If the max payout on the machine is $6500 then clearly it’s a malfunction, but now it will cost them at least that much to defend against her claim. More importantly, if they can’t prove it was a malfunction based on a demonstrable error in the mechanics or software, it may cost the casino a lot more... in damages awarded and legal costs from inevitable appeals.
This is one of those instances where it’s cheaper to just pay instead of dealing with the lost time and expense of litigation. I feel bad for this woman, the casino should have done the right thing and paid her $6500, signed a release, and moved on.
You just can’t buy bad publicity, you earn it!
Who wants to gamble somewhere, and if, you win, they don’t payout.