Katrina Bookman captured national attention last year when she played a 'Sphinx Slot Machine' at Resorts World Casino in Queens, New York, and it appeared as though she'd won $43 million -- which would have been the largest jackpot ever won on the slots in U.S. history. She excitedly snapped a selfie with the screen, believing her life was forever changed.
But when Bookman came to collect her prize, a casino worker told her she hadn't actually won anything and offered her nothing but a complimentary steak dinner and $2.25.
Bookman's lawyer said she did not accept either the dinner or the $2.25.
Katrina Bookman was already thinking about what she would do with all that money back in August as she took a selfie beside the slot machine that said: Printing Cash Ticket. Katrina Bookman was playing penny slots when the screen indicated she had won a $42.9M payout. But when she tried to collect, the casino told her it was all a big mistake. The most-famous incident recently involves Katrina Bookman and the Resorts World Casino in Queens New York. Bookman was playing a “Sphinx” slot machine at Resorts World in September 2016. She thought that her life was going to change forever when the machine flashed a $43.1 million payout.
At the time, Resorts World spokesman Dan Bank apologized and told CNN that '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.'
The New York State Gaming Commission also said in August that the machine displayed a disclaimer stating, 'Malfunctions void all pays and plays.'
Bookman's attorney Alan Ripka says he has been fighting for months to get the casino to pony up more cash for Bookman, but to no avail. So, on June 14, he filed a lawsuit.
Ripka also says the casino's excuses are 'ridiculous.'
'You can't claim a machine is broken because you want it to be broken. Does that mean it wasn't inspected? Does it mean it wasn't maintained?,' Ripka told CNNMoney. 'And if so, does that mean that people that played there before [Bookman] had zero chance of winning?'
Ripka also said he's asked Resorts World Casino to explain how the machine malfunctioned, but the company did not offer him anything.
The complaint alleges that Resorts World Casino was 'negligent' and did not adequately maintain their lottery equipment. It also posits that Bookman suffered 'mental anguish' as a result of the incident and she sustained a 'significant' monetary setback because she 'lost the chance and/or opportunity to win' on the machine.
The complaint also names video lottery operator Genting New York LLC -- which is Resorts World Casino's parent company -- and slot machine maker International Game Technology as defendants.
Ripkin says he plans to seek at least $43 million in damages.
The casino did not immediately respond to CNNMoney's request for comment regarding the lawsuit.
The suit is similar to an earlier case against an Iowa casino.
The Chicago Tribune reported that a court ruled in favor of Isle Casino Hotelwhen a penny slot machine indicated that a 90-year-old woman won $41 million. The court ruled that 'the game's rules capped jackpots at $10,000 and didn't allow bonuses,' according to the newspaper.
Katrina Bookman was playing penny slots when the screen indicated she had won a $42.9M payout. But when she tried to collect, the casino told her it was all a big mistake.
NEW YORK (AP) — A woman who appeared to win a life-changing $42.9 million jackpot at a New York City casino is threatening to sue after being told the big payout she was shown was simply the result of a malfunction.
Katrina Bookman was playing the penny slot machine at Resorts World Casino in August when it displayed a message that read, 'Printing Cash Ticket. $42,949,642.76.' She even took a selfie next to the screen to celebrate. But when Bookman tried to collect, the casino told her it was all a big mistake and she was only owed the $2.25 balance she had on the machine.
'Machine malfunctions are rare, and we would like to extend our apologies to Ms. Bookman for any inconvenience this may have caused,' the casino said in a statement
The New York State Gaming Commission investigated and said the bogus payout was 'clearly a display malfunction.' The machine was taken out of service, repaired and put back a day later, the commission said.
The machine's maximum payout is $6,500. Resorts World tells The Associated Press that the Gaming Commission told it the casino cannot legally pay Bookman even that amount because a malfunction voids all plays under state law. However, the Gaming Commission told the AP that there are no rules barring Resorts World from offering Bookman money to resolve the situation, even though she didn't win anything.
Resorts World said Bookman printed out a voucher ticket to receive her $2.25 balance on the machine, but her lawyer disputes that.
Alan Ripka sent a letter to the casino demanding it resolve what he describes as 'a terrible situation.' The casino responded that the machine's manufacturer should be held liable, Ripka said. He believes a lawsuit could be Bookman's only option and added that the court can figure out who's at fault.
Katrina Bookman Facebook
Ripka is hoping Resorts World will 'come up with a resolution' to the dispute. He questions whether the broken machine means everyone who used it prior to Bookman should also get their money back.
Katrina Bookman Resultado
'If the machine was broken, does that mean nobody could have ever been a winner?'