Ontario, California slot player wins over $3.2 million at Pala

PALA, California -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- A 32-year-old slot player from Ontario, California, won $3,229.365.15 Friday night (Feb. 1) while playing a California Megabucks Double 3x4x5x Times Pay progressive slot machine at Pala Casino Resort and Spa. The player, who had wagered $40 when the jackpot hit, requested to remain anonymous.

“It is the largest jackpot payout in the history of Pala Casino Resort and Spa,” said Bill Bembenek, chief executive officer. Pala opened for business on April 3, 2001.

The Megabucks machine at Pala is part of a statewide progressive slot network operated by IGT - International Gaming Technology of Reno, Nevada, in 37 casinos in California. The network includes 60 slot machines.

The Megabucks jackpot starts at $3 million and grows based on the amount of coin-in play at each casino. When the jackpot is hit, it resets to $3 million.

“What a fantastic night for the lucky Megabucks winner as IGT delivers again on its Dream Big Win Big promise over the weekend at Pala Casino Resort and Spa,” said Susan Cartwright, IGT vice president of corporate communications. “IGT Megabucks has paid out more than $5.6 billion in jackpots and transformed the lives of so many players by making them instant millionaires. Congratulations to this lucky winner on their life-changing win.”

IGT launched Megabucks and the MegaJackpots progressive product line in 1986, and has produced dozens of major winners with jackpots ranging from just over $1 million (when $1 million was the system’s base jackpot) to the world record $39 million won in March 2003 at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.