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Everyone who visits Las Vegas dreams of winning an enormous, life-changing jackpot, and for a recent visitor to the Palms Casino Resort, the dream came true.
The lucky player, a bartender from Texas, won a massive jackpot of $2,170,581.77 playing Wheel of Fortune after placing a bet of $3 with leftover vouchers. When she hit the jackpot, she had just 46 cents in credits left to play with.
The woman was staying at the Palms and was part of a group of 40-ish people in town for a wedding. According to reports, she didn’t have enough money to come to the wedding, so a friend sponsored her plane ticket.
A Dream Come True
As mentioned, the woman was playing with leftover credits that she wanted to get rid of. While we might have recommended that she use the money to play online baccarat, it seems that, in this instance, she made the better choice. Roughly $20 in credits were put into the machine, and the jackpot was won on her very last possible maximum bet spin.
The casino has said that it was “pandemonium” after the jackpot was won, with friends, other players, and, of course, casino security crowding around to congratulate the winner. There have also been reports that the winner suffered a personal loss in recent months and that she was due a bit of good fortune.
Following the win, the woman was given a 24/7 escort from casino security and she and her boyfriend were upgraded to a penthouse suite. Furthermore, the casino reportedly arranged a private bar for the winner and the wedding guests with nearly everything on the house.
The Wheel of Fortune Slot Machine
As mentioned, the lucky woman was playing the Wheel of Fortune slot machine, a game produced by IGT. It has been a mainstay of Las Vegas casinos for more than 25 years and some have nicknamed it “The Millionaire Maker” due to the enormous number of huge jackpots it has paid out.
According to IGT, which is licensed and regulated by both the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the game has created 1,180 millionaires and awarded more than $3.5 billion in progressive jackpots. The largest jackpot awarded by the game was an astonishing $14.4 million. Just as impressively, IGT claims that a player wins a $100,000 jackpot roughly every 72 hours and that a new millionaire is created by the company roughly every 14 days.
There are several versions of the Wheel of Fortune slot and the lucky woman was playing Wheel of Fortune Collector’s Edition. Like the others in the series, the game features elements from the classic television show together with modern slot gameplay. Players can enjoy the iconic spinning wheel together with exciting graphics and sound effects that are based upon the gameshow.
At its heart, the slot is a 5-reel, 243 ways to win slot. It features stacked symbols in the base game, a coin collection feature that gives players the chance to win cash prizes, and a free games round that gives players even more chances to win. The bonus game triggers the wheel and it is where the progressive jackpot can be won.
Just as exciting as the game is the cabinet it is set in. The game uses 3D technology as well as IGT’s “True4D” technology. Players can adjust the intensity of the 3D effect, and the True4D technology introduces midair haptic capabilities. This means that players can affect certain game elements by waving their hands in the air or pointing, making the playing experience truly immersive.
The lucky bartender winner from Texas is the latest to have her Las Vegas dreams made reality by this iconic slot, but she certainly won’t be the last. When you’re next in Vegas and need a break from the baccarat tables, you might consider spending a few minutes experiencing Wheel of Fortune slot for yourself.
Hi, I’m Caroline, an experienced editor with a rich background in journalism. My career began at several Boston-based newspapers, where I specialized in editing and …
