In a stunning turn of events that only a casino could orchestrate, a New Jersey woman is claiming she hit a $1.2 million jackpot on a progressive slot machine at Bally’s Atlantic City. However, in a twist that surprises absolutely no one, the casino is refusing to pay out.
Ronay Beal, 72, excitedly proclaimed her alleged win on Bally’s Wheel of Fortune slot machine. She did everything right: called over the slot supervisors, basked in the ephemeral glory, and then—like a scene from a dark comedy—was told the machine had malfunctioned. Ah, yes, the classic “Malfunction voids all pays and plays” clause. Isn’t it reassuring to know casinos have their bases covered?
Now, Beal is gearing up to sue Bally’s for the jackpot she firmly believes is hers.
“It went off, says, ‘you’re a winner’ and gold coins popped out,” she told 6 ABC Philadelphia. “This very nice guy says, ‘Oh my God, you hit, you hit!’ He said, ‘Lady, you’re a millionaire.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh my God!’”
The casino staff were quick to burst Beal’s bubble, explaining that the machine had displayed a “reel tilt” error. “When the man came over to talk to me, he said, ‘Lady, get it in your head; you won nothing’,” Beal recounted. But hey, they did offer her a generous $350 as a goodwill gesture—because nothing says “We care” quite like a fraction of the jackpot.
Beal’s attorney, Mike Di Croce, is not amused. He suspects the casino staff might have tampered with the machine before anyone else could inspect it. He plans to file a lawsuit demanding the full jackpot amount plus an additional $1 million for emotional distress. Clearly, Di Croce is banking on more than just lady luck.
A Bally’s spokesperson elegantly passed the buck, stating, “Bally’s has no comment on this incident as we’re only the casino that houses the machine. [Casino tech supplier] IGT handles the payouts and would be best to get a comment from [IGT] at this time.”
In a masterclass of corporate nonchalance, IGT responded, saying it was “cooperating with the investigation of this matter.”
This isn’t the first time a casino’s technical hiccup has rained on a winner’s parade. In 2016, Katrina Bookman, a single mother of four from Queens, New York, experienced a similarly joyous moment at Resorts World New York City. She thought she’d hit a $42,949,672.76 jackpot on an IGT slot machine, only to be told it was a glitch. Her grand prize? A $2.25 payout and a free steak dinner. Because nothing complements crushing disappointment like a ribeye.
However, it’s not always the house that has the last laugh. In 2000, two men, Garrett Griggs and Stephen Livaudais, managed to pull off a victory against IGT and Harrah’s New Orleans over a disputed $1.35 million jackpot. After six long years in court, a Louisiana jury and state appeals court sided with the players, concluding that IGT had failed to prove the malfunction beyond a reasonable doubt.
So, what’s the lesson here? Always read the fine print, and maybe don’t celebrate until the check clears. As for Bally’s, they’ve once again proven that in the casino world, the house doesn’t just win—it rewrites the rules whenever it suits. Ronay Beal might just have to rely on something more reliable than a slot machine’s whim: the American legal system. And we all know how predictably fair that is.
Photo: ABC News
