If you happen to be too lucky while placing a bet or gambling, the person can simply say, No, you re not entitled to that money, Comerford declared.
The D1 Casino is a small gambling venue that has just seven table games to go along with a small slot and electronic gaming machine area.
In the United States, state laws typically protect casinos from machine errors.
Last fall, a woman in New York struck what she thought was a , only to later be told by Resorts World in Queens that the machine came with a maximum payout of $6,500. Instead of becoming an instant millionaire, the single mother of four was given a meal voucher for a steak dinner.
All slot machines in New York come with a posted disclosure that reads, Malfunction voids all pays and plays. Worst yet for the woman was the fact that state law bars a casino from giving the maximum payout when a machine error occurs.
And Big DisappointmentFor those who think they ve struck it rich, receiving an explanation that there was a malfunction can be tough to accept. In the case at the D1 Casino, Mirwais, an Afghan refugee, says the casino is making excuses to avoid paying out on its losses.
When I was losing my money, the machine was okay and the casino was happy to take it, Mirwais told the court. But when I won, they wanted to investigate.
While Mirwais total win of about $15,000 is a far cry from $43 million, it s still a substantial sum. Mirwais claims he lost nearly $10,000 the night before playing electronic roulette.
Judge Comerford s decision applies to gambling errors, but his interpretation of and the fact that there s no legal requirement for gambling venues to pay out on winnings could set a dangerous precedent.
