Immigrant seeking asylum in the US denied jackpot winnings from Chicago casino because of his status, report claims

Source: The Independent

Thursday 01 January 2026 16:42 EST


A man seeking asylum in the U.S. claims he was denied over $1,000 of winnings at a Chicago casino because of his immigration status. The man, who asked to remain anonymous, told CBS that he had won the jackpot on a slot machine at Bally’s temporary casino in the River North area of the city, the payout for which usually takes just minutes.

"I've been a regular since they opened, and I've won 11 jackpots, I believe, in the past and never had any problems," he said.

The man’s lucky play occurred over a week ago on December 20, he has yet to receive his money, and said no explanation has been provided.

He said that he presented the casino with his ID, which is a limited-term REAL ID that is issued to immigrants in his situation. In Illinois, such identification can be obtained by those seeking asylum with proper documentation. The IDs are valid for the duration of the individual’s authorized stay in the U.S.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/immigrant-jackpot-casino-winnings-chicago-b2893279.html