Las Vegas
Casino tourist wins jackpot – and leaves without realizing it
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He won $229,000 in Las Vegas, but he didn’t notice it because of a slot machine malfunction. Only weeks later did the tourist find out how lucky he was.
That’s what every Las Vegas tourist dreams of: throw a few coins into the machine, it beeps and flashes, and then you’ve actually hit the jackpot. That’s what happened to a man from Arizona in the “Treasure Island Hotel & Casino” on January 8th – except that at first he didn’t notice how lucky he was. It wasn’t until weeks later that Robert Taylor returned home that he had won $229,368 and 52 cents.
The unusual story came about because of a technical defect. “The slot machine had malfunctioned so that Mr. Taylor and the casino staff could not see that a jackpot had been won,” the Nevada Gaming Authority said in a report. “By the time a comprehensive review of the slot machine and communications equipment had been completed and the jackpot win confirmed, Mr. Taylor had already returned to Arizona.”
Elaborate search for the winner
The fact that the man still got his money’s worth is thanks to the investigative meticulousness of the authorities. Because the casino didn’t know who hit the jackpot, the Nevada Gaming Control Board launched an extensive search. Hours of video material from surveillance cameras from various casinos were viewed, witnesses were questioned and electronic payment data evaluated. Even passenger data from the local transport authority and a ridesharing provider were requested. Three weeks after the incident, Taylor was finally identified and informed of his win.
Namesake James Taylor, who led the investigation into the gaming regulator, thanked his agents for their tireless search and for “ensuring that public confidence in the gaming industry remains strong.”
Sources: Guardians / Nevada Gaming Control Board