Jackpotgate – How Jan Flato Lost a $100,000 Casino Jackpot

Jan Flato is a high-stakes slots player who learnt a very expensive lesson. Whilst playing at a casino in Florida, the 66-year-old gambler hit the jackpot and landed $100,000. However, he did not get his hands on his winnings. Instead, the $100k was handed to his glamorous companion. Whilst Flato paid for the spin, he asked his friend Marina Navarro to press the spin button for luck. Turns out that was a very unlucky move to make. The universal casino rule states that the person who hits spin places the wager and therefore is the true winner, regardless of who puts their money into the machine.

With her cash in hand, Navarro left the casino and kept the entire jackpot for herself. What followed was an angry attack on Navarro’s behaviour, and backlash over the controversial casino rule. Yet there were two different versions of what happened on that fateful evening. In this blog post, we will delve into the details of the intriguing story dubbed “jackpotgate”.

How Jackpotgate Went Down

Jan Flato and Marina Navarro were friends who bonded over their love of casino games. Yet their friendship soon turned sour after an evening at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in January 2017. The pair were playing the Double Top Dollar slot machine, with stakes of $50 per spin. Flato claims he inserted his player card and paid for the play.

Flato was ecstatic when the jackpot winning combination landed on the reels. Yet his joy quickly turned to despair when he tried to collect his winnings. Casino bosses had examined video footage of the win and declared that the jackpot must be paid to Navarro, as she touched the spin button. Navarro took her winnings and left the casino, asking the security team to keep an eye on Flato.

Jan Flato’s Version of Events

The disgruntled player spoke to the Miami Herald newspaper, a move he claimed was intended to warn players of the little-known casino rule. Flato shared his exasperation at the situation. He stated that he had no way to fight the decision, as none of the lawyers he had approached would accept the case. The controversial jackpot win sparked a series of hateful comments towards Navarro, branding her a gold digger and a cheat. And whilst Navarro originally declined to comment on the story, she later hit back with her own version of events.

Marina Navarro Hits Back

Navarro, a 35-year-old married mortgage broker shared a different version of the events surrounding the jackpot win. She claimed that she had in fact paid for the spin, whilst Flato’s player card was used. She also claimed that she had every intention of splitting the money with her gambling companion. However, she said that Flato became aggressive and angry when she was given the jackpot, and she then decided not to share the cash. Navarro also explained that regardless of who paid, Flato was well aware of the casino rule that made her the rightful winner, despite his claims otherwise.

A Cautionary Tale for Gamblers Everywhere

Whilst we may not know which version of the story is the truth, the events shine a light on a casino rule which may come as a surprise to many. Have you ever asked a friend to hit spin or pull the lever for good luck? It could turn out to be incredibly unlucky. So, the next time you play slots online or at a casino, think twice before letting anyone else near that spin button. Why risk your own jackpotgate?