Man Wins $150,000 Jackpot At Casino But Walks Away Banned And Empty-Handed

The money never hit his bank account.

Damjan

• Published in Community
• October 20, 2024

Gambling is often portrayed as an exciting way to test your luck, with stories of jackpot wins becoming the stuff of legends. For many, the thought of striking it rich keeps them coming back for more.

However, with the potential for huge payouts comes an understanding of the risks involved. Many individuals grapple with gambling addictions, and to protect themselves from financial and emotional turmoil, some choose to sign up for self-exclusion programs.

These programs, meant to safeguard individuals from their impulses, can sometimes lead to unexpected and unfortunate consequences. One such case recently made headlines when a man won a massive $150,000 jackpot at a casino, only to discover that he could not collect his winnings.

The reason? He had banned himself from the casino. Kelley (@casinomassagekelley) shared the story, which seems like something from a movie on TikTok, and it quickly gained traction due to its unbelievable twist.

Kelley, who works at the casino where the incident occurred, recounted the story. The man had been playing the slots when he hit a $150,000 jackpot. Excited and eager to collect his prize, he waited for the casino to process the payout.

However, things quickly took a turn when the staff checked his identification and discovered that the man had previously enrolled in a self-exclusion program. By signing up for this program, the man had effectively banned himself from all casino properties, forfeiting any rights to winnings if he broke the agreement and returned to gambling.

The money never showed up in his bank account.

The program, designed for individuals struggling with gambling addiction, is intended to serve as a deterrent to protect those who feel they are at risk of gambling irresponsibly.

Once someone voluntarily places themselves on the exclusion list, they are no longer allowed to enter the casino or participate in gambling activities, and any winnings they may earn during this time are automatically forfeited.

According to Kelley, when the man’s self-exclusion status was discovered, he was promptly trespassed and did not receive any prize money.

The incident has sparked many reactions online, with many people expressing their shock and disbelief. Some were quick to accuse the casino of acting unfairly.

"That’s the sleaziest thing ever. Casinos will do anything to not pay out. Should have paid that man,"  someone penned.

However, Kelley responded, explaining that the man had willingly signed documents as part of the self-exclusion program. By doing so, he had agreed that any winnings he accumulated while banned would be forfeited.

“If he didn’t [sign the papers], he would have definitely got paid my man,” Kelley clarified.

"Damn dude"

This situation shows how tricky self-exclusion programs can be and how different casinos enforce them. One slot supervisor from another casino explained in the comments that at their casino if someone who has banned themselves is caught gambling, they automatically lose any winnings.

Reversing these bans is usually very difficult and often requires approval from higher-ups, like a tribal council in some cases.

However, some casinos handle it differently. In certain situations, they may still pay out the winnings but warn the person that they could face legal trouble if they return to the casino. The way casinos enforce these programs can vary, even though the basic rules are often similar.

Self-exclusion programs have been around for years to help people who struggle with gambling addiction. In New Jersey, for example, this program started in 2001, allowing people to ban themselves from all Atlantic City casinos voluntarily. In 2013, the program was expanded to include online casinos as well.

When someone signs up for the program, their photo and information are shared with all the casinos involved. They are taken off mailing lists and can't get any credit or free services. If they are caught gambling, they lose any money they win, and they get banned from the casino again.

He ended up banning himself.

For many, these programs are an essential tool to help them avoid gambling. However, as we see in the story of the man who won $150,000, there can be harsh consequences if someone breaks the rules after banning themselves.

In this case, the man lost vast money because he decided to self-exclude. While the outcome may seem harsh to some, once someone has chosen to ban themselves from gambling, re-entering the casino and playing games can come with severe consequences, including the forfeiture of winnings.

Damjan