Katrina Bookman made headlines when she played a slot machine at Resorts World Casino in New York, thinking she’d won $43 million. But it turned into a legal battle when the casino claimed it was a machine error.
A Big Casino Win Turns into a Legal Fight
Katrina Bookman hit the slot machine, believing she had won the largest jackpot in U.S. slot history. She even took a selfie with the winning screen. But when she tried to collect her prize, the casino said it was a malfunction and offered her a steak dinner and $2.25 instead.
Bookman’s lawyer, Alan Ripka, has been trying to get the casino to pay up, but they haven’t budged. So, he filed a lawsuit on her behalf. Ripka called the casino’s excuses “ridiculous” and questioned whether the machine was properly inspected and maintained.
The Lawsuit Alleges Negligence
The lawsuit alleges that Resorts World Casino was “negligent” in maintaining its lottery equipment and that Bookman suffered “mental anguish” and a “significant” financial loss due to the incident. It also names Genting New York LLC, the casino’s parent company, and slot machine maker International Game Technology as defendants.
Ripka plans to seek at least $43 million in damages. The casino has not yet responded to the lawsuit.
This case is reminiscent of a similar situation in Iowa where a 90-year-old woman was denied a $41 million jackpot due to the game’s rules. The court ruled in favor of the casino, stating that the jackpot was capped at $10,000 and bonuses were not allowed.
In Bookman’s case, the legal battle continues as she seeks the jackpot she thought she had won.
The case was finally settled out of court.
Via CNN
