Seminole Casino Pays Winnings Despite Malfunction

HOLLYWOOD -- As reported by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "First, he won a big Seminole casino jackpot. Then Freddy Howard found out he hadn't won. Then came an outside investigation that proved
Seminole Hard Rock Casino & Hotel  Howard wasn't entitled to anything, the tribe's gaming gurus said.

"On Tuesday, they paid him anyway, giving Howard a check for $259,945.75, although nobody from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino would admit he deserved it. Executives said a computer glitch only made it appear Howard had won a jackpot Aug. 29.

"…'We are making this payment as a gesture of good will, and I am pleased to tell you that Mr. Howard has accepted,' said Allen Huff, chairman of the Seminole Gaming Commission. He did not say why Howard would have refused; the payment was for the full amount of the disputed jackpot.

"Huff said Howard used a Players Club Card, a rewards card for frequent players, that belonged to his father, Felix Howard, and wasn't eligible to win, even if there hadn't been a mistake…"