In 2017, Katrina Bookman was at Resorts World Casino in Jamaica, Queens, playing the slots, when she thought she had hit the jackpot of a lifetime – a staggering $42,949,672.
She was overjoyed and even took a selfie with the slot machine to immortalize the moment.
Expecting her life to change forever, Bookman was asked by the casino to return the next day to claim her winnings. However, her excitement quickly turned to shock when an employee informed her that she hadn’t won anything substantial.
According to the New York State Gaming Commission, the machine had malfunctioned, and in reality, Bookman had won a mere $2.25. The casino pointed to the disclaimer on the machine stating that “malfunctions void all pays and plays,” legally limiting the payout to the correct amount won.
As a gesture of goodwill, the casino offered Bookman a complimentary steak dinner, which was hardly consolation for someone who believed they had hit a life-changing jackpot.
Resorts World’s spokesperson, Dan Bank, clarified the situation, stating, “Upon being notified of the situation, casino personnel were able to determine that the figure displayed on the penny slot was the result of an obvious malfunction – a fact later confirmed by the New York State Gaming Commission. After explaining the circumstances to Ms. Bookman, we offered to pay her the correct amount that was shown on the printed ticket. Machine malfunctions are rare, and we would like to extend our apologies to Ms. Bookman for any inconvenience this may have caused.”
However, the disappointment led Bookman to file a lawsuit the following year, challenging the casino’s claims. Her lawyer, Alan Ripka, called the casino’s defense “ridiculous,” questioning whether the machine was properly inspected and maintained. He wondered if other players before Bookman had faced a similar fate, receiving minimal payouts despite believing they had won big.
The lawsuit was ultimately resolved through an out-of-court settlement.
For Bookman, who grew up in foster care and raised four children as a single mother, the experience was heart-wrenching. She remarked, “All I could think about was my family” after realizing her dreams of a better life had been dashed.
Yikes…
