DC woman who lost thousands in MGM casino winnings from staff typo gets money back - Story

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- After a week of waiting, a DC woman who lost her winnings at a Maryland casino due to a typo says she has finally received her money.

Cynthia Obie won thousands on a slot machine at MGM National Harbor last Friday, but when the casino took down her Social Security number incorrectly, she lost it all.

FOX 5 reported on the incident over the past week.

Obie tells FOX 5 on Saturday the Vice President of Slot Operations for MGM came to her home to award her her winnings.

Obie was playing a slot machine last Friday during a night out at the casino with a friend.

When she realized the jackpot was imminent, Obie was ecstatic. 

“I was very excited. Like I need this money,” she said.

Right after the holidays, several thousand dollars would come in handy. She’s been to a number of casinos and she’s always hoping but never expecting a big win.

Following regulations, before handing her the cash, MGM staff took her ID and personal information.

But they misread her Social Security number by one digit.

The person whose number they plugged into the database apparently owed the state of Maryland a lot of child support, and Obie’s winnings were immediately confiscated.

“I’m like no all of my daughters are grown I’ve never paid child support. I’m like this can’t be right,” she said.

By the time they realized the Social Security number error, it was too late. So instead of her winnings, Obie left that night with a letter instructing her to sort it out with Maryland’s Human Services agency, which handles child support.

The casino did give her $200 in free play, and a couple of drink vouchers that night, but she still wanted her winnings.

Obie took time off work and spent more than an hour at their office during the week.

She said she finally heard from the casino, and on Saturday, she said the Vice President of Slot Operations for MGM came to her home to award her her winnings.

Obie called FOX 5 on Saturday to tell the station of the good news.

Read more http://www.fox5dc.com/news/local-news/dc-woman-who-lost-thousands-in-mgm-casino-winnings-from-staff-typo-gets-money-back