'I was a winner and I walked out empty handed,' Hoffman said.Ī technical report said the slot machine's computer malfunctioned, and incorrectly made it appear as if Hoffman won more than the machine is able to pay out. Do you understand what I'm telling you? You're not getting any money,'' Hoffman said.Ī technician from the slot machine manufacturer arrived at the casino within the hour and the casino cordoned off the machine. But, soon he was asked to come to an executive conference room, where he says he was told the casino refused to pay.Ī casino employee 'became quite intimidating with me, pointed his finger in my face and said, 'You didn't win. He even got a marriage proposal, Hoffman said. Patrons and casino employees came to congratulate him. Hoffman, a retired Albuquerque city employee, was playing a 'Mystical Mermaid' slot machine on the morning of Aug.
Lawyers told ABC News that gamblers like Hoffman may have little legal recourse against Native American casinos, which sometimes operate beyond the reach of U.S. But, a jury may never decide who is right. The casino says it's not responsible for what it describes as a computer error and says it offered Hoffman the maximum payout of $2,500 for that particular slot machine.
