CASE $9\mathrm{.}2.$ STATE COURT CASE Informal Contract

Mckee v$.$ Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.

$864$ N$.$W za $518,2015$ lowa Sup. Lexis $50(2015)$

Supreme court of lowa

"Gambling contracts are governed by traditional contract principles."

Ddward Mansfield, Justice

Facts

Pauline MoKee was attending a family reunion at the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo. One evening she and several members of her family gambled at the casino. McKee was playing Miss Kitty, a penny slot machine, A person wins at the Miss Kitty game by lining up different combinations of symbols from left to right on the slot machine sereen. The game includes a button labeled "Touch Game Rules" in the lower left$-$hand corner of the screen. Tapping this button displays the rules that govern the game and a chart describing potential winning eombinat tions of symbols. These rules do not mention any additional bonus, jackpot, or prize avallable to a person playing the Miss Kitty dame. The rules state "MALFUNCTION VOIDS ALL PAYS AND PLAYS. A sign posted on the front of the machine relterates "MLEUNCTION YOIDS ALL PAYS AND PLAYS? Mekee did not read the rules before she played the slot machine,

While playlne the game Mekeo won si$.85$ based on how the symbols had lined up on the slot

machine screen. However, a message appeared on the sereen stating "Bonus Award $$41797550\mathrm{.}16."$ The casino paid MeKee $$1\mathrm{.}85$ but refused to pay the alleged bonus, claiming it was an error and not part of the game. Mekee sued the easino in district court to recover $$41,797,550\mathrm{.}16.$ The casino introduced evidence that the appearance of the bonus on the screen was an error in the computer system of the game. The casino made a motion for summary judgment, which was opposed by MeKee. The district court held that the rules of the Miss Kitty game were an express contract between McKee and the casino. The court granted summary judgment to the casino. Mokee appealed.

Issue

Was there a contract between the parties that provided for the payment of a bonus when playing the Miss Kity slot machine?

Language of the Court

Gambling contracts are governed by traditional contract principles. We agree woith the district court that the Miss Kitty rules of the fame are the relecant concract here and that they form an express contract. Further, it is