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Woman Wins $42 Million Jackpot? Not So Fast
ABC ^ | 30 March 2010 | CLAYTON SANDELL

Posted on 03/30/2010 8:02:27 PM PDT by Fractal Trader

When the lights and bells went off at a slot machine at the Fortune Valley Casino, in Central City, Colo., Louise Chavez thought she had the win of a lifetime -- $42 million.

Louise Chavez was told that her slot machine mistakenly spewed the money. But after the casino claimed the machine malfunctioned, all Chavez got was a few dollars, some free meals and a room for the night.

Colorado gaming officials are investigating the incident, but said it could be nothing more than an unfortunate computer glitch. Chavez may not see a dime.

"I put my money in there," Chavez told "Good Morning America." "Whatever I won, I should get... There are dreams and there are things I'd like to do -- helping my family, helping my kids. That's why I'm disappointed. I just don't know."

The Denver woman can remember all too clearly when she thought her life had changed.

"All of a sudden I saw the light come on on top of the machine," Chavez told "Good Morning America." "I'm like, 'Oh, my God! Oh, my God!' I'd never had this feeling before in my life, never."

The payout she was expecting? $42,949,673. She said she usually makes about $12,000 per year as an in-home personal care provider.

But champagne and caviar dreams quickly evaporated. Casino employees told Chavez the slot machine had malfunctioned.

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
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Malfunction my *ss. If it says $42 million, then it IS $42 million, period.
1 posted on 03/30/2010 8:02:27 PM PDT by Fractal Trader
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To: Fractal Trader

So is it a malfunction when a slot machine shows that you have won nothing?


2 posted on 03/30/2010 8:05:13 PM PDT by Inyo-Mono (Had God not driven man from the Garden of Eden the Sierra Club surely would have.)
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To: Fractal Trader

So, it it malfunctions when I lose, do I get my money back?


3 posted on 03/30/2010 8:05:40 PM PDT by softwarecreator (No more excuses ... we need to take our country back. Now.)
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To: Fractal Trader
People pay their money and they take their chances.
The odds are against you and most of the time the casino keeps your money.
That's what the casino expects.
But we all pay our money and take our chances.
And although the odds are against it, sometimes your machinery malfunctions and you have to pay the customer $42M.
That's why they call it gambling, Mr. Indian Chief.
4 posted on 03/30/2010 8:06:44 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (I do not want the Union to be maintained. I want the US to break up. I support secession.)
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To: Fractal Trader

“an unfortunate computer glitch”.
How fortunate...


5 posted on 03/30/2010 8:06:59 PM PDT by GSP.FAN (These are the times that try men's souls.)
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To: Fractal Trader

Rule one of casinos, the house always wins.

Rule two, see rule one sucker.


6 posted on 03/30/2010 8:07:56 PM PDT by Dr.Zoidberg (Warning: Sarcasm/humor is always engaged. Failure to recognize this may lead to misunderstandings.)
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To: softwarecreator

No, because when you lose, the slot machine is functioning properly.


7 posted on 03/30/2010 8:08:21 PM PDT by AlanD
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To: Fractal Trader

How do they know the machine ‘malfunctioned’ - isnt a slot machine supposed to be random?

I say this casino needs much fewer customers if this is what they are going to do when you win


8 posted on 03/30/2010 8:08:23 PM PDT by Mr. K (This administration IS WEARING OUT MY CAPSLOCK KEY!)
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To: Fractal Trader

I thought there was another case just like this a few years ago, he sued and won, they paid. Malfunction my biden, pay the lady.


9 posted on 03/30/2010 8:08:30 PM PDT by eyeamok
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To: Fractal Trader

Time to find a clever lawyer with experience suing casinos. If she can get to a jury, she will win big.


10 posted on 03/30/2010 8:08:49 PM PDT by iowamark
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To: Fractal Trader

Gaming Commission will automatically side with the Casino. Best possibility is a civil suit.


11 posted on 03/30/2010 8:09:04 PM PDT by Richard Kimball (We're all criminals. They just haven't figured out what some of us have done yet.)
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To: Fractal Trader

She should sue.


12 posted on 03/30/2010 8:09:58 PM PDT by Tzimisce (No thanks. We have enough government already. - The Tick)
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To: GSP.FAN
“an unfortunate computer glitch”.

That's what Toyota claims too!

13 posted on 03/30/2010 8:10:01 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: iowamark

I agree. Going to the Gaming Commission is like reporting voter fraud to ACORN.


14 posted on 03/30/2010 8:10:05 PM PDT by Richard Kimball (We're all criminals. They just haven't figured out what some of us have done yet.)
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To: Fractal Trader

Seems to me this happens too frequently at casinos. And, they get away with it.


15 posted on 03/30/2010 8:10:33 PM PDT by oldteen
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To: Fractal Trader

I’ve got to side with the casino in this case.

The largest slot progressive ever hit was just over $39 million, but that was the posted jackpot. Unless the machine had a posted jackpot of $42 million, it was an error.


16 posted on 03/30/2010 8:11:21 PM PDT by MediaMole
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To: eyeamok

I remember that case, it was in an Indian casino. The same sorry excuse; a malfunction.

I find it funny that whenever the dealer wins in blackjack, can I also call it a malfunction on their part?


17 posted on 03/30/2010 8:12:20 PM PDT by max americana
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To: GSP.FAN
I was thinking more along the lines of Dana Carvey's 'Church Lady': "How conveeeeenient!"
18 posted on 03/30/2010 8:13:36 PM PDT by Don W (I only keep certain folks' numbers in my 'phone so I know NOT to answer when they call)
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To: Richard Kimball
Sad, huh?

The Gaming Commission exists to protect the casino. I think some of the little people are starting to catch on that the deck is stacked against them. The government doesn't care about the citizen. The citizen is a cow to be milked.

And what can the people do about it?

19 posted on 03/30/2010 8:13:39 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (I do not want the Union to be maintained. I want the US to break up. I support secession.)
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To: Fractal Trader

The casino WISHES the thing malfunctioned. That’s just BS. They’ll bribe the gaming people and then she’ll have more people to sue.

After whatever lawyer takes her case and 30% of the winnings, that’s still pretty good. Big Chief I-Don’t-Wanna-Pay is going to have to cough up some big wampum.


20 posted on 03/30/2010 8:15:16 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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