Posted on 11/07/2009 10:29:30 AM PST by LibWhacker
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A Daytona Beach man thought he hit the jackpot. He thought he won $166 million on a slot machine at the very popular Hard Rock Hotel and Casino near I-4 in Tampa.
However, as soon as the crowds departed, the celebration ended. The casino told him that he didn't win a thing. The casino claims the slot machine malfunctioned.
Bill Seebeck, who lives on a houseboat, thought his ship had come in. His blood pressure skyrocketed and said he was screaming and celebrating. But then casino workers told him there was a malfunction and wanted him to agree to that in his report, even though they say they're still not done investigating.
Seebeck had been playing the Bally Ultimate Party Spin slot machine for about a half hour and, at $4 a game, he had spent about $80. When bells started ringing and the numbers flashed in front of him, he'd won a cash bonus of $166,666,666.65.
“$166,666,666.65. I was screaming ... heart was beating really fast,” he said.
Casino managers came over and roped off the machine. Seebeck spent an hour deciding what he'd do with his millions. Then came the adrenaline crash.
The casino told him the Ultimate Party Spin had spun out of control, malfunctioned and he wouldn’t get any money for a malfunction. They wanted him to agree in writing, but he wouldn't.
“They make you think you won and everyone around you that you won, and then later, ‘It's probably a malfunction,’” he said.
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino spokesman told Eyewitness News Monday that the slot machine malfunctioned because its top prize is $99,000. Seebeck was not even given that amount.
“I was told, ’No,’ even though the Seminole Gaming Commission has no idea how the machine malfunctioned,” he explained.
The casino spokesman also said a malfunction is a no-win, but could not say whether past players in malfunction cases were paid.
“I feel let down and ripped off, I sure do,” he said.
“Are you ever going back there?” WFTV reporter Kathi Belich asked.
“No,” Seebeck replied.
Seebeck says he's looking for a lawyer to help him through the maze of federal Indian gaming regulations. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino said investigators from Bally, the software company, and the Seminole Gaming Commission are headed to Tampa to look for the cause of the malfunction.
What a racket.
max payout is $99K and they wouldn;t even pay that..
Give him the money or lose more than that in lost business.
It is my understanding that Indian owned casinos are under different laws and can pretty much do as they please.
They wouldn’t even have to claim a “malfunctioning machine.”
THey could just say no money for you, if they wanted to.
He was WISE not to sign any papers.
Obama stated that even though he did not win, he is going to tax him on the $166M anyway.
LOL. Good one.
Cheep(sic) shot, LOL
There have been several stories about “malfunctioning” slots ... whenever someone wins big, well the machine malfunctioned.
Slot and Video Poker machines all are clearly labeled with a notation that a malfunction voids all plays.
If the machine payed out a jackpot that it couldn’t possibly award (like a million dollars for a machine calibrated to pay out a maximum of $100k, for example), it’s clearly a malfunction, and all plays are voided.
In that situation I would be excited for a second and then it would be clear, a machine that can only pay a maximum of $100k must be malfunctioning if it shows an award of $1 million (or whatever). The machine is clearly labeled, “Malfunction Voids All Payouts.”
Stinks to be this guy, though. To go from being worth a pretax $166.7 million to your status quo can’t be a good feeling.
Yeah? Well, see you in court.
Probably true.
You don't know any slot machine addicts do you... LOL!
If anything, their business will increase!
Much like winning the Nobel for “Intentions”, being taxed on $166 is for “Unintended” windfall.
I’ll bet good money that this man will eventually be awarded the max. amount (99K). On the other hand, if I’m wrong and lose the bet, I probably won’t pay it.
So I guess than that loses are malfunctions also?
BS. In a modern slot, the result is determined by a random number generator programed into a microchip. It continously generates numbers millions of times a minute, each representing a result. The instant you pull the lever or push the button the generator stops, and that's the result. Any wheels, (or video displays of such) are just for show. If there was a malfunction, it was due to a bad chip, not anything to do with having "sput out of control".
An Indian Owned Harrah’s here in AZ did the same thing. It was such a PR disaster that the manager ended up committing suicide. It was awful. Pay it out. If that’s the case, they owe EVERYONE who played that machine...the lawsuits would be ridiculous. PAY IT. It’ll be cheaper in the long run.
They are really sad places. Mostly just old, lonely addicts; chain smoking and pissing away their retirements. At least in Vegas you get a little entertainment for your money.
Refund the guy’s 25 cents and call it even. :)
A well deserved lawsuit coming.
I throw dice. In five years I’m still ahead in casino money. And, boy is it fun to see thousands of dollars on the table (not mine) and I’m throwing the bones.
I never understood slots.....boring.
They don’t even have to obey standard fire safety regulations....makes you wonder about construction code as well.
That happens quite often in PA. “I won!!!!” Oh . Gee Whiz. The machine wasn’t ready to give out a jackpot. “Sorry”.
you are 1rudeboy...at least give him a free buffet
Sounds eerily similar to the United States Government
I don't recall if this was an isolated incident or if there were a rash of "malfunctions" in order to refuse to pay out large winnings.
-PJ
Let’s see, this thing was working for approximately $79, had a big pot, yet when it hits on a win, the cause is a malfunction? Uhm, makes one wonder what is really going on here, naw…could not be dishonesty, corruption or criminality of big business? I guess the I.R.S. should step in and do a bit of a full audit for the past 5 to 10 years; 166M is a lot of lost revenue.
REALLY? Did everyone believe that story?
Jackpot malfunctions are not exactly common, but they are not uncommon, either.
http://www.readybetgo.com/news/gambling/jackpot-malfunctions-2564.html
All the Indian casinos welch on any bets they don’t want to pay on. The Sandia Casino near Albuquerque did the same thing. The Isleta’s casino and hotel is becoming a Hard Rock. Indians don’t know anything about running casinos, but the old school Nevada guys do.
“…committing suicide…” you say, Arizona, Indians and Harrah’s you say.
Who did the investigation U.S. Park Police?
Can you imagine trying that at the racetrack? "Oh, sorry. That horse wasn't supposed to win this time, so we're not paying out your ticket."
Nobody will believe that a machine was wasn't ready to pay out, if it is billed as a game of chance. If it paid out, it was ready, whether you intended it to or not.
Otherwise, why not just have a "game" where a person puts their dollar on a table and an accountant consults his actuarial table to tell you whether he's ready to pay you or not?
-PJ
I got a stupid question.....
How does a machine that only gives out $99,000 roll all the way up 166 million dollars or rather $166,666,666?
Same thing happened just after the casinos opened in Pennsylvania. There was so much bad publicity that the casino ended up paying the money.
I’ve seen casinos do this before on a big win. Should be the law that unless the player made the machine malfunction then the casino is liable for a payout. If the max on the machine is less than the 166 mil then he should at least get the max payout.
So if it malfunctions and doesn’t pay when it should, do they pay? Of course not. Classic heads they win, tails you lose garbage.
Sue the bastards.
You don’t know gamblers.
They could care less if some poor sap didn’t win the big one because they just might be that guy who does.
Even if he gets the $99,000, after his lawyer and the gov’t get through with him, it’ll hardly be worth the effort.
Casinos don’t make tons of money by paying a lot out. Of course it’s all rigged. Where do you think they get the money to build those fancy places? Not by paying out winners.
Seebeck had been playing the Bally Ultimate Party Spin ObamaPelosi slot machine for about a half hour...
The casino explained that the slot machine was functioning normal by making you think you get one thing but absolutely screwing you in the end with nothing. The slot machine was purchased through the Porkulus legislation earlier in the year.
Don't be such a cheapskate. Throw in a drink on the house as well.
Gambling is for losers.
LOL!
LOL! I was wondering what the first post would say, and it was very good.
I would settle for $5 million.
Who did the investigation U.S. Park Police?
Mere coincidence, I am sure, that Obama was speaking at the “Tribal Nations Conference” on Thursday, 11/05/09, right? After all, he is apologizing to one and all about America’s sins so he probably whispered to the attendees; “Go ahead and screw the rest of the country and do it now before I get started on the Slavery Reparations. After that there won’t be ANYTHING left in the till!”
Simple, you program machine to display way high number instead of appropriate win, claim malfunction - casino wins just in case jackpot should come up with sucker player.
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