Indiana gambler brought crashing down after huge jackpot turns out to be glitch

It was a classic American story of rise and fall. $28 million dollars evaporated, with two steak dinners sitting in its place. An Indiana woman sat down at a penny slot machine at the Blue Chip Casino and a few minutes later $28,000,000 flashed across the screen. Playing penny slots is usually not viewed as a lucrative casino strategy, so the payout was shocking.

A floor attendant saw the screen and immediately called for the supervisor, instructing player Jennifer Carmin of Hobart, Indiana not to touch the machine. To her crushing disappointment, the casino staff investigated the issue and regretfully informed her that the machine had suffered a glitch. Rather than pay out the $28 million, Carmin was given certificates for two steak dinners.

Never get your hopes up

An independent investigation by a third-party confirmed the casino’s position. The steaks are small consolation for Carmin, who told reporters: “I don’t even like steak… I don’t think that’s funny.” While we should all feel a bit of sympathy for someone who almost caught a taste of real wealth, the cold truth is she should have known better.

Penny slots never give out large payouts (that’s why they are “penny” slots). In addition, disclaimers are pasted all over slot machines allowing casinos to void payouts in case of a malfunction. Maybe Carmin should try her luck in mobile slots. The payouts are higher and glitches are less likely.