Casino: Sorry lady, you didn't really win $42.9 million

Slot machine.
Source/AP

Any time you head out for a night at the casino, it's smart to keep your enthusiasm as much in check as your spending.

A New York woman learned this the hard way after hitting the mega jackpot on a slot machine at Resorts World Casino in New York City.

Katrina Bookman would have landed the biggest slots payout in U.S. history — $42,949,672 — had her luck not been the cruel quirk of a malfunctioning machine, local affiliate ABC 7 reports.

The night of Bookman's apparent victory quickly became utter mayhem on the casino floor as fellow gamblers rallied to congratulate her. Management at Resorts World Casino told her to come back the next day for a decision on her prize, so she went home and mentally mapped exactly how she would help all of the people she loves.

Her return to claim the money was excruciating.

"You didn't win nothing," the casino manager reportedly told her.

Unwilling to pay out, explained to Bookman that it was an error and that her only option was to enjoy a nice steak dinner. Bookman declined and has opted to sue World Resorts.

An attorney representing Bookman said the casino should pay out the maximum $6,500 allowed on the slot machine, which has since been repaired and replaced by the New York State Gaming Commission.