Software Glitch at The Star Casino

Overview

A software error at The Star Casino in Sydney, Australia, led to an accidental cash payout of approximately 1.9 million euros. Over 13 days, 43 casino guests took advantage of the glitch to unlawfully withdraw winnings from the casino’s ATMs. The casino has reported the incident and the individuals involved.

Software Malfunction at Tico ATMs

A malfunction in the Tico ATMs caused a significant financial loss to The Star Casino. Players could collect their gambling winnings by redeeming a receipt with a barcode at the machine. The glitch allowed duplicate receipts to be issued, enabling players to claim undeserved winnings.

The casino attributed the error to a faulty software update, which went unnoticed for six weeks. Within a short period, players fraudulently redeemed receipts totaling nearly 1.9 million euros.

Legal Action and Player Responses

The casino promptly reported the fraud, resulting in charges being filed. One individual has been arrested, with allegations of past involvement in fraudulent activities. Criticism was directed at the casino for the oversight.

Among the accused individuals is a gambling addict allegedly lured back into gambling due to the incident.

Impact of Software Errors in Gambling

A well-known case in the gambling industry involved Katrina Bookman, who lost a 43 million US dollar jackpot due to a machine error at a casino in New York. Despite claiming the win, she was informed it was invalid. Contrary to Bookman’s experience, a Las Vegas airport visitor won a 1.3 million US dollar jackpot.

In Australia, gamblers involved in the unauthorized payouts at The Star Casino will likely face legal consequences. Questions arise about why the casino did not notice the irregular high payouts over an extended period.