BLACK HAWK, Colo. (CBS4) – A Colorado gambler thought he was a winner, but he may end up with nothing at all.
A jackpot of $31,202.41 was the amount that thrilled Chuck Barry and his wife, believing they had won the “super jackpot.” The couple was playing at a penny-slot game called Cash Spin at the Lady Luck casino in Black Hawk.
READ MORE: Cars Spun Out & Abandoned As Winter Storm Grips Denver Metro Area“I turned right to my wife, and I said, ‘We just hit the super jackpot,’ ” Chuck said. “I’m getting chills right now talking about it.”
That excitement was short-lived, after the casino disputed the payout when a floor manager said there appeared to be a malfunction with the machine.
“I’m an honest person. I have a beautiful family, and I’m blessed, and I deserve that jackpot,” Chuck said.
The Colorado Division of Gaming is conducting a forensic investigation to determine whether or not the machine was truthful on the jackpot, and if Barry is entitled to any of the winnings. If a valid jackpot occurred, the casino is obligated to pay the winner the advertised jackpot amount for that particular game outcome.
READ MORE: Businesses Near Convention Center Eager For Events: 'It's Our Livelihood'“If there’s an award that needs to be paid, it will be paid,” said Cameron Lewis, a spokesperson for the Division of Gaming. “And if there is something else, we need to be able to explain it fully.”
The results of the investigation could take up to a month, and the Barrys have already been waiting for a week. If the patron disagrees with the results, the decision can be appealed to the Gaming Commission.
“This is not fun at all. If this is what a jackpot is all about, I don’t want to win one,” said Tisha Barry, Chuck’s wife.
A spokesperson for Lady Luck told CBS4 that there are disclaimers on all their slot machines, saying that all the machines have electric pieces and are subject to malfunctions.
MORE NEWS: Union Organizing JBS Mass Vaccination Event: 'It's About Time They Are Prioritized'“We didn’t go there to become millionaires,” said Tisha. “But we certainly didn’t go there to get cheated either.”
