Page 17 - November 2006 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Tajel won $2,514,619 on Wheel of Fortune® Super SpinTM at Morongo Casino Resort in October
$2 billion in top MegaJackpots® awards to lucky winners throughout the country.
Antonio won $114,637 on 25¢ Wheel of Fortune® at Harrah’s Rincon Casino in February
system. Generated by the computers that
Vilma won $124,527 on 25¢ Wheel of Fortune® at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in June
as Ms. ongnamsap hit a $7,329,995 MegaJackpots® award on a Wheel of Fortune® Special Edition® nickel slot machine at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino—one of the largest MegaJackpots® awards in California history. She had been playing for around 40 minutes when she hit the huge jackpot.
Five dollars was all it took for Jose Gilberto Gonzalez Aquilar to hit a $196,409 MegaJackpots® prize on a Wheel of Fortune® quarter slot machine at Golden Acorn Casino on February 26th. Aquilar, pictured on the cover, was waiting for his wife when he hit the jackpot.
A San Diego man who thought that huge slot jackpots were an urban legend quickly became a believer on April 15th when he won a $537,474 MegaJackpots® award on a Wheel of Fortune® dollar slot at Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino. Arthur Gray, pictured on the cover, said, “ is has changed my thoughts about MegaJackpots. I didn’t really believe they hit!” In fact, MegaJackpots® do hit—on an average of once every 2–4 days.
A retired grandmother had a fortuitous turn at the wheel on June 4th. Vilma Teresa Hernandez won a $124,257 MegaJackpots® award on a Wheel of Fortune® quarter slot at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. Ms Hernandez had played just $20 before she won.
And on September 23rd Shirley Robertson, pictured on the cover, had an early birthday present when she won a $159,371 MegaJackpots® award on a Wheel of Fortune® 25-cent slot at Harrah’s Rincon Casino.
Keep Your Casino Play Fun
As a parting word, a bit of progressive slot play advice: don’t chase a progressive jackpot. Like all slot machines, they are ruled by random number generators, so you never know when they will hit. Luck has every thing to do with being a big jackpot winner!
Howard won $222,364 on 1¢ The Twilight Zone® Video Slots at Spotlight 29 Casino in May
Ilma won $377,808 on 5¢ Wheel of Fortune® Video Slots at Pala Casino Spa Resort in February
Robert won a $96,703 Colossal Coin Jackpot at Valley View Casino in August
John won $104,249 on 25¢ Wheel of Fortune® at Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort in February
monitor MegaJackpots® machines scattered enewestmemberofthefamily,the throughoutthearea,theadvisorytellsthe
Wheel of Fortune® Special Edition® Super SpinTM video slot, continues the legacy as, literally, one of the biggest games ever.
Wheel of Fortune® Special Edition® Super SpinTM features an oversized spinning bonus wheel surrounded by nine player stations, each with seats for two people. Since their introduction in March 2006, Super SpinTM video slots have created two millionaires in Southern California.
On July 20th, Mario Martinez, a father of three, won $1,249,830.70 at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino on a nickel version of Super SpinTM. e lucky winner, pictured on the cover, had taken the day o work for a belated birthday celebration at the casino.
And on October 16th, San Jacinto restaurant owner, Tajel Patel won $2,514,619 on a Wheel of Fortune® Special Edition® Super SpinTM nickel game at Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa. She parlayed $100 into the huge jackpot. In fact, Mrs. Patel’s MegaJackpot® win marks a major milestone for Native American Progressive Systems, tipping the total jackpot dollars awarded over the $1 billion mark.
What Happens When You Win a MegaJackpots® Top Award
Imagine yourself playing Wheel of Fortune® or another of IGT’s MegaJackpots® games in a Southern California casino. You’ve played the maximum number of coins, you push the button—or pull the handle—and click, click, click...the winning symbols line up on the payline. According to reports from previous winners, time seems to stand still as you slowly realize that...yes, you’ve won. You’ve really won!
In the IGT Reno MegaJackpots® operations room, the lineup of the game’s symbols triggers rst an alarm and then, a few seconds later, an advisory that a primary jackpot has been recorded on the
24-hour monitoring sta which game you were playing, as well as the time, location and amount of your jackpot.
Back in Southern California, casino sta is nding it hard to resist the impulse to o er congratulations. While all outward signs indicate that you have won a signi cant amount of money, your win is not yet“o cial” and congratulations not yet in order. Gaming regulations require a veri cation process whereby IGT technicians thoroughly inspect the machine’s internal systems to ensure that the machine is working properly and the jackpot is legitimate.
In Reno, the operations people are calling technicians who will arrive shortly to inspect your machine. ey also notify a jackpot response representative who— once your jackpot is o cial—will present you with various documents to sign. e representative will also give you a check. If you were playing an annuity game, the check will represent the rst annual installment.
Once your jackpot is veri ed, congratulations are in order, and completing the paperwork is ready to begin. You will be asked to present two forms of identi cation. In most cases, IGT does not withhold state or federal taxes, but you are required to ll out a W-2G form reporting your winnings, which will be led with the IRS. en comes the fun part—living the rest of your life as a lucky MegaJackpots® winner.
Short Play and Big Pay
Many progressive jackpot winners’ stories have a recurring theme—winners play a short time and win a big pay-o . Here are a few memorable winners’ story excerpts from the past 2006 issues.
Before passing away two years ago, Churaisri ongnamsap’s father told her 2006 would be the luckiest year in her life. His prediction came true on February 25th,
November 2006
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
Page 17