Yahoo Finance Detroit woman, 65, takes on MGM Grand after being denied $127K blackjack win due to ban she knew nothing about
When seasoned gambler Denise Ezell, 65, won a $127,000 jackpot playing progressive blackjack at Detroit's MGM Grand last October, she was ecstatic.
“It was exuberating,” she told Detroit Free Press, adding that everyone around her, including the dealer, was celebrating. “We were high-fiving… No one had ever seen anyone win that jackpot.”
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But her joy was short-lived. After checking her ID, staff at the MGM Grand informed Ezell she would not receive a dime of her six-figure pot. They then accused her of trespassing and claimed she had been banned from the casino since an alleged panhandling incident in 2015.
Ezell claims she knew nothing about the ban and has gambled regularly (and with no issues) at MGM for the past eight years. She has accused the casino giant of coming up with a “bull—-” excuse to not pay out her winnings after years of accepting her “hard-earned money” at the tables.
She filed a civil suit against MGM in a U.S. District Court in late June and told the local press: “I just want my damn money.” Here’s what happened.
Casino always wins
As chance would have it, Ezell scored the $127,000 motherlode from her final bet of the night on October 30, 2023. She was playing progressive blackjack, a game where players can place a side bet in the hope that their two cards will combine with the dealer’s in a way that triggers a jackpot.
In her hand, she held the jack and king of spades. The dealer showed the ace and queen of spades, landing Ezell a rare four-card straight flush, which won her the mega payout.
“I just thought when you won, they would pay you,” Ezell said, reflecting on the drama since her win. “When you lose, they take your damn money.”
Her attorney Ivan Land shared a similar sentiment when explaining why the 65-year-old had to sue the casino company. He said they spent three months seeking alternative options for resolution — including going to the state gaming board and reaching out to the casino’s legal team — but to no avail.
Land said Ezell had not been alerted about her ban by email, phone call, letter or text message. The pair also dispute the panhandling allegation at the heart of this saga, with Ezell claiming she was arguing with her cousin about some cash and not soliciting a stranger for money. Land described MGM’s treatment of Ezell as “just not fair.”
“They allowed her to gamble there and spend her hard-earned money for eight years, and then, when she hits the jackpot, they run this crap: 'Hey, you shouldn't be here in the first place?'” Land said. “We know the casinos always win.”
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What to do with a windfall
Ezell, who earns a living wage working for the state of Michigan doing administrative work, had big plans for her windfall. She wanted to become debt free and help her daughter, who is finishing up medical school, to pay off her six-figure student loans.
If you don’t have an immediate need for your windfall, like paying down your debts or using it as a downpayment for a house, you may want to consider putting that money to work by investing.
There are many ways to invest from buying shares in broad-based index funds like the S&P 500 (which has enjoyed an annual average return of roughly 11% over the last 10 years) to individual stocks and bonds, as well as alternative assets like real estate.
It is also worth maxing out your retirement saving contributions in a 401(k), if you have access to one via work, or an individual retirement account (IRA).
Remember, when you win money from gambling, your winnings will generally be taxed at both the federal level (at a rate of 24% if your winnings minus wager are more than $5,000) and the state level (if you live in one of the 43 states that levy individual income taxes).
If you’re not sure how to handle your winnings from a tax standpoint, consider working with a tax professional to get personalized advice based on your specific situation.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
