State is third in the nation for million dollar casino jackpots
by David Grisham
MISSISSIPPI — Progressive jackpots have gotten a lot of attention in Mississippi lately. Four guests playing at Mississippi casinos have hit millionaire-maker jackpots so far this summer.
The recent spate of MegaJackpots began when an Indiana women, Brunhilde C., hit a $8,316,562 jackpot on a 25-cent Wheel of Fortune machine at Fitz Casino & Hotel in Tunica on June 28.
Then Charles R. of Alabama hit a $1.5 million jackpot hit on a Wheel of Fortune penny machine at Hard Rock Biloxi on July 2. On July 19, a MegaJackpot hit yet again at Hard Rock. This one was on a Wheel of Fortune 3x4x5x Double Time - Spinning Reel slot machine. It was worth $2,109,783 and went to Aaron K. of Louisiana.
Several days later, a Mississippi man hit a MegaJackpot at Fitz on a Wheel of Fortune Double Diamond slot machine for a whopping $3,031,092.
“Two life changing, multi million dollar jackpots in one month certainly reinforces our motto that ‘Luck lives at the Fitz’,” said Rick Casagrande, executive director of marketing for Fitz Casino & Hotel. “My only question is, who is next?”
With title of top jackpot in the state going to Hard Rock and some other multi-million dollar jackpots also mentioned in this article, one might wonder where the recent $8.3 million and $3 million jackpots at the Fitz fall. Here are the largest progressive slot jackpots ever to hit in Mississippi. The $3 million jackpot didn’t make the list.
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1. $14,387,950 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi on Feb. 10, 2009.
2. $13,789,894 at Isle Casino Biloxi on May 21, 2003.
3. $12,845,484 at Treasure Bay Resort & Casino Biloxi on March 1, 2003.
4. $12,380,289 at Isle Casino Biloxi on June 29, 2006.
5. $10,295,956 at Fitz Casino & Hotel Tunica on March 21, 2002.
6. $10,185,288 at Horseshoe Tunica on Aug. 8, 1999.
7. $9,942,615 at Beau Rivage in Biloxi on Dec. 27, 2002.
8. $9,866,728 at Rainbow Casino Vicksburg on June 10, 2000.
9. $8,316,562 at Fitz Casino & Hotel Tunica on June 28, 2013.
10. $8,224,611 at Isle Casino Biloxi on March 19, 2006.
Big wins and progressive jackpots are monumental to players who take home the winnings. After hitting the most recent MegaJackpot at Hard Rock, Aaron K. said he made a phone call to his mother Barbara to come down to the casino floor. “She wouldn’t have believed me if I told her over the phone.” As Barbara walked up, she thought something was wrong with her son. “His face was a white as a sheet.” Aaron said he plans to use his winnings to start a restaurant.
Some jackpot winners make seemingly modest plans after hitting it big. Brunhilde, the recent $8.3 million jackpot winner at Fitz, said she planned to use some of her winnings on college tuition for her grandchildren and said that she would also “like a new kitchen.”
After hitting the largest jackpot ever in Mississippi, a reporter asked the $14 million winner at Hard Rock, “Any idea what you’re going to do first when you leave here?” He replied, “Um, no, really don’t. Probably go home and feed the dogs and the cat.” He did say, however, that he would pay off some bills and keep enjoying life.
Winning a million dollar or multi-million dollar jackpot is always big news and creates quite a buzz among players and non-players alike. While its news, one might be surprised to know that these huge jackpots happen quite often. How often? IGT MegaJackpot games have created more than 1,500 millionaires, more than any other gaming manufacturer. On average, an IGT MegaJackpot is won every 30 hours somewhere in the country. The company has paid nearly $6 billion and made more than 1,500 millionaires.
Mississippi is no stranger to huge jackpots. In a recently released infographic by International Game Technology looking at the history of MegaJackpot millionaires, it illustrates that the Magnolia State is the third winning state in the country, trailing only Nevada and New Jersey. Considering that more than 20 states have legalized casino gaming and that nearly $6 billion in MegaJackpot winnings have been awarded by IGT since 1986, this is no small feat.
Mississippi’s $513 million in MegaJackpots puts it ahead of forth-place California by more than $80 million. Here is a list of the top five states and jackpot amounts as of July 8, 2013:
Nevada: $2.3 billion
New Jersey: $884 million
Mississippi: $515 million
California $429 million
Louisiana: $307 million
The $513 million figure will have to be adjusted to include the rash of jackpots that have happened since it was released.
These seven-figure jackpots are great for the players who hit them, but what do they mean for the casinos where they take place? We posed this question to casino executives.
Alan Godfrey, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Association (MGA), said the recent progressive jackpots, along with some recent major giveaway promotions, have created a lot of excitement for the state gaming industry, particularly in Tunica. “There has been a lot of million dollar payouts,” he said.
“That’s good news for Tunica.”
Two MegaJackpots in one month is a stroke of good fortune for Hard Rock, but the casino is no stranger to big jackpots. “We always say, ‘winners play here,’ and those big jackpots just reinforce it,” said Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Biloxi’s General Manager Duncan McKenzie. “We have been so fortunate to have the most Wheel of Fortune jackpots hit right on the Gulf Coast at the Hard Rock Casino Biloxi.”
McKenzie said big progressive jackpots generate a lot of excitement. “It definitely creates a lot of buzz on and around the property. We still get to talk about the thrilling $14 million dollar Wheel of Fortune that hit in 2009 - the largest jackpot in Mississippi.” The GM said progressive play picks up when a big jackpot hits, too, which is good for business. “We do see an up-tick in progressive play when a progressive jackpot hits. It is a reminder to our guests that you could be next.”
He added that Wheel of Fortune slot machines are a good draw for casinos. “It is a very popular game. It has a great following and the most exciting aspect of it is that is has a top award that is a life-changing event.”
Brian Bass, regional manager of gaming strategy for Beau Rivage and Gold Strike casinos, said big jackpots are good for the casino and the guests. “To have a life-changing jackpot take place at your resort is great for business and generates a lot of enthusiasm,” he said. Beau Rivage was the site of a $9,942,615 jackpot in 2002.
Progressive jackpots offer players a chance at big money - five-and six-figure payouts. And they are more common than one might think, he said, citing that Gold Strike was home to 15 such jackpots and counting. This chance at big payouts attracts players, Bass said, explaining that wide-area jackpots are the most popular machines on the floor. “We manage them closely so they are going to stay popular. The manufacturers put their best content on wide-area progressives — Wizard of Oz, Tarzan, Wheel of Fortune — the most popular games are the wide-area progressives and they are available in all denominations.”
Bass added that the highest occupancy machine on the floor is the 25-cent Wheel of Fortune. Wide-area progressive machines, such as the Wheel of Fortune, cost casinos more than others, so they make up a smaller percentage of machines on the floor, he said. The facts bare this out. According to MGA Executive Director Godfrey, there are roughly 740 wide-area progressive machines in the state. In the AGA State of the States report, Mississippi is listed as having 32,414 machines in commercial casinos.
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