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Slot Machine with Bad Software Sends Players To Jail

Posted by Zonk on from the can't-you-see-the-code dept.

dcollins writes "Previous discussions here have turned into debates over who is liable for faulty software: the programmers, the publisher, etc. Yahoo has a new option: perhaps the users are criminally liable for using the software. From the AP: 'Prosecutors are considering criminal charges against casino gamblers who won big on a slot machine that had been installed with faulty software ... A decision on whether to bring criminal charges could come in a couple of weeks, said John Colin, chief deputy prosecutor for Harrison County. He said 'criminal intent' may be involved when people play a machine they know is faulty.' Would your average user be able to distinguish 'faulty software' from 'lucky'?"

7 of 647 comments (clear)

  1. Lucky by PingPongBoy · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'd say it's pretty #$@$ lucky to play a slot machine with bad software.

    --
    Know your pads. One time pad: good for cryptography. Two timing pad: where to take your mistress.
  2. I'm just surprised by niceone · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm just surprised that increasing their chances by 10x was enough to give the customers an edge!

    --
    ccalam - acoustic versions of new songs.
  3. That'll teach em to..... by hurfy · · Score: 3, Funny

    convert electronic voting machines into slot machines!

    I suppose if customers didn't even play and cashed out right away they knew and should give it back. Maybe even have to sue a couple. Actual criminal charges is a bit much as thats almost entrapment. I'd ignore anyone that played more than a round or 2 and cashed out as winnings.

    Unless it clearly states everything in dollars, very unlikely as the machine didn't even recognize dollars intially!, they need to leave some room for doubt. Lots of games convert to credits. Someone could assume a typo in the price schedule, etc.

  4. Re:Machines not designed for US currency??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    It was sheckles I think.

  5. Re:Good grief by sleigher · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wait a second..... I play Monopoly all the time and I get bank errors in my favor and I get to keep the money. So explain THAT!

    --
    All points of time and space are connected.
  6. Re:Good grief by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Wait a minute -- I thought slot machine was a game of skill.

    I always look totally blank on purpose when I play the one armed bandit. I don't want it to guess whether I know it's broken.

  7. Re:Good grief by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I found a vending machine once where I put in my money, selected my product and it returned my money AND the product came out (my best guess is that it thought dispensing failed - even though it didn't - and thus returned the money).

    I put the money back in, ordered again, and repeated until I got all of the potato chips it had. :)