March 28, 2010

How NOT to do it - Casino payouts

A perfect case of piss-poor management and potentially really bad programming. From the online gaming site USAPlayers News:
Alleged Jackpot Error Turns $42M Could Become Nothing
Louise Chavez thought she would be the next big winner in the Fortune Valley Casino of Central Casino. Chavez had been under the impression that, in a low stakes slot game, she had managed to win $42 million dollars from her game. Unfortunately, a problem had arisen from this fortuitous spin of the reels.

Chavez had, according to recent reports, been denied her pay out under the pretext that it was a malfunctioning slot. A casino attendant had called over the Director of Marketing, who stated that random numbers had begun to display across the slot game.

The Division of Gaming is set to take over the case and launch a full scale investigation. The machine’s software will be analyzed, though Chavez could walk away with nothing at all. According to KDVR Denver, Chavez is not sure what her next action will be, though she has stated that she will not give up the case.

“I played the game, I put my money into the machine. Whether it’s 42 million, 42 thousand, or 4 thousand, I should get what the machine said,” stated Chavez.

A similar case had taken place in Florida, where a man thought he would be a million dollar winner. Unfortunately, this slot machine was also malfunctioning. The Florida man had managed to get the casino to settle out of court, however. The amount of the settlement was undisclosed.

Unlike land based casinos, the most trusted USA casinos will never encounter such problems as this. Each online casino is backed by some of the most powerful pieces of software ever written. No malfunction could ever lead to a failed win when the victory is rightfully the player’s.
Where I see a problem is from the software side. Slot machines these days are all software and if I was programming something as potentially sensitive as this, if I detected an issue -- either hardware or software -- I would shut down and turn the lights and display off. There would be several CPUs monitoring each other for errors and if something did manifest, I would not display $42,000,000.00 and sound off bells and whistles. From Denver station FOX31-KDVR:
Casino says woman's $42M jackpot was an error
Louise Chavez thought she had won $42 million dollars. Turns out lady luck was just teasing her.

"People were coming up to me saying I won $42,000,000, or at least $42,000" says Chavez, who was playing penny slots at Fortune Valley Casino in Central City. "Lights were flashing, it sounded like a fire truck, the screen said 'see attendant.'"

When the attendant arrived, Chavez was told the machine had malfunctioned and she would not receive any payment. "They didn't tell me why."

The casino gave her a room for the night, bought her breakfast and gave her $23 dollars, the amount she says she had put into the machine.

The Director of Marketing for Fortune Valley says random numbers appeared on the screen.
I call bullshit. And there is this to back it up -- from Google/Associated Press:
Ind., Colo. casino owner files bankruptcy
The company that owns Indiana's Hoosier Park casino and horse track is putting its Colorado casino up for sale as it works to revamp its payments on at least $574 million in debt under its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Centaur LLC said normal operations would continue at Hoosier Park and Fortune Valley Hotel & Casino in Central City, Colo., despite the filing. The Indianapolis-based company said it would also continue work on its planned Valley View Downs & Casino project near New Castle, Pa.

A bankruptcy filing had been seen as possible since Centaur in October missed a $13.4 million payment due on its debt. The company borrowed heavily to pay for a $250 million state license fee and $150 million in upgrades to open the Hoosier Park casino in 2008.
If I was the Casino manager, I would immediately apologize and offer her $42,000. It's like they were getting financial hassles from the top management and they figured they could make this penny slot winner go away. Scum-sucking bastards... Posted by DaveH at March 28, 2010 4:37 PM | TrackBack