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Oh noooooooo… $43m slot machine win a 'mistake'

arkitect

arkitect

macrumors 604
Original poster
Sep 5, 2005
7,726
20,692
Bath, United Kingdom
Reads like an April Fools joke, but… :eek:
$43m slot machine win a 'mistake' says Colorado casino
A US woman who thought she had won $43m (£28m) on a slot machine has been told it was a mistake.

The Fortune Valley Casino in Central City, Colorado, told Louise Chavez from Denver the machine had "malfunctioned."

It is now unlikely she will see a penny of the dream jackpot.

When the lights and bells went off, Ms Chavez, who earns about $12,000 a year as a carer, thought she had hit the big time.

"All of a sudden I saw the light come on on top of the machine," Ms Chavez told ABC's Good Morning America.

"I'm like, 'Oh, my God! Oh, my God!' I'd never had this feeling before in my life, never."

However, gaming officials investigating the incident reckon it was probably just an unfortunate computer glitch.

Ms Chavez, who was celebrating her birthday, said all she ended up with was a free room for the night, some food and the original $20 she had put into the machine.

"I put my money in there," she said. "Whatever I won, I should get.

"There are dreams and there are things I'd like to do - helping my family, helping my kids. That's why I'm disappointed.

"My emotions changed from excited, thrilled, to very upset."

The casino said it was the first time they had had such a serious machine error in 15 years of business.
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How completely gutting. Seems a little dirty of that casino to claim it as an error too. I guess the house always wins. :rolleyes:
 
Unfortunately, every casino I’ve ever been to has a sticker right where you put your money in that says they are not liable for machine malfunctions. :(

Poor woman.
 
I have seen a few cases like this pop up recently. A person thinks they win a big jackpot, only to be told it was an malfunction. I guess it's the newest way to make more money for the casino. I bet profits go way up when you don't have to pay out those pesky jackpots.
 
jaw04005 said:
Unfortunately, every casino I’ve ever been to has a sticker right where you put your money in that says they are not liable for machine malfunctions. :(

Poor woman.
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So what's stopping a casino from blaming any big win on a malfunction, even if it's legitimate?
 
I would only be suspicious ofthe casino if the slot machine could actually win that amount. If the top award is only $5000 and it says she won $43m then Yes it is a malfunction in the software of the machine.
 
yg17 said:
So what's stopping a casino from blaming any big win on a malfunction, even if it's legitimate?
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The state gaming control board. I’m fairly certain that all malfunctions have to be investigated if they’re over a certain amount.
 
jaw04005 said:
The state gaming control board. I’m fairly certain that all malfunctions have to be investigated if they’re over a certain amount.
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A $43 Million dolar mistake should at least be investigated thoroughly.

But IMO, the lady is owed the money. A computer glitch is not her problem... it is the casino's problem and the machine's manufacturer's problem.

A one-in-a-million computer glitch? Sounds like she hit the jackpot either way.
 
I went on a google for similar cases, and there quite a few, probably a lot more than google can come up with. One guy had a similar situation and they wouldn't pay out as they said it was a glitch. They tried to make him sign something to say they didn't have to pay out and that he accepted it was an error. But he wouldn't sign it.

The guy pushed it and they came to a settlement of an undisclosed amount..

The law seems to be that if there is an error, they do not have to pay out though it seems there's never been a jury decision on one of these cases.
 
I hope she tries to fight, and should receive her money, but should a women who makes $12,000 a year really be playing $20 slots.

Reminds me of my grandma who spends all her SS money on the lottery.
 
Greenhoe said:
I hope she tries to fight, and should receive her money, but should a women who makes $12,000 a year really be playing $20 slots.

Reminds me of my grandma who spends all her SS money on the lottery.
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She is free do spend her money however she wants.
 
casino

When I go to the casino I only play cards.

Poor woman.

I am typically angered by frivolous lawsuits, but she should file for undue distress or some crap, I bet/hope she would win (for once, ha)
 
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