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Malfunction Costs Couple $11 Million Slot Machine Jackpot
ainandil writes "Engineering mistakes, while frustrating, seldom definitively alter the end user's life. Not so in Cripple Creek, Colorado — MaryAnn and Jim McMahon thought their money troubles were over when they hit an $11 million jackpot at a casino Tuesday. Before paying the jackpot, the Wildwood Casino turned the machine over to the Colorado Gaming Division for inspection. A glitch was found, aha! The Wildwood Casino blamed a slot machine malfunction for the $11 million jackpot. Total actually won by the McMahons? $1,627.82."
It turns out slashdot submissions are handled by the same slot machine code.
Why would I be angry at winning 5.5 billion dollars?
They're inspected regularly, which is approximately how often the players lose.
Yeah, but the people who sue casinos are probably willing to take that bet.
Don't trust a bull's horn, a doberman's tooth, a runaway horse or me.
I have this system. If the first lawsuit fails, I sue again for twice as much. Then if that fails ...
I can tell you clearly how to identify when the machine is malfunctioning. In fact, it rings bells, throws up warning lights and generally behaves quite conversely to normal operation.
ie, when a slot machine is pouring money on the floor it is quite clearly broken. Seriously, why would they put all of those lights on there.
"You should always go to other people's funerals; otherwise, they won't come to yours." -- Yogi Berra
>> "malfunction voids play"
It should say that on electronic voting machines too.