Casinos: Even When You Win, You Lose

Stephen Wilkinson thought he had hit the jackpot.

He thought he had hit the jackpot because the screen flashed this in front of him: “Stephen Wilkinson: Congratulations. You are the power player jackpot winner. You’ve won $102,000.”

But, of course, he didn’t win anything. Well, Philadelphia Park Casino gave him comps for two free meals, so he got that, but no 100 large. The system malfunctioned, the casino explained; so, sorry. (Actual quote: “What is in dispute is whether that was valid or not. It was not.”)

Wilkinson says he’s been to Philadelphia Park about 15 times. After the lights went off and Wilkinson briefly “won” his 102k, the machine locked up. After the machine locked up, Wilkinson said casino officials told him it was just a mistake — game over, man. But he wasn’t taking it: “I told him I would have chained myself to that machine; I wouldn’t leave.”

Spoken like a true gambler.

A one-armed bandit proves to be a liar, too [Inquirer]