Alberta Gambler Who Was Denied $1M Payout From 888 Promises to Fight for the Funds

(AsiaGameHub) –   An Alberta-based gambler has been refused a life-altering payout from online casino 888, which attributes the CA$1.3 million ($940,000) winnings to a system malfunction.

“On March 16, 2026, I saw my 888casino balance jump to the millions—then watched the casino wipe it all out,” James Kotylak told CasinoBeats.

The 42-year-old has been an online player at 888 for three years, having deposited roughly $52,000 during that period. His consistent gambling activity led the operator to place him in the VIP Gold tier.

Last month’s gambling session started like any other for Kotylak: “I logged in as I always do and began playing slots,” he said. “I later switched to a Pragmatic Play title called Floating Dragon – Year of the Snake, which has a Jackpot Drop feature.”

“That’s when everything went haywire. I had an amazing run on the Jackpot Drop: bronze, sapphire, silver, gold, and then several diamond jackpots each valued at about $85,703.77. My balance skyrocketed from its usual amount to over $1.3 million. I received around 15 emails from 888 congratulating me on those jackpot wins, each stating the amounts would be confirmed within 72 hours.”

But those amounts were never verified. Around the same time, players across the Evoke group—including William Hill and 888—reported similar jackpot streaks. The company has tried to invalidate all those winnings, asserting that a glitch led to the unusual payouts.

888 Blocks Payouts

As his balance grew, Kotylak continued playing and lost approximately $60,000 of his winnings. He tried to withdraw some money but was restricted to $47,000—despite the maximum withdrawal limit being $50,000.

“The $47,000 withdrawal was submitted and marked as ‘in process.’ I went to sleep and checked again at around 6:30 a.m.—the withdrawal was still pending. There was no alert, no account lockout notice, nothing indicating an issue.”

Kotylak had already begun planning how to use the winnings. He told his 91-year-old grandmother he would purchase her farm to keep it in the family for years to come.

“She was overjoyed about this,” Kotylak shared. “Then I told my daughter. I was thrilled to tell her I could finally give her financial independence, or at least a good start. In the end, the family farm is for her.”

He also made financial promises to other friends and family: he told his father he would pay off his debt, and a senior friend with health issues that they no longer had to stress about money.

However, he hasn’t received any of the money so far.

“Around noon, I tried to log back in and found I couldn’t access the casino at all—only the Safe Cashier section. My real-money balance was zero. That’s when I reached out to support and was told my account was “under investigation and review.” As a loyal VIP for years, this came as a huge surprise.”

Players Taking Legal Action to Reclaim Winnings

Kotylak got in touch with 888’s support team, but has been frustrated by the company’s inconsistent communication.

“The explanations from 888 kept shifting,” he stated. “First, they said my bank had declined the $47,000 withdrawal and returned the funds to my account. But my bank confirmed there was no such transaction—no attempt was made, so there was nothing to reject.”

Kotylak received a phone call where the jackpots were attributed to a glitch, and he was told to “trust” the casino. However, he alleges the company lied about reversing the withdrawal before completing a required review. He also notes that they haven’t provided any proof the winnings came from a glitch.

Messages reviewed by CasinoBeats show that 888 staff were sometimes unresponsive, occasionally apologetic, and at other times accused him of attempting to exploit the company.

Currently, Kotylak is fighting to recover his money, but the absence of a regulated market in Alberta is making this difficult. He reached out to Alberta’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), but was told it doesn’t cover 888 since the casino is based overseas.

Alberta plans to launch a regulated gambling market later this year. For the time being, 888 operates under licenses from Gibraltar and Malta. Kotylak has contacted these regulators, who told him he needs a “deadlock letter”—something 888 is refusing to issue.

A group of UK users is uniting, and Kotylak says he intends to join them in pursuing legal action against Evoke.

Lost Winnings Cause Emotional Stress

UK users have also reported being denied large payouts from the Evoke group. One user had a heart attack shortly after winning nearly $400,000.

His family stated that the stress of trying to claim the funds had negatively impacted his health.

“The shock of this has been overwhelming,” his son said. “It’s not just about the money—it’s how the situation was handled. It feels like a genuine injustice, and the stress has taken a severe toll on his health.”

Kotylak echoed this, saying the experience has been extremely stressful.

“Having a life-changing win like that wiped away by a vague ‘glitch’ with no proof has been devastating,” Kotylak stated.

“I’m not asking for preferential treatment—just that the casino be held to the same standards of proof and accountability that they demand from their players.”

There is a glimmer of hope for affected players. Last year, UK courts ordered Paddy Power to pay a woman over $1 million after the company refused to honor her winnings. The operator also claimed the funds were credited by mistake, but the courts ruled this didn’t absolve it of its obligations.