Could This Woman Be the Unluckiest Woman In New York? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Could This Woman Be the Unluckiest Woman In New York?

She thought she'd hit the jackpot, but she was shocked when she heard the amount.

22
Could This Woman Be the Unluckiest Woman In New York?
wikipedia.org

Could you imagine winning a jackpot of $43 million only to find out the very next day that the slot machine malfunctioned and that you'd really only won around $2.25? That's exactly what happened to Katrina Bookman earlier this year.

In late August of this year, Katrina Bookman went to Resorts World Casino in Jamaica, Queens where she thought she'd hit a massive jackpot of $42,949,672. This would have been the largest slot machine amount won in US history, and Bookman even took a selfie with the slot machine showing the winning amount. Bookman told CNN affiliate WAB, "I can't even describe the feeling. It's like my whole body just got numb." When she returned to the casino the next day to claim her winnings her excitement was quickly squashed. Bookman asked a casino employee "What did I win?" to which the employee replied "You didn't win nothing."

The New York Gamming Commission said that Bookman's machine had malfunctioned and that the machine that Bookman was using, as well as every machine in the casino has a disclaimer "Malfunctions void all pays and plays." As a consolation prize, the casino offered Bookman a steak dinner. "All I could think about was my family," Bookman told WABC. Bookman had grown up in foster care and had raised four children as a single mother.

The casino told WABC that upon finding out about the situation, they immediately pulled the machine off the casino floor to fix it, and it is now up and running again. The Gamming Commission has said that by law they can only award Bookman her actual winnings of $2.25 that was printed by the machine.

Bookman has hired an attorney, Alan Ripka, who released a statement: "They win, and now the house doesn't want to pay out. To me that's unfair." He is fighting for the casino to award the maximum amount allowed by the Sphinx slot machine - $6,500. "The machine takes the money when you lose. It ought to pay it when you win," said Ripka.

Resorts World spokesman, Dan Bank, told CNN, "Upon being notified of the situation, casino personnel were able to determine that the figure displayed on the penny slot was an obvious malfunction, a fact later confirmed by the NY State Gamming 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."

"I should win the maximum. And I feel like I should treat him-the casino employee- to that steak dinner."

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

286414
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

150758
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

262101
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments