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One lucky player walked away with millions of dollars in his pocket from a $5 bet on a slot machine in Nevada. The tourist won the jackpot when playing Megabucks Spitfire Multipliers Red Hot 7s at the Virgin River Casino & Lodge in Mesquite. The out-of-towner won over $12 million, $12,371,364.88 to be precise.
Who won the life-changing jackpot?
This made it the casino’s record win, with the player asking to remain anonymous. Mesquite is 80 miles Northeast of Las Vegas. The amount won puts other successes to shame. An individual won $16,000 from a $1 bet on a Phoenix Link slot machine at the Aliante Hotel Casino Spa.
🚨 12 MILLION DOLLAR JACKPOT! 🚨 One lucky player became the latest Megabucks™ millionaire with this life-changing win from a $5 bet at @VirginRiverNV! The player won $12,371,364.88 playing Megabucks™ Triple Red Hot 7s™ Spitfire Multipliers™. Help us congratulate the winner! pic.twitter.com/1YzMGvaJOs
— IGT Jackpots (@IGTJackpots) February 18, 2025
Speaking on the win, Mesquite Entertainment CEO, Justin Moore said: “We love celebrating big wins at Virgin River Casino & Lodge and this incredible jackpot is a testament to the excitement our property brings. There’s nothing like the thrill of turning a small bet into a life-changing moment and we’re proud to be a destination where players can experience that.”
The Virgin River Casino & Lodge is home to 14 table games, 1,000 slot machines, and a 53-foot video wall. The resort also features a golf course, bowling alley, arcade, and meeting rooms.
Other famous Vegas casino wins
The record for a casino win in Las Vegas dates back to 2003. A 25-year-old software engineer wrote his name into the record books by winning $39.7 million from a $100 stake. The success came from a Megabucks slot machine at the famous Excalibur Casino.
Another win over $30 million came at the Desert Inn. Waitress Cynthia Jay Brennan won the £34.9 million Megabucks slot jackpot in 2000.
Does Nevada still attract gamblers like before?
Millions of gamblers head to Nevada annually in the hope of winning big. However, Nevada gaming win’s November 2024 total was down 4.2% from the previous year. This was reported by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, a statistic that has been put down to the disappointing Las Vegas Formula One Grand Prix.
However, the state has recovered well from the Covid-19 pandemic. The statewide win for November 2024 was 40.4%, up $378.8 million from 2019.
