Woman won $43million but was offered a steak dinner instead of her winnings

[Davidvictorson]

Katrina Bookman was playing the slots at the Resorts World Casino in Jamaica, Queens when she secured what would have been the largest slot machine jackpot in US history - $42,949,672 (£35.4m). She took a selfie with the machine to mark the moment, and later said her whole body went 'numb' when she saw the life-changing figure. Bookman was told to come back the next day to discuss her winnings, but when she asked an employee what she'd be walking away with, he responded: "You didn't win nothing." The New York State Gaming Commission said Bookman’s machine had malfunctioned, and that she'd actually won just $2.25 (£1.86).The machine had a disclaimer stating 'malfunctions void all pays and plays', and as a result the commission said that they were required by law to give Bookman only what she'd actually won.

Source: https://www.unilad.com/community/woman-won-43-million-offered-steak-dinner-instead-055644-20230108

Some Casinos are just plain fraudulent. So this woman visited a casino, play slot and won $43million. She took a selfie with the amount displayed on the machine. The casino saw it and told her to return the next day so they could talk about the winnings. Next day she returned. Story changed. She was told the machine had malfunctioned and therefore it was what was responsible for the winnings. They went ahead to offer her a complimentary steak dinner. I got so livid reading this story.

Isn't this just the stupidest reason not to give her her winnings?
Couldn't they have known that their so-called machine was faulty before letting gamblers use it?
How could they do this to her?

[Genemind]

I don't know it could be just a plain excuse that the machine malfunctioned since they had time to make an excuse and use their own TOS to get away with paying the said jackpot. Maybe the woman can file a complaint against the casino or even check if the machine is faulty or not, but who knows what could've they done to the machine after she won since she was asked to return the next day. In case the machine is faulty, everything in their casino should be checked since they will always use this excuse to avoid paying winnings.

[Cantsay]

That's just pure bullshit.
If reverse was to be the case what would they have done? If it was a customer that played and lost his/her $42m to the machine would they have inspected the machine in question?

That's the problem with casinos that don't have enough resources but just want to keep running the company so that they can keep draining money from their customers or from gamblers that use their service.

At least they could have compensated her with some cash even if it's just $5000 from the $42m that would have been better.

[jackg]

It'd make more sense to deactivate a malfunctioning machine rather than keeping it active. Also I doubt they've been forced to repay anything gambled on it for however long it malfunctioned.

If they didn't know it was malfunctioning the actual amount she won was very low compared to what the casino could likely afford so I think they should've been forced to pay a higher amount (at least around $30-300k or the maximum that could be won on that machine depending on the size of the venue).

[Pierre 2]

This is like the most fraud thing I have ever observed since social media became so strong. I understand that than kind of money can be very disruptive for their casino business. Although if there are issues with their slot machines its their responsibility to fix it. Not very sure how law works but I think this customer should directly open case against that fraud. In proper countries she would definitely win a lot of money at least.

[crwth]

This is a scam by the casino to prevent further losses with what happened. I don’t think it should be possible to do that to a people. Imagine if it’s someone of power and they do that to them. They would probably be fuming in anger with that.

I do hope that they find some way to pay for that. They owe her that much and not just a steak.

[Zlantann]

This is like the most fraud thing I have ever observed since social media became so strong. I understand that than kind of money can be very disruptive for their casino business. Although if there are issues with their slot machines its their responsibility to fix it. Not very sure how law works but I think this customer should directly open case against that fraud. In proper countries she would definitely win a lot of money at least.

Reading the terms of service of most casino companies might be very challenging because it can be time consuming, but I think it is worth studying. At least gamblers would be able to know thier rights and privilege. The slot machine has a disclaimer that voids all wins if it malfunctions. But how would the firm prove that the machine has fault? Would they not hide behind slot machine problems to deny genuine winners thier funds?  

I think the woman should seek legal advice and look for various means to recover her win. She is not to blame for the machine malfunctioning. If she has lost a huge bet due to the machine's problems, would they have recognized that the machine caused her loss? They would have concealed it and go on with thier operations.

[YOSHIE]

Isn't this just the stupidest reason not to give her her winnings?

I'm not surprised to see some land casinos having problems and ending in fights because they can't afford to pay slot users' winnings, with 1 million reasons, the goal is not wanting to pay, I'm sure they don't want to pay for all that, because they don't have that kind of funds, there are many such casinos in this world, they only expect money from losing users, actually it's a stupid reason.

Couldn't they have known that their so-called machine was faulty before letting gamblers use it?

That fact is their only reason, in fact the slot machine won is not damaged, it's just that the brain and finances of the owner of the land casino are damaged, no, the slot machine is not broken, I think and have seen cases like that experienced by this woman.

How could they do this to her?

Avoid paying users win and knee capital.

[KTChampions]

Some Casinos are just plain fraudulent. So this woman visited a casino, play slot and won $43million. She took a selfie with the amount displayed on the machine. The casino saw it and told her to return the next day so they could talk about the winnings. Next day she returned. Story changed. She was told the machine had malfunctioned and therefore it was what was responsible for the winnings. They went ahead to offer her a complimentary steak dinner. I got so livid reading this story.

Isn't this just the stupidest reason not to give her her winnings?
Couldn't they have known that their so-called machine was faulty before letting gamblers use it?
How could they do this to her?

Frankly, this whole story looks doubtful in many details. In any case, if something like this actually took place, then the final decision will be made in court. The casino cannot say that "the machine was broken, you did not win anything" this must be proven.
In addition, I was struck by the fact that she went home to "come back tomorrow and discuss the winnings." I understand that she was in shock, but you can't do that.

[Yogee]

This happened in 2016 just in case anyone is wondering. I tried to search for the verdict of the lawsuit she filed against the casino but it looks like it's still pending. I personally doubt she'll win the case since the NY Gaming Commission already sided with Resort World. The said machine's maximum payout is supposedly $6500 only.

Here's a more updated story if you want to read https://bonuslots.net/katrina-bookman-vs-resorts-world-casino/

[uneng]

As a gesture of goodwill, the casino offered Bookman a complimentary steak dinner - though that's hardly something to cheer about when you think you've won enough money to eat steak for the rest of your life.

Wow, what a kind gesture of this casino! Instead of paying an almost 43$ million jackpot they offer a steak dinner to compensate the gambler!

What a shame this story is. If the slots had a malfunction it's none of the gamblers' business. The casino is responsible for it. And since the machine was disponible for playing and the gambler has won, it's their duty to pay the prize the machine displays. I think it's funny this kind of malfunction never happens for the other side. When a gambler loses there are no malfunctions with machines. It's purely lack of luck.

Another advantage for crypto casinos: provably fair feature, so you aren't going to hear your payment is going to be denied because the machines weren't working properly.

[Issa56]

Isn't this just the stupidest reason not to give her her winnings?
Couldn't they have known that their so-called machine was faulty before letting gamblers use it?
How could they do this to her?

The mechince being faulty is non of the woman's problem, since the machine already displayed that she won and she is having evidence, then they should pay her the money, next time they should always make sure they carry out maintenance on their machine frequently. The woman shouldn't accept the dinner, she shouldn't take it easy with them, she should make sure she collect her money.

The casino is just very stupid, how will someone win that kind of money and the only thing you can use to compensate the person is steak dinner, I think they should just plead with the woman and maybe give her half of her win or reasonable amount of money if she will accept their offer, but the only thing the can offer is just steak dinner.

[ethereumhunter]

Casinos can come up with all kinds of reasons to prevent winners from getting their big money wins and we know they really can do it. It is the casinos' fault for not checking the slot machines that someone wins big money but the casinos don't even acknowledge it.

The woman also couldn't do much even though she had a selfie photo in front of the slot machine and her winnings earlier. The courts should be able to support the woman because there is real evidence of the woman's selfies, but we also need to know that casinos can bribe people in court to support casinos.

[Casdinyard]

It's easy for the house to claim that the apparent win is a mistake or a malfunction on the machine's part. But if the roles were to be switched, the woman would be extremely persecuted by the casino, they may even press charges against her. In that regard, I think the woman should file a case against the casino to force them one way or another to pay her the supposed winnings or damage fees if ever. Casinos have become very confident these days especially live ones in taking advantage of their customers' already weak stance, thus situations like these are more common. What an insult by the way, to tell her that she only one 2 euros and then offer her a dinner instead of actually giving her the winnings.

[qwertyup23]

Now this is just a fraudulent scheme devised by the gambling company in order to evade liability of paying her. Good thing the woman has a photo of her winning the slot machine as a solid proof for her efforts in winning. I do think that it must be illegal for the gambling company to claim that a slot machine malfunctioned that caused someone to win on it. Regardless, she still won and she must be entitled to the prize.

Personally, I very much feel outraged by this news. I do hope the woman sues the hell out of this gambling company. Not only is she entitled to her prize but also for damages for this scheme made by the gambling company.

The machine had a disclaimer stating 'malfunctions void all pays and plays', and as a result the commission said that they were required by law to give Bookman only what she'd actually won.

This is pure BS. How can a person prove that a machine malfunctioned? Isn't that the responsibility of the gambling company to maintain these machines regularly? They should be estopped on claiming that it malfunctioned AFTER someone won the jackpot prize.

[swogerino]

Katrina Bookman was playing the slots at the Resorts World Casino in Jamaica, Queens when she secured what would have been the largest slot machine jackpot in US history - $42,949,672 (£35.4m). She took a selfie with the machine to mark the moment, and later said her whole body went 'numb' when she saw the life-changing figure. Bookman was told to come back the next day to discuss her winnings, but when she asked an employee what she'd be walking away with, he responded: "You didn't win nothing." The New York State Gaming Commission said Bookman’s machine had malfunctioned, and that she'd actually won just $2.25 (£1.86).The machine had a disclaimer stating 'malfunctions void all pays and plays', and as a result the commission said that they were required by law to give Bookman only what she'd actually won.

Source: https://www.unilad.com/community/woman-won-43-million-offered-steak-dinner-instead-055644-20230108

Some Casinos are just plain fraudulent. So this woman visited a casino, play slot and won $43million. She took a selfie with the amount displayed on the machine. The casino saw it and told her to return the next day so they could talk about the winnings. Next day she returned. Story changed. She was told the machine had malfunctioned and therefore it was what was responsible for the winnings. They went ahead to offer her a complimentary steak dinner. I got so livid reading this story.

Isn't this just the stupidest reason not to give her her winnings?
Couldn't they have known that their so-called machine was faulty before letting gamblers use it?
How could they do this to her?

I am not surprised by the level of such type of casinos.That is why when playing in an offline casino it is always a good idea to be prepared well and got to play only on the capital of gambling,in Las Vegas.I am sure there are not that many stories,in fact I don't know any in Vegas that can cheat you like this by looking you in the eye.It was the error of the woman who agreed to come tomorrow,she should have insisted I want my money now or at least to ask for a contractual agreement before leaving the casino.When you win that huge amount it is only natural to ask about such signing by a notary.

In these plain fraudulent casinos only the law can make them pay in any way.

[Oceat]

I'm not buying that thing if they would have told me there's a disclaimer if I don't see it on the machine then I am claiming my winnings plus a photograph from her phone should be enough as evidence that she won. They better turn that thing off or pay the winning prize and not just a one meal for a day. That's a total bullshit on their part!

What else could be these casino be doing to someone who wins the jackpot? I'm sure it's not the first time this was happened but we can't do anything about it. That would stress me for life if they did that to me knowing that I've win a jackpot but unfortunately I am not.  

[chaser15]

If it was settled properly on the court then it means the casino really did prove that the machine malfunctioned. Although the complete details and information weren't detailed, being able to settle it in court then they really showed strong proof for that. Aside from that, the ticket was printed out with the correct winning amount therefore what is stated on the screen is where the fault and error happened.

I doubt a luxury casino such as Resorts World Casino in Jamaica, Queens will ruin their reputation just for that case.

Although my assumption will depend if the court settle the case properly without an under-the-table agreement or any related to corruption just to win the case in favor of the women. Because for me, if that casino is not true to its word, they should bribe the women instead as offering a dinner will make them seem to do dirty plays in the public.

[Cryptomiles1]

We can't just conclude it all because it's just a mere story, if that there were video for it then we would justified all every. I think something more, do we know either the company have up to that amount to pay her?
Yes, there where similar story over a man in Lagos, Nigeria that won LOTTO but wasn't able to pay him it happens that they offer him some peanuts out from his winning but he refused and sue them to court.
So let us compare it to this lady's case as well. But the painful thing is that they knew about this machine why did they leave it over there to allow customers to use the machine.
I know this could be very hard for her, but she still had all evidence if she would like to further claim about her winning or sue them to court with all her evidence.

[$crypto$]

Isn't this just the stupidest reason not to give her her winnings?
Couldn't they have known that their so-called machine was faulty before letting gamblers use it?
How could they do this to her?

The mechince being faulty is non of the woman's problem, since the machine already displayed that she won and she is having evidence, then they should pay her the money, next time they should always make sure they carry out maintenance on their machine frequently. The woman shouldn't accept the dinner, she shouldn't take it easy with them, she should make sure she collect her money.

The casino is just very stupid, how will someone win that kind of money and the only thing you can use to compensate the person is steak dinner, I think they should just plead with the woman and maybe give her half of her win or reasonable amount of money if she will accept their offer, but the only thing the can offer is just steak dinner.

It doesn't make sense that the slot machine didn't work while the woman won with the proof in the photo meaning it was an obvious win but the land casinos confirmed under the pretext the machine didn't work and it was like there was a problem being hidden with the reason the machine was off.

To me this is clearly cheating with the option of offering a steak dinner, no compensation whatsoever, even if it is half of the winnings, do they not want to lose big?
Does that mean that after the steak dinner, the woman didn't get any money after that?