Imperial Palace Wins Court Decision

Florida Eash of Biloxi thought she had just become the next member of the millionaire club. She was playing the slots at the Imperial Palace of Mississippi, when the slots that she was playing showed that she had won $1 million. However, the casino was quick to point out that it was a computer malfunction and that the particular game that she was playing did not pay out higher than $8,000.

It turns out that the slots are owned by International Game Technology and leased to the casino. Somewhere in there, an IGT technician programmed the slots the wrong way, and therefore it showed a higher payout than what it should have been.

Eash disagreed with the casino and took her case to the Mississippi Gaming Commission who unanimously agreed with her. Experts say it was probably because the slots game did not malfunction, it was programmed that way. It is clearly stated on the slots that in case of computer malfunction that they do not have to pay, but this was not the case.

The casino appealed the decision to the Harrison County Circuit Court, who sided with the casino. They said that as a player Eash sat down in front of the slots and saw what it paid out. They said that she could not expect to win more than what was advertised. They said that whatever the slot reads is what it pays out, and no more than that can be collected.

This was unusual for a court to overturn the Gaming Commission, so the casino was very happy with the decision. They say that they felt a wrong was righted. Eash now has to decide if she is going to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court or take the $8,000.