Talk about a win-lose situation. A 69-year-old New Jersey woman learned the hard way this past weekend that “what happens in Vegas” stays in Vegas—but what happens at Hollywood Casino Grantville gets cross-referenced with the state’s blacklist.
The Asbury resident was riding high on Sunday, May 31, after hitting a slot machine jackpot. Unfortunately for her, the celebration was cut short. According to the Pennsylvania State Police, casino staff did a double-take and realized the lucky winner was actually a ghost from their forbidden past.
Specifically, she had voluntarily placed herself on the state’s lifetime self-exclusion list in 2019.
Instead of a giant cardboard check, the woman was greeted by state troopers, who politely escorted her off the property. To top off her incredibly awkward evening, authorities confirmed she will be facing a non-traffic citation for trespassing.
Whether she gets to keep the jackpot money remains a mystery for now, but history suggests she shouldn’t hold her breath.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) said that when self-excluded gamblers hit it big, they don’t get a payout. Instead, the forfeited jackpots go straight to the PGCB, which uses the funds to support programs that combat gambling addiction.
Under Pennsylvania rules, the self-exclusion list operates on the honor system—until you win, that is. Only self-identified problem gamblers can ban themselves, choosing a time frame of one year, five years, or “until death do us part.”
READ: Florida Woman ‘Moves With Purpose’ Straight To A Million-Dollar Lottery Win
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