$11 million slot jackpot a malfunction, casino says

[ElNono]

$11 million slot jackpot a malfunction, casino says
Heidi Hemmat | KDVR Denver
12:36 PM MDT, June 4, 2010

CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo. - MaryAnn and Jim McMahon thought their money troubles were over when they hit an $11 million jackpot at a Cripple Creek casino Tuesday. It turns out they were wrong.

The Wildwood Casino blamed a slot machine malfunction for the $11 million jackpot.

The machine was turned over to the Colorado Gaming Division for inspection.

A spokesperson says their initial investigation shows the McMahon's didn't really win the $11 million prize on June 1.

Gaming spokesperson Don Burmania said the machine failed to "reset" after the McMahon's won the $1627.82 prize.

"They actually won $1627.82," said Burmania, "The $11 million was what we call a 'reset value.' It's what the jackpot would have been after the prize was claimed."

It's the second time in three months a Colorado slot machine has made a multi-million dollar mistake. In March, a machine malfunction was blamed for a $42 million dollar jackpot.

"These things rarely occur, but when it rains it pours," Burmania said.

Still, the McMahon's feel they deserve the jackpot, and are feeling some mistrust with the gaming industry.

"If you do hit a jackpot are they going to come up with another story? It's a malfunction? It's not right," Jim McMahon said.

[ElNono]

Looks like it's not the first time either...

Casino says woman's $42M jackpot was an error
by Greg Nieto | KDVR Denver
6:07 PM MDT, March 27, 2010

CENTRAL CITY - Louise Chavez thought she had won $42 million dollars. Turns out lady luck was just teasing her.

"People were coming up to me saying I won $42,000,000, or at least $42,000" says Chavez, who was playing penny slots at Fortune Valley Casino in Central City. "Lights were flashing, it sounded like a fire truck, the screen said 'see attendant.'"

When the attendant arrived, Chavez was told the machine had malfunctioned and she would not receive any payment. "They didn't tell me why."

The casino gave her a room for the night, bought her breakfast and gave her $23 dollars, the amount she says she had put into the machine.

The Director of Marketing for Fortune Valley says random numbers appeared on the screen.

"In 15 years, we have never seen anything like this before," says Joe Behm. "We have rules and regulations that we follow and it is now in the hands of the Division of Gaming."

The Division of Gaming, according to Behm, will look for forensic information in the machine's software. There is the possibility that Chavez could still win some money based on the division's findings.

As for Chavez, she is not sure what she will do next, but she's not folding. "I played the game, I put my money into the machine, whether it's 42 million, 42 thousand or 4 thousand, I should get what the machine said."

[Mavs_man_41]

that's ed up..you can't take back money that's already been won. it's the casino's fault for not having properly running machines.

[Stringer_Bell]

I'd like to know how many "malfunction" cause people to lose money when they've actually won it. Does the company only investigate machine function when they lose money, or is it a routine process they use to make sure their customers are not taken advantage of?

PS: What if the machine's "top pay out" is only like 10,000? I could see a case for that. Never been to an American casino, maybe machines aren't supposed to put out millions?

[MaNuMaNiAc]

The only way the casino can withhold the money is if it had clearly stated the top prize was nowhere near what the machine paid out. If the jackpot could have been that high, but the casino claimed malfunction, I call bull ! She should be completely en led to that money.

[Mr. Peabody]

I remember reading about the $42 million jackpot. The advertised jackpot was a little over $1,000. The woman was playing the penny machines, but insisted that the casino owed her the $42 million.

[Wild Cobra]

The only way the casino can withhold the money is if it had clearly stated the top prize was nowhere near what the machine paid out. If the jackpot could have been that high, but the casino claimed malfunction, I call bull ! She should be completely en led to that money.

I agree. The Casino should be responsible for their mistakes.