Tourist who unknowingly got $229k jackpot in Vegas finally gets prize

Isabella Nikolic For Mailonline - Monday

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/tourist-who-unknowingly-got-229k-jackpot-in-vegas-finally-gets-prize/ar-AATyxll?ocid=msedgntp

An Arizona tourist has been given a $229,999 jackpot that he unknowingly won on a slot machine in Las Vegas after it malfunctioned and didn't tell him his winnings.

Robert Taylor hit a jackpot at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 8 but a software error meant the machine didn't tell Mr Taylor or casino staff that he had won.

By the time casino staff were made aware of Mr Taylor's jackpot win he had already returned home to Arizona.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board then went into overdrive in a desperate attempt to track Mr Taylor down.

The Board initiated an extensive investigation including reviewing multiple hours of surveillance footage across multiple gaming properties and numerous witness interviews.

They also studied his electronic purchase records and even used analysis of rideshare data obtained by the Nevada Transportation Authority.

Chief of the board's enforcement division, James Taylor, said: 'The Nevada Gaming Control Board is charged with the strict regulation of the gaming industry, the protection of the gaming public, and ensuring that the industry benefits the State of Nevada.

'I commend the agents of the Enforcement Division, particularly Agent Dan Nuqui, for ensuring that the public trust in the gaming industry remains strong by spending countless hours over two weeks to ensure that a patron is awarded winnings owed to him.

'I’d also like to thank the Nevada Transportation Authority for their assistance in confirming the identity of the patron. This has been a great example of government working together for the benefit of the public.'

Mr Taylor was told about his $299,368.52 jackpot on January 28 and collected his winnings over the weekend.