Katrina Bookman of Queens, N.Y., an unemployed mother of four,
was playing the slots at the Resorts World Casino near La Guardia
Airport in late September when the machine she was using told her,
"Printing cash ticket. $42,949,672.76."
Customers and casino personnel surrounded her as she celebrated
her massive win. She was escorted from the casino floor and told to come back
the next day. Bookman, who grew up in foster care, was already making
plans for the money, including a barber shop for her son.
"What did I win?" Bookman asked when she returned to
the casino.
"'You didn't win anything,'" she says she was told.
The New York State Gaming Commission told Bookman she was not
entitled to any winnings because the machine, which is only supposed to
pay out a maximum win of $6,500, was malfunctioning. All the machines are
labeled with a disclaimer reading, "Malfunctions void all pays and
plays." According to the gaming commission, her actual winnings were just
$2.25.
The state commission said the machine was removed for repairs
after the incident, and then returned to the casino floor.
Bookman said the casino offered her a steak dinner, which she
refused.
“You offer me a steak dinner? I feel like they did me real
dirty," Bookman 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. Machine malfunctions are rare, and we would like to extend
our apologies to Ms. Bookman for any inconvenience this may have caused," a
statement from the Resorts casino said, according to a report from the Huffington
Post.
Bookman contacted an attorney, Alan Ripka, who says she should
at least be entitled to the machine's maximum pay out of $6,500.
"The machine takes your money when you
lose. It ought to pay it when you win," Ripka told WABC.
edited from USA Today
