Over the weekend, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore was the site of a dramatic and chaotic event that captured attention on social media, including X (formerly Twitter). A gambler hit a S$4 million (US$2.95M) jackpot, but his joy was short-lived as he suffered a heart attack while celebrating his win.
The Event Unfolds
According to videos shared online, the man was playing an unidentified high-stakes game when he hit the massive jackpot. Shortly after his celebration began, he went into cardiac arrest. Video footage shows him lying on the floor as security and medical personnel responded. The unidentified man reportedly suffered a major heart attack but survived. A woman can be seen screaming in horror as efforts to resuscitate the man continued.
Despite initial social media reports suggesting the man died, he is recovering and expected to enjoy his newfound riches once back to full health.
Payout Still Due
Many on social media questioned whether casinos are still required to pay out a jackpot if the winner dies before collecting the prize. In response to a 2019 Reddit thread on this hypothetical issue, an attorney explained that in the US, winnings would be paid to the gambler’s next of kin.
“A casino game is a contract, and believe it or not, death does not change a contract. You made an agreement with the casino that you will pay for the chance to play a game, and if the game comes out a certain way, the casino will owe you a certain amount of money,” the attorney explained. “You could die before the slot machine stops spinning and your estate is still owed the winnings. As with any contract, the benefits of that contract go to the estate, and the estate will be distributed according to the will of the deceased.”
Rare but Not Unprecedented
While rare, instances of gamblers dying after winning big are not unheard of. The thrill of a substantial win can sometimes be too much for the body to handle.
In 2002, a player at Harrah’s in Atlantic City won a $10,000 slot jackpot. Moments after receiving $5,000 in cash and a $5,000 check, the 61-year-old suffered a heart attack while seated at a casino lounge and was later pronounced dead.
Death After Loss
A more common occurrence is gamblers dying after losing large sums, often by suicide. One notorious case is the story of “The Suitcase Man.”
On September 24, 1980, William Lee Bergstrom risked $777,000 (about $2.9 million in today’s money) on a craps game at Binion’s Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas. He planned to commit suicide if the bet lost. The bet won, and Bergstrom traveled the world over the next four years. He returned in 1984, placing more large bets, including a $1 million wager that lost in November. Unable to recover from the loss, Bergstrom committed suicide on February 4, 1985, at the age of 33.
Conclusion
The incident at Marina Bay Sands highlights the intense emotions and potential health risks associated with large gambling wins. While the man survived his heart attack, the event underscores the need for awareness about the physical impacts of extreme excitement and stress.
David Garato is a luminary in gaming journalism, renowned for peeling back the curtain on the gaming world with his witty and insightful commentary. A decade into weaving stories from the pixelated edges of indie games to the expansive universes of AAA titles, David’s work is a thrilling blend of analysis and adventure. When not writing, he’s live-streaming, sharing his gaming exploits with an engaged and growing audience. David doesn’t just write about games; he lives them, making him a trusted guide in the gaming community.