$62 Million Slot Win? Not So Fast…
On March 26, 2011, an Austrian national named Behar Merlaku got the thrill of a lifetime. According to Austrian state broadcaster ORF, Mr. Merlaku was playing the slots at a Bregenz, Austria casino when the machine showed a payout of almost $43 million euros (approximately $62 million dollars). Unfortunately for Mr. Merlaku, his excitement was fleeting. Casino officials quickly disputed the result, blaming it on a malfunctioning computer chip. Many slot machines and casinos display a warning that any technical malfunctions would void a win.
Not surprisingly, the issue is going to court. Somewhat surprisingly, the casino has also barred Mr. Merlaku from further play at the casino.
Renee Howdeshell
Renee Howdeshell is a founding member of Fulcrum Inquiry, an accounting, finance and economic consulting firm that performs damage analyses for commercial litigation, forensic accountings, royalty & distribution audits, financial investigations, and business valuations. Ms. Howdeshell holds a degree in Finance and Marketing from the University of Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). She has testified as an expert witness in federal court, CA state court and arbitration regarding the results of her work. She can be reached at (213) 787-4112 and her resume is available at www.fulcrum.com.
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