Katrina Bookman thought her life had changed forever when a slot machine flashed a $43 million jackpot. She snapped a selfie in pure joy, convinced she had just secured a future she had only dreamed of. But the excitement didn’t last long.

When she returned to the Queens casino the next day, she expected celebration. Instead, an employee delivered a shocking message: she hadn’t won anything. The “jackpot” she saw was the result of a machine malfunction, the casino claimed.

The news got worse. Officials told her that her real winnings totaled just $2.25 — and to soften the blow, they offered her a complimentary steak dinner. Bookman was furious. After growing up in foster care and raising four children on her own, she had already pictured how the money could change her family’s life.

The New York State Gaming Commission backed the casino, confirming the machine error. A spokesperson insisted the displayed jackpot was an “obvious malfunction” and apologized for the inconvenience. But Bookman wasn’t convinced, and neither was her attorney.

Her lawyer filed a lawsuit, arguing that casinos can’t simply declare a machine broken after displaying a massive win. He questioned how a machine could malfunction so badly if it was properly tested and maintained, and what that meant for all players who trusted the system.

A year later, the case ended in a private settlement. Bookman didn’t walk away a millionaire, but she made it clear the fight was about fairness — and about the family she was trying to protect.