A casino excursion in California turned extraordinarily lucrative for one lucky visitor who turned a mere $5 into over $1 million.
Reflecting on my own history of occasional lottery tickets and scratch cards, it’s sobering to think about the total spent versus the paltry sums recouped. Despite once winning $100 from a scratch card, that small victory hardly offsets the cumulative expense incurred on whims of feeling ‘lucky’—prompted by anything from bird droppings (an odd good luck charm indeed, experienced twice) to the simple allure of a Friday night with a drink in hand.
Yet, for one fortunate casino-goer, no such superstitions or strategies were necessary to strike it rich. Stepping into the California Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas with just $5, this individual left with a fortune.
The winner, a man from Hawaii, was celebrating his son’s 21st birthday when he decided to try his luck at the casino on Wednesday (12 June), as reported by Boyd Gaming to Fox 5 Vegas.
The birthday celebration undoubtedly became unforgettable when the Hawaiian visitor invested $5 into an IGT’s Wheel of Fortune slots game at about 4:00 AM.
The $5 gamble paid off spectacularly as he hit a bonus wheel aligning three 7′s on the payline, netting him a staggering $1,569,632.91 jackpot.
The winner was in sheer disbelief at his fortune, which quickly became the talk of the town and spread across the internet.
The story of the massive win was posted on the Reddit thread r/Oahu by user/808SOS, garnering plenty of congratulatory messages from fellow users.
User u/zoot_boy commented, “Yay! They can put a down payment on a house now!”
“That’s enough to own a studio in Kalihi,” joked u/Deranged_Coconut808.
U/blueblazer2723 expressed surprise: “I’m surprised the machine didn’t ‘glitch’ and the person betting only gets $5 and a free drink.”
Curious about the winner’s secret to success? According to a news release from California Hotel & Casino quoted by Khon 2, he attributed his incredible luck to carrying a red envelope in his pocket, a symbol of good luck, prosperity, and happiness.
While the windfall is inspiring, it’s essential to remember to gamble responsibly.