Those gaming machine gremlins are causing jackpot disputes again, this time in South Africa. A GrandWest patron is pursuing Sun International in the Cape High Court for payment of R40 million (US$5.78 million) apparently credited to his smart card. The machine malfunction happened way back in June 2003 but Sun International maintains that the malfunction was obvious as the customer had not played the machine, only inserted the card, the reels did not spin and no winning combination was displayed.

The judge hearing the case in the Cape High Court yesterday gave Abdul Gani Shabudin ten days to amend the particulars of a claim Sun International describes as ‘embarassing and vague’. The company also points out that the machine clearly displays a sign showing that malfunction voids all pays and plays. GrandWest is seeking an order awarding them their costs in the case. Shabudin may have waived all rights to a claim by accepting a meal voucher for his inconvenience and using it a few days later.

Gaming companies may not face legal liabilities when their gaming machines malfunction but they do face bad publicity. A case in point occurred at the newly opened PhiladelphiaPark Casino in Pennsylvania. After initially refusing a jackpot payout to a customer caused by a programme error, the company quickly recognised that the bad publicity generated by the incident would cost them far more in the long term than paying up with a smile and a fanfare of good public relations. Which is not to say that Sun International should consider paying R40 million for an error that was unrelated to play. (E-05.16.07)

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