Some guy's $260K Bad Beat

[Mr.JR]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/s...-home-headlines

Jackpot win for Sunny Isles man is fleeting; casino says it made mistake

MIAMI -- A struggling actor paraded around a loca
l casino after managers told him he won a nearly $260,000 jackpot later found out he won nothing at all.

Freddy Howard, 53, of Sunny Isles Beach, took part in a free promotional game, the Swipe and Win Progressive jackpot, while at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino near Hollywood early on Aug. 29. Howard swiped his Players Club card and says a hostess and supervisor broke the news: He won $259,945.75.

For three hours, Howard was showered with all the attention he dreamed of. As he tells it, casino workers verified his membership card and identification, had him sign a publicity agreement, even presented him with a giant cardboard check.

And then, managers called him into an empty room.

``They just said, 'You know the jackpot that you won? We're not going to pay it,''' said Howard, who said he goes to the casino five times a week. ``It was like I was in a movie. I couldn't believe it.''

Officials at Hard Rock acknowledge the mistake.

``I'm not sure what caused the error, but officials that night did think initially that the person had won,'' confirmed Gary Bitner, a spokesman for the Seminole Tribe, which runs the casino.

The casino said a verification confirmed the prize had not been won.

``As with many casino jackpots, a verification process occurred. This verification process confirmed that the prize had not been won,'' the casino said in a statement. Seminole Tribal Gaming Commission is reviewing and investigating the patron complaint of the alleged winning.''

The Hard Rock is part of the Seminole reservation and therefore is considered a sovereign nation and not governed by state or local laws. Still, Howard has hired an attorney, Keith Herbert, to pursue the matter.

``Nobody appears to be accountable for what goes on over there,'' Herbert said. ``If it is a mistake, well, then, bite the bullet and pay up.''

All Howard has to show for his fleeting win are a few blurry pictures on his sister's cell phone and a nagging confusion about what occurred.

``If there was no jackpot won,'' he wondered, ``why did they bring me the jackpot check?''

[Vigorish]

Their retarted.

Vig

[NoMeansYes_]

Sue them for $259,945.75

[Low_Card2]

yeah i think he should sue

[Keepitsimple]

lol, he got rolled

[XXXNoahXXX]

"The Hard Rock is part of the Seminole reservation and therefore is considered a sovereign nation and not governed by state or local laws. Still, Howard has hired an attorney, Keith Herbert, to pursue the matter."

Good luck trying to sue an Indian reservation in federal court. Not an easy path.

He'll be lucky if they give him 10k and a free hotel room.

[vhawk01]

LOL INDIANGIVERAMENTS

[Daliman]

This type of thing happens on a pretty consistent basis in Indian Casinos, from what I hear. About every time I hear of a Slot jackpot being a "false jackpot" or whatever, it seems it's a reservation casino.

For the most part, it seem these casinos can do whatever they want, including confiscating your winnings at ANY game if they "suspect you of cheating", then I guess it's some sort of tribal court/elders group that rules in it. Any guesses as to how they will rule?