For a few unforgettable hours, Katrina Bookman believed she had become an overnight millionaire after a slot machine flashed an eye-watering jackpot of $42,949,672. The single mother even stopped to take a celebratory selfie beside the screen, convinced her family's struggles were finally behind them. But when she returned to the casino the next day, she was told the life-changing prize did not exist.
Instead of millions, Bookman was informed that the slot machine had malfunctioned and that the displayed jackpot was invalid under casino rules. The ruling left her entitled to just $2.25, while a complimentary steak dinner became the casino's goodwill gesture. The decision sparked a legal battle and raised questions over what players should receive when a machine appears to promise a fortune before later being declared faulty.
The $43 Million Display
Bookman visited Resorts World Casino in Jamaica, Queens, in late August when she noticed the eye-catching figure appear on the screen of a Sphinx slot machine. The amount, just under $43 million, would have comfortably become the largest slot machine jackpot ever recorded in the United States.
Overwhelmed by the moment, she snapped a photograph beside the machine before leaving the casino. Speaking later about the experience, she admitted she could barely process what had happened.
A single mother put 40 cents into a slot machine at a New York casino and won $43 MILLION. The casino offered her a steak dinner and $2.25 instead. A judge sided with the casino. She walked away with nothing.
— Aisar (@aisarcore) July 6, 2026
– Katrina Bookman grew up in foster care.
– She was homeless as a… pic.twitter.com/XA1k8QhDQb
'I can't even describe the feeling. It's like my whole body just got numb', she recalled. Staff reportedly asked her to return the following day while they confirmed the result, leaving her to spend the night believing she had secured an extraordinary fortune.
The News That Changed Everything
When Bookman returned, the conversation was far different from what she had imagined. She said she asked casino staff what she had won, only to be told, 'You didn't win nothing'. Instead of confirming the jackpot, officials explained that the slot machine had malfunctioned. According to the New York State Gaming Commission, the display showing nearly $43 million was the result of a technical error rather than a legitimate win.
Every slot machine at the casino carries a notice stating that 'malfunctions void all pays and plays', meaning incorrect payouts caused by faults are legally invalid. The gaming commission also confirmed the machine was removed from the gaming floor immediately after the incident, repaired, and later returned to service.
A Steak Dinner Instead of Millions
Adding to Bookman's disappointment, the casino reportedly offered her a complimentary steak dinner after explaining the situation. Raised in foster care before becoming homeless as a teenager, she worked hard to raise four children on her own.
During the brief period when she believed she had won the jackpot, she had already imagined how the money could transform not only her family's future but also her local community. She planned to buy a barber shop for her son and donate part of the money to help others. 'I kept thinking about my family', she said, becoming emotional as she reflected on how quickly her dream disappeared.
The Casino's Explanation
Casino representatives insisted they followed gaming regulations. A spokesperson explained that staff quickly identified the displayed jackpot as an obvious machine malfunction, a finding later confirmed by state regulators. They apologised for the inconvenience and said Bookman was offered the correct amount shown on the printed ticket produced by the machine.
That amount was just $2.25. Officials also explained that casinos cannot simply choose to award large sums outside gaming rules. Because gambling revenue contributes to New York's education fund, payouts must follow strict legal requirements. The gaming commission said that under state law, Bookman was only entitled to receive her actual winnings, not the amount displayed during the malfunction.
The Legal Battle Continues
Her lawyer, Alan Ripka, argued that if the machine accepts players' money when they lose, it should also honour winnings when it displays a jackpot. Although the casino says the maximum legitimate payout on the Sphinx machine is $6,500, regulators maintain that even this cannot legally be awarded because no valid jackpot occurred. Ripka has pushed for Bookman to receive at least that maximum amount rather than the $2.25 printed on the ticket.
Bookman has also indicated she intends to take legal action against the casino. While she joked that she would happily buy casino staff a steak dinner if she received the maximum payout, she made it clear she has little interest in accepting the complimentary meal that replaced what she believed was a $43 million fortune.
