Katrina Bookman thought she won a life-changing slots payout in August when she hit a $43 million prize.
But according to ABC News, Resorts World in New York claims that her windfall was the result of a machine malfunction.
Resorts World offered Bookman a free steak dinner to ease the news that she won’t become a multi-millionaire. But this doesn’t seem quite like justice for a mother-of-four who thought that she’d instantly achieved financial security.
“I kept thinking about my family,” Bookman said.
Her excitement quickly turned to confusion when casino personnel asked her to come back the following day.
“I said ‘what did I win?'” recalled Bookman. The staff responded, “You didn’t win nothing.”
The New York State Gaming Commission investigated the win and determined that the slot machine Bookman was playing malfunctioned. The game has since been pulled from the floor for repairs.
The exact game that she was playing is only programmed to pay a top prize of $6,500. So it makes sense why Resorts World didn’t pay her anything on the win.
Nevertheless, Bookman has hired a lawyer and plans to sue the company to collect all or some of her advertised win.
“The machine takes your money when you lose,” Bookman’s lawyer told ABC. “It ought to pay it when you win.”
Boookman is hoping that her lawyer can come through for her on this case, which is potentially worth millions of dollars.
“I feel I should win the max and I will treat him (lawyer) to a steak dinner,” she said.
There’s a legal precedent for a case like this, and it’s not good for Bookman.
Pauline McKee, a grandmother who won $41.8 million at Iowa’s Isle Casino, didn’t receive her jackpot due to a machine error. The Iowa Supreme Court sided with the casino because the game in question, Miss Kitty, is only programmed to pay 10,000 credits.