Las Vegan Makes Her Own Magic With Megabucks Dollar Slot Jackpot

LAS VEGAS -- A 71-year-old Las Vegan, on her way to see the afternoon performance of 'The Magic of Rick Thomas' at the Orleans Hotel & Casino, made a little magic of her own today when she hit
Megabucks is the most popular wide-area progressive played today.  the dollar Megabucks jackpot for $12,076,530.

Nevada MegaJackpots® systems have been hit for more than $38 million in the last 10 days. Besides today's big win, Wheel of Fortune Special Edition(TM) produced a $7.8 million winner in Reno on January 27, and an $18.7 million Penny Megabucks jackpot was won January 31 in Pahrump, Nev.

Today's anonymous winner had come to the Orleans early to have lunch before the 2 p.m. show. After lunch, on her way to the theater, she stopped to play Megabucks®.

"I have been playing Megabucks® for years," she said. "I come here all the time, especially on Sunday after church. So today, I put in $20 and after several pulls, I saw the first Megabucks® symbol fall into place, then the second and then the third. It was all in slow motion, watching them drop down one at a time. But I knew right away I had won. I just didn't know how much."

The woman, a former interior decorator who moved to Las Vegas in 2000, said the winnings will help her pay off the mortgage on her home. She will also donate money to her church and share the winnings with her family.

Megabucks® is one of 24 Nevada MegaJackpots® systems operated by IGT. All IGT MegaJackpots® are paid in annual installments upon verification, except MegaJackpots Instant Winners Jackpots(TM) and Rapid Riches MegaJackpots®, which are paid in their entirety upon verification. Both the penny and dollar Megabucks® progressives have top jackpots that build from a base amount of $10 million and are paid in annual installments upon verification.

International Game Technology (www.IGT.com) is a global company specializing in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and sales of computerized gaming machines and systems products.