Double Super Times Pay Malfunction

Dear Wizard,

Recently observed a malfunction on a DSTP machine at a N. Ca. Indian Casino. A woman was playing DDB 3 lines, 25 cents at 7 credits per line for a total of 21 credits total. Held 3 Aces with no multiplier on either the deal or draw. On the middle hand was given another Ace and a 4 on the draw to get a payoff of 2000 credits($500). Instead of the correct payout the DSTP machine gave her a multiple of 3x for a total credit of 6000($1500) handpay. She was shocked as was I. The slot attendant payed her the $1500 without incident.

My questions are: have you heard of such a malfunction on an IGT video poker machine before and what would have been your response if this happened to you? Would you have notified the slot attendant of the malfunction? Any input on this situation is appreciated. Thank you. Larry

This is an interesting situation. If you admit the malfunction it also voids your $500 win as "Machine Malfunction Voids All Pays!" However if you "knowingly" take the pay then that's a crime... However if you "unknowingly" accept the jackpot then you have committed no crime. So it would depend if I "noticed" it or not, but I'm not too observant when I play Video Poker ;-).

Perhaps it's possible the multiplier wasn't noticed until after the hand. Id take it without mention. Giving up a nice win are what nightmares are for.

Quote: Romes

However if you "knowingly" take the pay then that's a crime.

Is that some special law in California?

Can you show me a specific law regarding this?

Why didn't they use this particular law to go after the guys who played the IGT double up bug? Not only did they know they were getting the incorrect payout, they went out of their way to make it happen.

Quote: AxelWolf

Is that some special law in California?

Can you show me a specific law regarding this?

This seems to be the law in most states I've asked attorneys. I honestly don't have the written law on it, but it's what I've been informed from law sources. I believe Bob N. even mentions it on GWAE. Though he was talking about table games and over pays. If you "know" it's an overpay and accept it then that's technically illegal, but if you just grab the chips and put them in your stack unknowingly then of course you didn't commit a crime as you expected the dealer did their job correctly.

Quote: AxelWolf

Why didn't they use this particular law to go after the guys who played the IGT double up bug? Not only did they know they were getting the incorrect payout, they went out of their way to make it happen.

They had enough evidence of the men repeatedly doing it over and over to prove they knew exactly what they were doing. They couldn't claim ignorance because it was not a one time affair.

I've played a game where it's done that. Almost certain it was STP, not DSTP though. Whenever I'd get a dealt multiplier, the number would slide on over to the "STP" box on the left, like normal. Then dissapear, not normal. After the draw and all hands filled in, the multiplier would reappear and I'd get paid properly.

My guess is that is most likely what happened.

Quote: Romes

They had enough evidence of the men repeatedly doing it over and over to prove they knew exactly what they were doing. They couldn't claim ignorance because it was not a one time affair.

Right, I think you are saying the same thing I was. So that's my question. Why didn't the authorities go after them for knowingly taking incorrect payouts, as well as hacking charges? Perhaps they should have had Bob advise them on how to prosecute the case(sarcasm).

I know at one time Bob used the taking overpaid money from an ATM analogy regarding over-payers and whatnot. I thought he had kinda backed off that stance, but I might be wrong, let's not get into all that.