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A Cuban who won three jackpots at a casino in South Florida in 2023 had to wait a year and a half to claim his winnings because he did not have legal residency in the United States at that time, a requirement set by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Department of the Treasury.
Fortunately, the long wait for Eduardo Cardoso came to an end when, after obtaining his residency in the country, he was able to claim the more than $6,000 in winnings he earned at the Seminole Classic Casino in Florida in August 2023.
Cardoso, a gaming enthusiast and frequent visitor to casinos, then played the slot machines and won three jackpots, but was unable to collect his prizes due to regulations from the U.S. federal government.
The provisions of the OFAC prohibit any kind of payment in the U.S. to Cuban citizens who cannot prove legal residency outside the island, due to the economic sanctions imposed on Cuba.
This includes payments for casino winnings, the television channel NBC6 South Florida reminded, which interviewed Cardoso following his victory, as well as the casino management.
Cubans must present evidence demonstrating their citizenship or legal permanent residence in a third country, such as a foreign or U.S. passport or a permanent resident card, in order to claim winnings obtained in casinos, the report specified.
For this reason, Cardoso was unable to receive his award. "I had a Cuban passport, and they say that a Cuban passport is not valid here," he pointed out at the time.
In this regard, the casino representatives stated that "Seminole casinos always pay out all prize money, unless prohibited by Treasury Department regulations," and assured that as soon as the Cuban provided proof of residence, they would hand over his winnings. And that’s exactly what happened.
Interviewed again this week by NBC6, after having received the outstanding payment, Cardoso confirmed: “I was able to claim my earnings.”
“In total, I claimed $6,400. With that money, I’m going to see my mom and my children; I haven’t seen them in 16 years. It makes me want to cry,” the Cuban confessed emotionally.
He also took the opportunity to warn others who might be in a similar situation: “If you don’t have documents, don’t play because they won’t pay you.”
NBC6 reached out again to the casino. The general manager of Seminole Classic Casino, Edward Aguilar, stated in a statement: “We are very pleased to confirm that we paid Mr. Cardoso his winnings, which totaled over $6,000, after he provided us with the required identification documents.”
A similar case occurred in 2019, when the Cuban Gabriel Díaz Gato won the jackpot on the slot machines at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel casino in Florida, and was unable to collect the $3,850 prize for being a resident of the island.
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