Ironic Twist As Casino Jackpot Winner Fails To Collect His Prize

The irony of the situation would surely not have been lost on a 55 year-old Waterford man, who scooped the jackpot on a casino’s slot machine but was then unable to collect his winnings due to a ban he had placed on himself the previous year.
Back in April 2009, the Waterford man had taken the extreme measure of barring himself from all of the State’s nine casinos after increased concerns over his repeated gambling losses. As a result, he then signed on to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) self-help program to ban himself from even entering any of the gambling establishments in the state.
The Pennsylvania self-exclusion program was set up as a means to extend help to the increasing number of problem gamblers in the state, since its first casino, the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, opened in 2006. Subsequently, each year has seen the number of people entering the PGCB steadily increase, from 185 in 2007 to its present 1,351 people. Interestingly woman account for a higher proportion of that total, with 700 women banned to 651 men.
Ironically, the Waterford man has since learnt the harsh realities of not being able to have your cake and eat it too, after entering the Presque Isle Downs & Casino on Friday, between 10 a.m. and noon, and then scooping the $2,001 jackpot on one of the casino’s slot machines.
It is clearly stated on the PGCB’s self-excluded persons list, that anyone contravening their ban would not be able to  collect ‘any winnings or recover any losses arising as a result of any gaming activity.’ From his own point of view, it seems a little unfortunate that if losses cannot be recovered that winnings too should be withheld, however it stands to reason that in order to be effective the program would have to be armed with some major disincentives to gamble.
In addition to forfeitting the monies won at the casino, the man now faces charges for criminal trespass, as well as a possible penalty fine. At least he’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that in the meantime his $2,001 jackpot will now be deposited in the Compulsive and Problem Gambling Treatment Fund, where it will be used to help more problem cases like himself.