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Jan 25, 2007 7:09 am US/Eastern
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Casino: $102,000 Jackpot A Mistake
BENSALEM (CBS3/AP) ―
Stephen Wilkinson was feeding 50 cents a pull into a slot machine at a new Pennsylvania casino when the machine lit up and started blaring music.
An on-screen message told Wilkinson, by name, that he had won $102,000 in a power play jackpot. The woman next to him screamed with excitement.
But Wilkinson's six-figure payday was short-lived. Casino officials soon informed the retired carpenter that the message was sent in error.
"They offered me two comps for the buffet," said a deflated Wilkinson, who lives in Feasterville.
Wilkinson suffered his reversal of fortune on Monday, less than a month after 2,100 slot machines went into operation at Philadelphia Park, a racetrack just outside Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Park spokesman Andrew Becker confirmed that Wilkinson had received the message on a Wheel of Fortune slot machine.
Wilkinson's name appeared in the message because he was using a casino-issued players card to track his bets.
"It was just an error in the communication system, an unfortunate one, I might add," Becker said.
He noted that all machines carry a disclaimer telling players that machine malfunctions void all pays and plays. But he acknowledged that the mistake appears to have been in the casino's computerized in-house communications system, not in the machine.
Wilkinson, who said he had visited the casino about 15 times, has filed a complaint with Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
"If this is a violation of internal controls, they (the casino) will be heavily fined and sanctioned," board spokesman Doug Harbach said.
"This is an unfortunate incident...to date Philadelphia Park has paid out $7.7 million dollars in handpaid jackpots worth $1,200 dollars or more without any incidents," said Vice President of Marketing Darlene Monzo.
Wilkinson said he would just like to see the money. "I like to see them make right, I like to see them give me the money that they said they owe me…I know they're saying it's a mistake but I think it was their mistake."
Philadelphia Park is one of three slots casinos that have opened recently in Pennsylvania. Eight more are scheduled to open by next year.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)