The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled a grandmother from Illinois cannot collect 41-million-dollar bonus from a Black Hawk County slot machine. Pauline McKee went to the Isle Casino and Hotel in Waterloo in July of 2011 following a family reunion. She sat down next to her daughter and began to play a penny slot machine called Miss Kitty.
McKee, who was then 87, wagered 25 cents on one spin and the screen said she’d won $1.85. A message appeared at the same time that said she’d also won a bonus of 41 million dollars. An investigation by the casino and the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission determined the bonus message was in error, and the rules listed on the machine did not include such a bonus.
The district court threw out McKee’s lawsuit. The Iowa Supreme Court upheld the lower court ruling, saying there was no promise of a bonus given in the rules of the game, so the casino did not break a promise to pay out the bonus.
Here’s the full ruling: Waterloo casino ruling PDF