Page 7 - September 2002 • Southern California Gaming Guide

79-Year Old Woman Wins Record
$1,793,000 on Wheel of Fortune®
Nickels at Trump 29 Casino
A premonition paid off for a 79-year old Salton Sea Beach woman on August 3. Gloria Lewis knew it was her lucky day and headed to Trump 29 to play her favorite Wheel of Fortune® nickels slot machine. Turns out, she was absolutely correct. Ms. Lewis won $1,793,012.60, the largest jackpot in the history of the casino, and the third largest MegaJackpotsTM prize awarded in California.
“I knew this was my lucky day,” Lewis said. “Earlier, I went to buy a lotto ticket with a friend and said, ‘We’re going to win today and be rich.’”
The new millionaire said she will continue to work at the bar and convenience store, Camp Run-A-Muck, in Salton Sea Beach. “I got this job when I really needed money, now all my friends are there,” Lewis said. “Everyone comes in to see me.”
Lewis, who has four children, ve grandchildren, and three great grandchildren, said she would use her winnings to help her family nancially, pay off her home loan, buy a new car, and take a vacation to visit her family. “At rst I thought it was in the thousands,” Lewis said. “I was really shaken up. I still can’t believe how much I won.”
“Our mission is to be the Ultimate Entertainment Experience in the Coachella Valley—this solidi es our drive towards achieving this goal,” said Kevin McNair, vice president of marketing at Trump 29 Casino. “We are delighted that Gloria, one of our favorite local players, has and
always will play at Trump 29.”
Look for Gloria on page 22, pictured with other big winners in Southern
California!
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
Harrah’s Rincon Casino and
Resort Opens in San Diego
County with a Vegas Flourish
A Las Vegas veteran brings its reputation and expertise to the Rincon Band of Mission Indians’ casino in San Diego County. The Rincon Band of Mission Indians have a winning combination with their new casino, Harrah’s Rincon Casino and Resort in San Diego’s North County. The casino/resort opened of - cially on August 8th after two days of sneak previews to player’s club players and the media.
About an hour from San Diego and Riverside, Harrah’s Rincon rises at the end of Valley Center like a fantasy oasis among llama ranches and corralled ranch properties. The four-story, 200-room hotel is the newest member of the elite tribal resort casino family, and the rst of cial casino resort in San Diego County. Sycuan Casino & Resort in San Diego’s East County became a resort when the Sycuan tribe acquired Singing Hills Golf Resort in 2001.
The 180,000 sq. ft. facility has an elegant casino with 1,500 slot machines, 32 table games, six varied cuisine restaurants— all right off the casino oor—a 90-seat lounge, and an 8,000 sq. ft. event center for concerts and meetings.
The splashy opening, which had traf c backed up on Valley Center Road, included Vegas showgirls in feathers and
Artist Rendering of Harrah’s Rincon Casino and Resort in San Diego County
September 2002 Page 7
Southern California Gaming News