BREGENZ, Austria — It seemed too good to be true — a slot-machine jackpot of almost 43 million euros. And maybe it was.
Austrian state broadcaster ORF reports that Behar Merlaku is going to court over the refusal of the Bregenz casino to give him what he considers his win on March 26.
Casino officials do not dispute that the gaming machine showed a payout of nearly 43 million euros — almost US$62 million. But they say that a malfunctioning computer chip was responsible for what they say was the faulty display.
Both sides are going to court. In the meantime, says the ORF website, Merlaku has been banned from the casino in the capital of Austria's westernmost Voralberg province.
Thanks to Coin Toss for the tip.
On the fence here.
Obviously it was an error, no casino pays out that much......
So when I lose I'll just say that the machine was faulty and get my money back.
Yeah, that'll work.
If it was one of those multi location progressive slots, $62m is not unheard of. Those seem to have more than their fair share of malfunctions on wins and I avoid them unless it is a fun game like Wheel of Fortune, or my fave, the long gone Elvis Slots.
On the other hand, if the machine shows a payout of $62m on a single machine with a max $5k, then you go by the win chart stated on the machine. That's a no brainer and should be tossed out of court.
The article did not give enough info.
Well I'm assuming the difference is that the Slot machines JP wasn't actually supposed to be tens of millions, just 10s of thousands, and that they'd have no problem paying that...
I mean honestly if I was in charge of a casino, and expected a return of a couple percent per bet placed, but the machine errored and made the return for the casino negative, by hundreds of percents b/c the jackpot was more than 1000 times higher than it was supposed to be, I'd just want to explain to the guy what happened, and pay him the 10s of thousands he won.
I certainly wouldn't think it's fair to pay the guy millions because a machine was on the fritz.
I'm just simply pointing out that if the machine malfunctions it'll always be in the casinos favor.
lol true. I'm not in the situation myself, and the story didn't give all the details. But it seems like an understandable mistake, because I've never seen any Casino Jackpot anywhere near that high.
Sounds like I've heard this story before. Player won big prize, Casino said it's machine error.
It doesn't matter if it was a machine error or not. As long as the guy didn't cheat, the casino was obligated to pay. I hope he wins in court.
Pay the man his money!!!! Simple boycott that casino until they fork over the cash.
"WRONG" I have not seen not one slot machine at anytime in any casino not say right on it that, any and all malfunctions voids any payouts! And that also goes for any video poker machines as well.
Next time your in a casino go and read the front of the machine where the coin goes in or where the bill slot is and you'll find it around there about any malfunctions voiding any payouts!
A few years ago there were a couple of slot winners at Winstar in OK that didn't get paid due to "malfunction". It was a pretty big news story in the Dallas area. I work with a couple people that play there a lot, but I avoid that place like the plague.
Somehow, they always manage to leave the "erroneous" bait/display up until someone wins.
I don't have a problem with the casino claiming malfunction.
I haven't read anywhere what the advertised jackpot prize for the machine was.
My problem is exactly what iGlenn says. What protects players whene there is a malfunction that shows the player loses a money on a spin when the correct result was a large winning amount?
If the machine showed a payout of 43 million euros, and that's an exorbitant amount of money for anyone to win playing a slot machine, then why does the machine have the capacity to show a payout of 43 million euros?
.. 
Peace,
Karinda
I think the man should be paid it sound like the casino do not want to pay believe me if they get by with this it will be some else trying the same thing they should have check there so call error before letting any one play the machines i bet it did malfunction when they look n saw those numbers
u will be partying soon b
I was on a 50 cent machine and hit something, the call lights came on and 3300 was blinking in a window below the reels. At first I though I won $3300 but on the payoff schedule what I hit was for $300. When the attendant came they said the reason machine malfunctioned (3300 was the error code) was because it was suppose to be a $600 win and the reels stopped at the wrong place. The attendant paid me $600 plus the credits I had in the machine and placed a "do not play" sign on the machine. We don't usually hear the stories about slot machine malfunctions being in favor of the players, but it does happen.
If this machine didn't have a jackpot payoff of $43 million, it's a no-brainer, but it was a multi-casino jackpot game like Mega Bucks it's possible the annuity jackpot could get that high. The gaming commission enforces the casino rules and this reminds of the Florida player that scratched the "1" off the number "13" and demanded he be paid $500,000 even though "thirteen" was clearly printed underneath the "1".
Sully is correct can't tell you how often incidents like this have occured in Las Vegas & Atlantic City - Megabucks slots hit for $39.7M at Excaliber, LV.
In another story a Harrah's managed Tribal Casino a player hit for a jackpot and the techies said that they neede to confirm by cheeking inards of the machine which would requires some time, when the players returned they announced that it was a malfunction & pointed to the sign & announced that the Tribal management was thus not going to payoff.. The player was a hispanic woman who felt cheated as those tech angels could have changed the chip easily enough- anyway the story was going to go vira as it was building up to, as Sully recommnds, a boycot of all Harrah's Casino . Didn't have to go to court as the lady got paid with apologies.
Yes Virginia, Casinos are known to cheat (check with a State gaming board for evidence) & sometimes the good gals & guyz win.
'When you own the roulette wheel, ts no longer a even chance game. ~Damon Runyon, legendary gambling expert & author
EddessaKnight
Comped lunch or dinner? Reduced rate hotel room?
Nonsense!
This man should be given at the very least a three year subscription to the Jelly of the Month Club!
In Michigan we have state auditors on the premises, I think they all should.
i work at a harrahs owned casino and they treat the employees like garbage too.
bill harrah,well known for treating his employees good is spinning in his grave.
Candidly said, haymaker, and sad too because an old industry axium states: "treat your employes well and they will treat your customers well!"
BEWARE
EddessaKnight
PS-
The above forementioned recalcitrent tribal casino is in Arizona
Re: Tribal casinos
When casinos started opening beyond Nevada and Atlantic City, Indian casinos started recruiting in Nevada.
There would be ads in the classifieds worded like this:
Casino opening soon in _ _ _ _ _.
Experienced casino personnel wanted.
WE ARE A NATIVE AMERICAN PREFERENCE EMPLOYER.
Try putting something other than Native American in such an ad and see how far you get.
When "palefaces" got hired they'd be working there for a few months and then see a notice in the break room.
AS OF _ _ _ _ _ 75% OF THE STAFF WILL BE NATIVE AMERICANS. (They hired experienced people to get them up and running and trained, and then let the palefaces go).
Also, no palefaces got paydays or two or three days after payday off because when the some of the Natives got their paychecks and some firewater they'd be gone for two or three days.
This is in reference to smaller tribal casinos off the beaten path, on actual reservations, not places like Foxwoods who at first hired anyone who called themself a Pequot.
When Foxwoods first opened Donald Trump went there to check it out and looking around at the employees he said, "They don't look like Indians to me."
greedy aussies, thats what they are noted for, being crooks and cheaters, and cheap
Thanks cbr$.
But they won't even let him in the place anymore so I kinda doubt they're gonna be so magnanimous as to give him the jelly.
The casino was in Austria in not in Australia. Was Crocodile Dundee in Sound of Music?
"The casino was in Austria in not in Australia."
Details, details... LOL