excuse to not have to pay out. 

Stat$talker's avatarStat$talker

Again , Proof ,that the Motto of most , if not ALL Lotteries...

"We can screw YOU , but you can't screw US..even if we conveniently falsely claim , there's a "Bug" in OUR Software to keep from having to pay ..THIS Unregulated Industry allows US to stick it in ,as faaar as we can git it.!!  BananaOooh, eeewww, aaahh..!" LOL

Stat$talker's avatarStat$talker

I Agree!

Stat$talker's avatarStat$talker

Quote: Originally posted by grwurston on Nov 18, 2021

If there was a "bug" in the system, it should have been fixed after the first occurrence or complaint. 

But since over a dozen players have lodged similar complaints about them not wanting to pay up, I tend to think they just don't want to pay up.

The DGE said AGS found the bug in August and Pelusi said she played Oct 2. It's pretty obvious they never fixed it. Pretty slick on their part though. Find out you have a bug, leave in there on purpose and then use it as a convenient excuse to not have to pay out. 

I Agree!

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

How many times has that same bug in their system made somebody lose when they should have won?

And how many players have they notified of that?

grwurston's avatargrwurston

13 People had the same complaint.  I'm sure there were others it happened to that DIDN'T file a complaint. Where they were just told, "we had a bug", and didn't like it, but accepted their excuse.  Either way, it won't be good for their business when word gets around a lot more.

Cassie8620's avatarCassie8620

Quote: Originally posted by GoldenGirl4 on Nov 17, 2021

Heyy Sully 16,

Does you have any information on Crypto Pick 3? They are an online lottery and they are pulling scams too. They are not paying people when they win the pick 3 or pick 4 games. Recently won $3,700 and they are refusing to pay. They won't even respond to emails so I'm trying to find a way to get their website shut down since I'm probably never going to see that money. Most likely they are out of the country but they still are operating in the U.S.  I would appreciate any information on them. 

i'm all for suing, if you're violated. My NC family member uncle sued. he won a lottery while visiting a long time pal of his, in south nj on de.pa.borderline."

the company settled quietly so it was not public-announced. wish it was. it was against a casino online,1 of those tropicana or borgata years ago + uncle pete did fight back.he sued. simple as that.White Bounce

he got his entire jackpot(just about a nice cool 7,800.bucks.) they were trying to say issue with um the pay out, machine bug, crap, whatever. he won. took only 5 months, to "settle" the lawyer took out their fee, or would've been 12grand. but he got again his almost 8 g's back,within five months only. he got what was rightfully his, each cent.

G-luck.

lakerben's avatarlakerben

 I know the feeling. I hit last Saturday p4.  It was 1117 and I played 1711 box. $1200 bucks.

The Nm lotto machines have had glitches for years.    Sometimes I fill out 4 lines and it pei ts out one line. Other times one line and a Quick pick.

Well I gave the slip to the clerk with 1711 and 6666.  He handed me the tickets after I paid and it printed out 1711 but no 6666. It also had the date 11/27 instead of 11/20.   I gave it back to the clerk and he ran the slip again.  This time the right picks 1711 and 666 and 11/20. For  the date.  I got paid for  the  one ticket but they won't pay for the other because of a lottery glitch.   The lottery  official who identifies as a cop tried to get macho. Bad move to try and get macho with lakerben.  We had a quaint discussion and he left.

 

I Agree!

JWBlue

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Nov 18, 2021

How many times has that same bug in their system made somebody lose when they should have won?

And how many players have they notified of that?

This is my thinking as well. 

 

I wonder if they are notified when a bug prevents a win.

End of comments
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