A woman whose slot machine said she won nearly $43 million in August was told that she would not receive her winnings because the machine malfunctioned.
Katrina Bookman took a celebratory selfie in front of the screen displaying a win of $42,949,672, and was subsequently escorted from the floor and told to return to New York City’s Resorts World Casino the next day for a decision.
When she came back, she was told the machine had a glitch and she hadn’t won anything. Instead of offering her the maximum amount that is supposed to be allowed on the machines—$6,500—the casino offered her a steak dinner. The state gaming commission told an ABC affiliate that it would be illegal to offer her the $6,500, noting that “malfunctions void all pays and plays.”
Bookman says the money would have meant a lot to her family. She was raised in foster care herself and experienced homelessness as a teenager before raising four kids on her own. She planned to use the millions to buy her son a barber shop and help out her community.
[ABC7]
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving?
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com