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LLOYDMINSTER, Alberta — (Gambling911.com) - An Alberta player says 888casino erased C$1.27 million in winnings after a software malfunction. An internal report described more than 35,000 jackpot hits during the incident.
On March 16, 2026, a technical glitch across Evoke brands 888, William Hill, and Mr Green erroneously awarded thousands of Jackpot Drop players inflated payouts, with some users claiming six-figure wins on social media, as reported by Casino.org.
James Kotylak, 42, of Alberta, told Gaming America he had planned to use the windfall to buy his 91-year-old grandmother’s farm and preserve it for his daughter.
The operator claims, because the software malfunctioned, it rendered the jackpot payouts invalid. It further attributed the malfunction to testing software mistakenly deployed into its live gaming environment
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Kotylak was playing Pragmatic Play’s Floating Dragon – Year of the Snake on March 16 when a succession of Jackpot Drop prizes sent his balance soaring.
He claims he received around 15 congratulatory emails from 888, including notifications of diamond jackpots worth C$85,703.77 apiece.
But when he attempted to withdraw C$47,000, the transaction was blocked. He says 888 subsequently removed C$1,267,003 in winnings from his account, citing an internal error.
Kotylak argues that 888 continued accepting wagers after identifying the problem.
Alberta launched its regulated commercial iGaming market on July 13, 2026, with oversight from Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC). It regulates 888Casino.
On October 23, Alberta iGaming Corporation CEO Dan Keene emphasized the importance of regulatory accountability and players having recourse against gambling operators. However, his remarks did not specifically address Evoke or the jackpot controversy.
Kotylak's disputed jackpot occurred March 16, 2026, before Alberta launched its regulated commercial iGaming market.
At that time, 888 operated under a Gibraltar gambling license. According to Gaming America's October 28 investigation, the Gibraltar Gambling Division ultimately indicated that the dispute over contractual enforceability required a judicial determination.
The big question: Has AGLC reviewed Evoke's March 16, 2026, Jackpot Drop malfunction as part of its regulatory oversight of 888casino, and could the company's handling of disputed jackpots affect its standing as a registered operator in Alberta?
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
