Casino Nixes $57 million slot payout, offers man $100 and free meal instead

[Deberg_1990]

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news...d-swiss-to-sue



Sorry, but that $57 million you thought you won at the slots? Computer error.

That was the message that a casino in Bregenz, Austria, gave to Behar Merlaku, 26, after he got a really exciting return on a slot machine, the UK's Daily Mail reported.


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Merlaku got only four of the slot machine's five required matches, but a winning bell went off and a flashing screen told him he had won the big jackpot on March 26, the Daily Mail said. But when the Swiss man tried to claim the prize, the casino operators blamed a software error and offered him $100 and a meal instead.

Now his lawyers say he's entitled to the huge prize and he plans to sue Casinos Austria AG; a court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 10. The Daily Mail said it's thought that such a civil action would be the largest of its kind anywhere in the world and the case is being keenly watched by gaming operators.

His lawyers say that when he refused the casino's offer, he was banned from the establishment. They say that the company said the slot machine manufacturer was responsible and cited Austrian law that jackpots cannot normally be higher than two million euros, the Daily Mail reported.

[htismaqe]

Casinos are legalized robbery. Another vehicle for the government bureaucrats to line their pockets at our expense.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Casinos are legalized robbery. Another vehicle for the government bureaucrats to line their pockets at our expense.

When I was in college I lived in Missouri, and they had a vote to bring in the lottery. I thought, "Why the heck not? Sounds fun."

Now I look at the things that like that where the government says it's illegal for everyone but them, and I recognize that it's just a big ol' dump truck full of hypocrisy and power abuse. Voting for the government to get involved in gambling was a mistake.

I am, however, interested in seeing how they eventually manage government-only brothels, because I'm sure that's next.

[Gonzo]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Casinos are legalized robbery. Another vehicle for the government bureaucrats to line their pockets at our expense.

Not if you have a "system."

You see, I only play the nickle slots on Tuesday after a 70+ year old woman has been playing on the machine I intend to use. When you pull the handle, you have to pause mid pull and wink twice.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

When I was in college I lived in Missouri, and they had a vote to bring in the lottery. I thought, "Why the heck not? Sounds fun."

Now I look at the things that like that where the government says it's illegal for everyone but them, and I recognize that it's just a big ol' dump truck full of hypocrisy and power abuse. Voting for the government to get involved in gambling was a mistake.

I am, however, interested in seeing how they eventually manage government-only brothels, because I'm sure that's next.

But Casino money is for the Schools!!

[Brock]

Casinos are a fun waste of time and money.

[MoreLemonPledge]

What you don't realize is that the government WANTS him to win that so they can tax it. If the combination had been 5/5 with no bells or lights, he would have been paid. Trust me. Just a shitty situation all the way around.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

When I was in college I lived in Missouri, and they had a vote to bring in the lottery. I thought, "Why the heck not? Sounds fun."

Now I look at the things that like that where the government says it's illegal for everyone but them, and I recognize that it's just a big ol' dump truck full of hypocrisy and power abuse. Voting for the government to get involved in gambling was a mistake.

I am, however, interested in seeing how they eventually manage government-only brothels, because I'm sure that's next.

In this state it's illegal to smoke in any building that's not a private residence.

Or a casino...

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

But Casino money is for the Schools!!

It was almost comical a few years back here in Colorado. Some vote came up for a tax increase that was "to be devoted to highways and schools". (Technically, it was the continuation of a temporary tax that was expiring, but same thing.)

I didn't vote for it, but here in Denver you could tax anything and it would pass. You could propose a tax on tax payments to be used for political campaigns to further increase taxes on tax payment taxes and it would pass.

So of course this passed. And I think it was about a week past the election when the governor said, "Okay, this is going to highways and schools. And now we're going to cut the base budgets for highways and schools by a remarkably similar amount and use that extra money however we want."

Honest to god, I have no idea how any person with intelligence votes for a new tax in Colorado or anywhere else.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

In this state it's illegal to smoke in any building that's not a private residence.

Or a casino...

Heh-heh.

I wonder if the government will ever come up with a thug service. Pay them $35 and a 40 oz. can of beer and they'll go beat someone up for you. It's illegal to do that in the private sector, but hey, if we do it here at county headquarters the money will go to schools.

[htismaqe]

I read somewhere that when you factor in the hidden costs of casinos, like government-run rehab programs, the increase in subsidy payments to cover gambling losses, etc. that casinos actually pull FOUR TIMES the amount of money out of the local/state economy as they put in in taxes.

[Hydrae]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

In this state it's illegal to smoke in any building that's not a private residence.

Or a casino...

and Bingo halls here in Austin.

[Fish]

Casino gambling is a tax on people who are really really bad at math...

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I didn't vote for it,

Why do you hate the children so much? : )

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I read somewhere that when you factor in the hidden costs of casinos, like government-run rehab programs, the increase in subsidy payments to cover gambling losses, etc. that casinos actually pull FOUR TIMES the amount of money out of the local/state economy as they put in in taxes.

That's interesting. A little surprising given the amount of gross money they produce, but ... shrug.

Or maybe I'm thinking of lottery money. But I think casinos produce a lot, too.