Does the Casino Really Pay You When You Hit the Jackpot When Playing Pokies Games?
Last year an unemployed mother of four sued Resorts World Casino in Queens, New York City, after pokies machine indicated she won $43 million but all she got was a steak dinner.
According to Katrina Bookman she had won the life-changing jackpot on the pokies when a message on the monitor said, “Printing Cash Ticket. $43, 949, 672.76.” She took a selfie with her glowing face next to the words.
But that’s when the stunning reversal of fortune began and casino personnel and security escorted her off the floor and told her to return the next day for the decision regarding her jackpot.
When Bookman returned, a casino representative told her she had won nothing because the machine malfunctioned. (A message on all machines states, “malfunctions void all pays and plays.”) In lieu of a lifetime of security, she was offered a steak dinner which she declined.
According to her lawyer the casino should at least dole out the Sphinx machine’s supposed maximum payout, $6,500.
What really happens at the casino when you win a pokie machine game play
Well this is not a new for a casino to reject the winnings of a jackpot win. If you line up the required jackpot paying reel symbols when playing a progressive pokies game or when you are dealt out the winning hand combinations when playing progressive card games or progressive Video Poker games, most games will instantly flash up a message letting you know you have just won the jackpot and this message will then displayed the amount of cash you have won.
The jackpot will then automatically be credited to your casino account, and you will notice that the jackpot meter then gets reset to its seed value.
When this happens most players often find it is something of a major shock, however many players will instantly take a screen shot of the jackpot or will grab a mobile phone or some other such device and take a picture of that once in a life time jackpot win!
A large number of players will still not believe that they have won a large progressive jackpot and will then get in touch with the casinos customer support team to get that win verified. You are able to do this if you just want confirmation of your win and you will often find the Casinos VIP Manager or Casino Host will make contact with you anyway to confirm the jackpot and congratulate you.
The reality of getting paid on your Jackpot winnings
The worst aspect of winning a progressive jackpot at an online casino is the wait until you get paid your winnings into your bank account. Due to the size of cash involved most casinos will prefer to send winnings to a bank account instead of sending them over to a web wallet or any other type of money transfer account as they will be hit with some huge fees and charges!
However, it is worth noting that not all online casinos are going to pay you the entire jackpot win in one payment, as some sites have rules in place which means you can only withdraw a certain amount of winnings each week or each month.
This is why if you mainly play progressive games online then you need to play at a casino site that does not have any maximum cash out limits hidden in their terms and conditions, for the thrill of winning a huge jackpot will soon diminish if you are only going to get paid a few thousand dollars each week or month, and it could actually take the casino years to pay you those winnings if they do have maximum weekly or monthly cash out rules in place!
Casinos pay only after proper verification of winning machine
When a player hits a jackpot worth more than $1 million, casino technicians monitor the pokies machines on computers. A technician confirms where the jackpot hit. The casino technician verifies the jackpot and confirms that it was valid. Casinos won’t pay on a machine that malfunctioned. Also the casino looks if anyone has hacked or tempered with the game play and won with unfair means. It will only pay the jackpot win if the play was fair win.
The casino will not even be involved in a pokies jackpot unless it is $1200. If you win less than that you just have the credits added to your total so that you gamble again.
Also remember that the clearance of winning amount varies from casino to casino so you should read their policy terms before you enter to play.
Also the casino demands certain documents from the winners like their ID proof and valid Social Security number to collect their winnings and a bank account number so the cash can be wired. Winners can choose to take a lump sum payment or monthly payouts, typically spread over 20 years. All this is discussed with the casino staff.
Within 24 hours of hitting a jackpot, all winners automatically receive one-twentieth of their money wired to their bank account. That’s so they have plenty of cash on hand to continue to punter again at the casino if they are thirsty for more wins (remember you might lose too in this hunger for wins)
Once all the paperwork is filed, the casinos finance department process it and wire the money to the winner. Sometimes, a representative delivers a real check.
So what are the winning payment options you can choose
Most casinos give winners two ways to receive their money. The choice you make could have important tax implications. One is the lifetime payout and other is in lump sum. See the difference below
Lifetime payout is a set annual payout for a certain number of years. For IGT, maker of Megabucks, it’s 25 years. On a $33 million jackpot, that means an annual payout of about $1.3 million and an annual tax bill of $525,000. That’s just more than $13.1 million in taxes over the span of the payout.
If you choose Lump Sum winners have 60 to 90 days to decide whether you want a lump sum or lifetime payment. If you opt for a lump sum, you’ll have to deal with a hefty interest rate. That’ll leave you with 60 percent of your jackpot. But don’t forget: you still have to pay the government. From the remaining $19 million, the IRS will demand another 40 percent, leaving you with about $12 million.
So if you are playing at a Microgaming software powered casino however, you are guaranteed to get paid then entire jackpot winning payout in one payment as opposed to small weekly or monthly payments. This is due to Microgaming having very strict rules in place which stipulate that any online casino that uses their software must pay their progressive jackpot winners both quickly and pay them the entire jackpot win when that player requests a withdrawal!
IGT Interactive progressive online jackpot games on the other hand have the same rules in place as their land based progressive games and as such if you do win a progressive jackpot at any casino using their range of games then you are going to get paid your winnings annually.
It is advised by experts to stick to playing at Microgaming powered casinos or any other casino powered by different companies who have solid rules in place that stipulates all progressive jackpot winners can cash out their winnings in one payment, as you will not want the added stress of waiting each week or month for your next winning payout!
Read what you need to understand
You need to pay careful attention when you do intend to play any type of progressive jackpot awarding games online, for there are going to be rules attached to each game offering such a jackpot and it is often the case that you will need to play the game in a certain way to have the jackpot element of the game activated and in play!
Or if you are playing a pokies game for example which boasts an every rising progressive jackpot make sure you take a look at its pay table or the game play help files, and see how the jackpot combination can be formed and if you have to play all of the pokies pay lines and if so then do so or you cannot ever win the progressive jackpot.
Card and table games that offer a progressive jackpot will also usually have some form of side bet option and you will find that to win the jackpot on those types of game it is often required that you place that side bet to have a chance of winning it.
Video Poker games such as Micro gaming’s Jackpot Deuces or Supajax variants have progressive jackpots on offer and once again you need to play them in a certain way to have a chance of winning the jackpot displayed on the jackpot meter and that is by playing five coins per hand and then being dealt out the jackpot awarding hand combination.
Be warned though often you are not allowed to play any type of progressive jackpot paying game with a bonus in your account, so check the rules of any bonus to ensure you can play them before giving them a try or any jackpot you happen to win may just be voided.
Also read the casino policy and terms and conditions regarding the payouts of wins and if you do not find one online or at the casino then better to ask with the casino support help desk or any other casino representative before involving in playing pokies for wins. Finally it is in the hands of casinos whether they wish to pay you your winnings or just make you accept and prove the fact that the pokies machine was really malfunctioned.
