Canadian Gambler Battles 888 Casino Over Withheld CA$1.3M Jackpot Payout

A Canadian gambler is fighting to recover a CA$1.3 million (US$940,000) payout after online casino 888 wiped his balance and cited a system glitch. James Kotylak, 42, from Alberta, has been a player at 888 for three years. He deposited roughly $52,000 in that time and earned VIP Gold status. On March 16, 2026, his balance climbed into the millions before disappearing entirely. "I watched my balance on 888casino climb into the millions and then watched the casino make it all disappear," he told CasinoBeats.

How a Routine Session Changed Everything

Kotylak's session began like any other. He started on slots before switching to a Pragmatic Play title called Floating Dragon: Year of the Snake, which features a Jackpot Drop mechanic. "That's when things went crazy," he said. He hit multiple jackpots: bronze, sapphire, silver, gold, and several diamond jackpots worth around $85,703.77 each. His balance surged past $1.3 million.

888 sent approximately 15 congratulatory emails, each stating the amounts would be confirmed within 72 hours. They never were. Other players across the Evoke group, which includes William Hill and 888, reported similar jackpot streaks around the same time. The company moved to void all related winnings, attributing them to a glitch.

Congratulatory Emails, Then Silence: How 888 Handled the Aftermath

Kotylak continued playing and lost around $60,000 of his winnings. He then attempted a withdrawal but was limited to $47,000, below the $50,000 maximum. The request showed as "in process" overnight with no alerts or account warnings.

By noon the next day, he could access only the Safe Cashier section, and his real-money balance read zero. "The story I got from 888 kept changing," he said. The casino initially claimed his bank had rejected the withdrawal, something his bank denied entirely. He later received a call claiming the jackpots were due to a glitch and was told to "trust" the casino. He also alleges 888 reversed the withdrawal before completing a required review and has yet to provide proof that the winnings resulted from a glitch.

Locked Out, No Proof, and a Balance Wiped to Zero

Kotylak had already made financial promises to his family, planning to buy his 91-year-old grandmother's farm and support his daughter's financial independence. Alberta's lack of a regulated gambling market has complicated his pursuit. The province's ADR does not cover 888, which operates under Gibraltar and Malta licenses.

888 has yet to issue a deadlock letter, the one document Kotylak needs to escalate his case to Gibraltar and Malta regulators.

Kotylak now plans to join UK players in legal action against Evoke. A UK user also suffered a heart attack after being denied nearly $400,000. "The stress of it has had a serious impact on his health," his son said. A precedent exists: UK courts last year ordered Paddy Power to pay a woman over $1 million after similarly refusing to honor her winnings.