Woman who won $8.5m jackpot at casino is denied her winnings because
managers claim the slot machine ‘malfunctioned’
For five minutes, she was a multi-millionaire!
Veronica Castillo, who is 42 and from Portland, Oregon thought she had struck it
lucky after hitting an $8 million jackpot.
The loan officer was playing alongside her mother on the slots at Lucky Eagle
Casino in Rochester, Washington last weekend, when she put $100 in the machine
and spun the digital wheels.
The machine declared her to be a winner but all she ended up getting was a
measly $80 after staff at the casino say the winning payout was in fact an error.
Veronica Castillo thought she hit the $8 million jackpot at a Lucky Eagle Casino
slot machine, but got no money
NOT a winner! Veronica couldn’t believe when what she thought was her $8.5
million slot machine win showed up on the screen. Lucky Eagle Casino told her
the machine malfunctioned when it displayed that amount
Hopes dashed: Ms Castillo was a millionaire for about five minutes. Casino
bosses then told her there was no jackpot, that the machine malfunctioned. She
actually won about $80
‘l was very excited and happy,’ she told KOIN, ‘Then, I couldn’t believe it.’
The casino staff came over and told her the machine had made an error and
malfunctioned.
‘ They shut off the machine, took it away, printed out a ticket and gave me $80.’
The casino machines have a sticker that says a malfunction of the machine voids
all pays and plays.
‘To me, it’s cheating, may even be fraudulent,’ Ms. Castillo said.
Woman who lost $8m jackpot because of malfunction speaks out
Impossible maths: Lucky Eagle Casino said the machine Castillo was playing only
offered a maximum jackpot of $20,000, so an $8.5 million-win would have been
impossible.
Show her the money! The loan officer is getting an attorney. She said she’d like
the prize money, but more than that she wants this not to happen to other
peopleAwareness: ‘What I expect at the very least, is to create awareness about
how the casinos work, when the players get the big winnings!’ she wrote on her
Facebook page
‘My first thought was, how many people has this happened to? They think they’ve
won, then go away empty-handed.’
Casino CEO John Setterstrom, who has been with the casino since it opened in
1995 said such an occurrence has never happened before and he will be looking
for answers as to how such a mistake was able to occur.
The Casino has put out a complicated and convoluted statement as to what
happened:
Rocket Gaming Systems, the machine manufacturer, is in the process of
conducting a forensic investigation to determine the cause of the display
malfunction that occurred on the machine Ms. Castillo was playing.
Fail: She was playing a video game called Jurassic Riches, when her balance
started climbing with a win. It didn’t stop until it was more than $8.5 million. The
company that built the gaming machine is investigating
Panic stations: Managers at the casino were called over when the anomalous
amount appeared on the screen
Computer says no! Lucky Eagle Casino issued a press release later Friday that
said the machine with the “display malfunction” was taken off of the floor and was
being looked at by the manufacturer
‘Rocket has not yet been able to determine how the error occurred although it is
absolutely clear that the gaming machine played by Ms. Castillo experienced a
display malfunction: This machine offers a maximum jackpot of $20,000 if a
maximum bet is placed on all lines. The maximum jackpot that Ms. Castillo could
have won based on the number of lines and credits she was betting is $6,000’
‘We deeply regret that Ms. Castillo temporarily experienced an incorrect credit
display while the machine began its process of metering down after the display
malfunction, and have offered her a weekend stay in one of our suites as our
guest, as well as dining at the property and free play included,’ said Jospeh
Dupuis from the Casino.
Ms. Castillo, meanwhile, is looking to get an attorney. On her Facebook page she
wrote: ‘What I expect at the very least, is to create awareness about how the
casinos work, when the players get the big winnings!’
Casino Denies Woman’s $8.5 Million Win, Then Elon Musk Gave Them Their
Biggest Regret
Veronica Castillo, who is 42 from Portland, could hardly believe her eyes when
she hit an $8.5 million jackpot at the Lucky Eagle Casino. Her modest weekend
getaway with her best friend Melissa turned into a moment of pure elation, only to
come crashing down when the casino claimed the win was due to a machine
malfunction. The casino management, citing a disclaimer on the machine, offered
Lucy a mere $80 and a free dinner as compensation, leaving her heartbroken and
humiliated.
Veronica’s story might have ended there, but fate had other plans. Elon Musk, the
billionaire entrepreneur, happened to be at the casino that weekend. He had
witnessed the events and the crushing disappointment Veronica endured. Known
for his bold decisions, Musk decided to take a stand. After a brief and intense
discussion with the casino manager, Elon abruptly cut his stay short and vowed
never to return, a decision that sent shockwaves through the establishment.
The billionaire’s departure wasn’t just a personal choice—it had significant
financial consequences for the casino. Musk’s visits attracted high-profile
clientele and substantial revenue. Losing him as a patron led to a decline in
bookings and tarnished the casino’s reputation, as whispers of Veronica’s denied
jackpot spread among regulars and potential customers.
But the story doesn’t end with the casino’s regret. The day after Musk’s dramatic
exit, Veronica received an unexpected knock on her hotel room door. One of
Musk’s assistants handed her an envelope containing a handwritten note and a
check for the exact amount of her denied jackpot: $8.5 million. The note read,
“Veronica, I believe your luck is about to change. Best wishes, Elon.”
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Veronica vowed to use the money wisely. She paid
off her mother’s medical bills, secured a stable home, and invested in a brighter
future. Musk’s gesture not only transformed Lucy’s life but also served as a
reminder of the importance of fairness and empathy.
This act of generosity turned the casino’s unjust decision into one of their
greatest regrets, proving that even in moments of despair, kindness can rewrite
the story.
