$11M Payoff – Just a Case of a Malfunctioning Slot Machine?
When the word “JACKPOT” came rolling on a slots machine, Mary Ann McMahon thought she won more than $11 million at Wildwood Casino. But Mary Ann and his husband Jim were disappointed to find out that they’re not walking away as instant millionaires but would have to go home with nothing after authorities at the Colorado casino claimed that the the slots machine malfunctioned. They won only $1,627.82 and not the $11,000,600.01 displayed in glittering yellow light. And because the machine will be under investigation, she will have to wait a month or so before she can get her more than $1,600 payout.
A case of a malfunctioning slots machine
The McMahons cannot hide their disappointment after they were informed that they didn’t actually hit the $11 million jackpot but would only go home with more than a thousand dollars. Jim McMahon was even quoted saying, “If you do hit a jackpot are they going to come up with another story? It’s a malfunction? It’s not right.” It’s perfectly understandable how the couple would feel after their dreams of a better life were suddenly washed away because of a malfunctioning slots machine.
While playing a Diamond Line slot machine at Wildwood Casino, Tuesday night, Mary Ann hit the jackpot and the figures $1,627.82 first appeared on screen in red light. After this, the machine displayed the words “CURRENT” and showed $11,000,600.01, which could send any slots player to a heart attack. The two figures came flashing in a cycle, and Mary Ann thought she won the $11 million, but it turned out that she was misled. The casino management didn’t give her any confirmation as to what happened but told her instead that the machine will be broken apart to figure out the problem and that she will hear from them in two to three weeks.
The 25-cent slot machine in question is being investigated by the Colorado Division of Gaming for its glitches. According to Kevin Werner, Wildwood Casino General Manager, the $11 million figure is supposed to be the reset value for the progressive machine and not the jackpot itself. The reset value is what the jackpot would be after Mary Ann claims the prize. And since there were incorrect posts, they referred the case to the Division of Gaming to finally clear out the issue on malfunctioning slot machines. Since the case is under investigation, Werner said that the winner cannot make a claim until the issue is settled by the Division of Gaming. He added that they’ll be happy to pay winners what they’ve really won.
The General Manager further clarified that the jackpot hasn’t reached such an amount. The most they’ve paid out is more than $10,000 but not that range.
Malfunctioning machine happening twice in Colorado
Just a few months ago, another slot machine in a Colorado casino displayed a jackpot amount of more than $40 million, but it turned out that the slot machine malfunctioned. The Division of Gaming concluded that the actual winning is nowhere near the multi-million dollar range but a meager $20.18. The incident has happened twice in Colorado in three months.