Banned Iowa Gambler Loses $1,733 Jackpot Over 20-Year-Old Casino Ban
A dispute over a slot machine win has left an Iowa gambler empty-handed after a casino refused to pay her jackpot. Tamara Bean, a banned patron, won $1,733 at Ameristar Casino Hotel in Council Bluffs but was denied the payout due to her inclusion on a self-exclusion list. The casino banned Bean in 2002 after authorities discovered a controlled substance—later identified as marijuana—in her purse. Despite this, she continued to visit the casino under her married name, Tamara Bean, while her ban was recorded under her maiden name, Tamara Sheffield. She even signed the original exclusion notice using her maiden name. When Bean won $1,733 on a penny slot machine, the casino required her Social Security number to process the payout. This triggered the discovery of her ban, leading to the refusal of her winnings. Bean appealed the decision to state officials, but they upheld the casino's stance. Her case mirrors a previous incident at Prairie Meadows Casino & Hotel, where a banned gambler won $9,000. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that the casino could withhold the jackpot due to a contractual agreement between the player and the establishment. Iowa's self-exclusion programme allows gamblers to ban themselves for five years or for life. As of 2017, around 4,000 people were eligible to be removed from the list, though exact numbers for 2019 remain unavailable. Bean had received a rewards card from the casino months before her win, but such cards do not require a Social Security number for verification. The casino's decision stands, leaving Bean without her winnings. The case highlights how self-exclusion policies in Iowa prevent banned gamblers from collecting jackpots, even years after the initial ban. State officials have not intervened to overturn the ruling.
