Where to go to find the biggest jackpots
By J. Phillip Vogel
The backbone of the casino, slots are the most popular game in town—no matter where the town is. Of particular interest to many players are the often massive jackpots that taunt and tease with the promise of life-changing money. While they give up their riches rarely, there are plenty of winners every year in casinos across the country. Here are some of the top properties for jackpots along with a breakdown of some of the biggest or most interesting paydays in recent memory.
PECHANGA RESORT & CASINO Temecula, CA
A fan of the zombie genre also found Pechanga to be very generous. Back in February 2015, a slot player scared up a million dollar jackpot on The Walking Dead slot game. From Chino Hills, CA, won $1,053,775.64. A fan of the TV show of the same name, Rocio chose to play the penny slot, but at first did not play with max bets. On September 28, 2018, a record-breaking progressive jackpot win of €18,915,721 was triggered by an anonymous player on the Mega Moolah slot by Microgaming at Grand Mondial online casino. FAVORITE LOOSEST SLOTS Pechanga Resort & Casino. 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula, CA 92592 951-693-1819 website:: facebook:: twitter:: yelp Years Won: 2017 (Favorite) Just a couple minutes off I-15 awaits a resort that takes many visitors say looks like it would be in Las Vegas.
Latest casino bonuses no deposit bonus. Lots to do, just like Vegas but you might actually win a hand. Recently added craps and roulette to the standard slots and card games. Great shows at the comedy club and theater. Some very nice restaurants. The spa is very pricey, and so are the rooms, but we live locally and wait for specials and then enjoy a wonderful time at a lower cost. Many people enjoy slot machines for their ease of use and exciting possibilities. If you love playing slot machines and want to get serious about winning, you need to find a loose slot machine. A loose slot machine is a machine that has a higher than average payout. With a little cleverness and planning you can be winning large amounts in no time!
A favorite among casinophiles, Pechanga Resort & Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the country. This Temecula, California casino has been rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, and provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay.
Offering more than 3,400 of the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 517 hotel rooms, dining, spa and golf, Pechanga Resort & Casino features a destination that exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. But one of the properties most impressive claim is the simply staggering number of massive jackpots won year after year.
For example, a lucky Los Angeles woman is now $1,058,333.33 richer thanks to a bit of stubbornness during a recent trip to Pechanga Resort & Casino. The anonymous winner scored the huge progressive jackpot on June 12 on a $1 Golden Pagodas Gold Series slot machine. She had only $80 in the machine and had played for about 30 minutes before striking the windfall. Her son and his fiancé had wanted to leave the resort/casino some time earlier, though mom opted to keep playing. She found her diligence rewarded as she became the 12th person to hit more than $1 million at the property.
A fan of the zombie genre also found Pechanga to be very generous. Back in February 2015, a slot player scared up a million dollar jackpot on The Walking Dead slot game. Rocio H. from Chino Hills, CA, won $1,053,775.64. A fan of the TV show of the same name, Rocio chose to play the penny slot, but at first did not play with max bets. A few spins before the jackpot hit, she decided to risk a bit more. She watched the zombie symbols line up across the screen and realized she hit the progressive, million-dollar jackpot. She had only been playing the machine for 10 minutes before she scored the frighteningly awesome windfall.
MARYLAND LIVE! CASINO Hanover, MD
Easily one of the top casinos in the country, Maryland Live! Casino is a haven for slots lovers. Situated halfway between Baltimore and Washington, in Hanover, Maryland, this expansive casino is a giant playground, a casino lover's paradise boasting one of the nation's largest gaming, retail and entertainment destinations. Open 24/7, the $500+ million Maryland Live!
Casino features an exhaustive collection of approximately 4,000 of the most popular slots and electronic table games, including $1 Million Dollar Double Gold, Wheel of Fortune, Buffalo Grand, The Walking Dead, Sex and the City, MegaHits and countless others. There are so many of the latest games and perennial favorites to choose from that no matter which slot you prefer, chances are you'll find it here.
In May 2015, Maryland Live! Casino launched what is easily one of the most exciting and unique slot jackpot programs in the country, the appropriately named Giant Jackpots.
Pechanga Slot Machine Winners 2020
Giant Jackpots is a mystery progressive jackpot that grows after a spin on any eligible slot machine by any player actively using a Live! Rewards Card. The jackpot process is simple – use your card, hit it, and win it!
And this promotion is called 'Giant' for good reason. Each Giant Jackpot begins with $50,000 and grows until a lucky patron hits it big. Perhaps the best part of the promotion is that a winner is guaranteed before the jackpot reaches $100,000 – so there are plenty of jackpots to go around.
Chon Nguyen of Jessup, MD, made the history books at Maryland Live! Casino on May 31, 2015 by becoming the first Giant Jackpots winner. Ms. Nguyen hit for a whopping $97,797.57 during the kick-off weekend after playing the penny slots for just a couple hours. Her bet? A mere 60 cents!
Owing in part to the popularity of Giant Jackpots, in June 2016 Maryland Live! Casino expanded the program with the launch Junior Jackpots. Each Junior Jackpot starts at $5,000 and grows every time an eligible guest makes a spin on an eligible slot machine with their Live! Rewards Card properly inserted. The Jackpot increases until somebody wins—and somebody is guaranteed to win by the time the Junior Jackpot reaches $10,000! Once the prize is awarded, the Junior Jackpot resets back to $5,000 and it starts all over again.
Maryland Live! Casino has redefined—perhaps even perfected—the casino experience. It's simply a 'can't miss' destination for any casino lover, especially if you're in search of a jackpot. For more information visit: www.marylandlivecasino.com.
EMPIRE CITY CASINO Yonkers, NY
Just minutes from New York City, Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway is a bright spot in an already sparkling city. Yonkers Raceway was founded in 1899 as the Empire City Trotting Club and many a famous thoroughbred has graced the dirt, including Seabiscuit. In June 2005 the raceway closed its doors and construction began on a new gaming operation. The original six-story club house was renovated on the first two floors to accommodate over 2,000 video gaming machines and restaurants; and a new one-story building was constructed to hold 3,000 additional video gaming machines, an international food court, bars, and an entertainment lounge.
This modern-style slot racino now offers more than 5,300 of the hottest slot machines, so you'll have plenty of chances to make yourself a winner. Some of the current hot themes available are: CSI, Michael Jackson—King of Pop, Wheel of Fortune, Sex and the City, Red Hot Jackpot Progressives, Hangover, NASCAR, Family Guy and Dolly Parton. With individual and multi-denominations ranging from 1 cent to $100, as both reels and video games, you can be sure any bankroll gets you in the game.
NOTABLE JACKPOTS
With so many games to choose from, it's no wonder Empire City has a huge assortment of winners. Here are a few of their biggest and best.
On June 8, 2016 a player identified only as 'Lucy' from the Bronx hit the jackpot for $129,107 on the Bally/Hot Shot Progressive machine. Las vegas blackjack odds. Later that month a Connecticut player named 'Vincent' hit a jackpot worth $100,020.00. The hit was made in the Gotham Palace on the Bally/Double Jackpot Wild slot. Vinny made a $5 wager on the $1 denomination machine.
Player Tracie B's $388,311.84 score on February 5 was the biggest hit of 2016, registered on the Blazing 7's slot machine.
Pechanga Slot Jackpots
The record for the biggest jackpot at Empire City is held by Suffolk County resident Howard G., who walked away with $1,473,503 on October 25, 2015. That jawdropping score was won on the popular IGT Wheel of Fortune Triple Stars slot machine, located just a few hundred feet from the casino's valet entrance. This broke the previous record set by Manuel Esteche of Port Chester who hit for $571,000 in February 2015.
For more information visit www.empirecitycasino.com.
HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO SIOUX CITY Sioux City, IA
The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City is a $126 million fully integrated gaming resort facility that completely restored Sioux City's historic Battery Building from the industrial manufacturing structure that it was into the AAA Four Diamond rated property that it is today. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, this resort boasts a Hard Rock Hotel, the world-famous Rock Shop, a live-entertainment venue—Anthem, an outdoor event park and a variety of delicious food and unique beverage options including the World Tour Buffet, Main + Abbey restaurant, Fuel American Grill.
The Hard Rock hotel is a boutique 54-room property located in Sioux City's historic Battery Building in the Fourth Street District. Upon entering the hotel, you'll find what was once a drop-off station for trains unloading cargo is now the floor-to-ceiling Lobby Bar. This is where a team will help you check into the hotel while you sip on your favorite drink or one of The Lobby Bar's specialty cocktails.
The property offers a great selection of 844 slot machines along with an assortment of video poker games, and a wide variety of table games. Some of the most popular titles on hand include Wheel of Fortune, Wicked Winnings 2, Big Bang Theory, and Britney Spears. There truly is a theme and a game to fit everyone's skill level and interests, and a wide variety of low- and high-dollar machines to fit everyone's betting tastes. They even offer unique machines – Hard Rock Casino Sioux City designed their own machines that are special for Iowa, including the 'Democracy Rocks' machines encouraging Iowans to participate in the political process.
'Our gaming floor is both comprehensive and dynamic, offering something for everyone,' said Kelly Pace, slots director for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City. 'We take pride in our variety and exceptional service, and are constantly working to improve upon both based on customer feedback and interests.'
For the slot player in search of a big payday, the property is ideal in the region, having proven itself with $27,730,722.49 in jackpot payouts since it opened its doors on August 1, 2014. A favorite stop among jackpot hunters in Iowa, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City offers a great selection of progressive slots just aching to pay that next big jackpot.
'Our team works hard every day to create the best destination for slots enthusiasts in the Midwest,' said Pace. 'From the environment to the experience, we're always looking for and implementing the hottest trends in the industry and making sure every guest on our floor feels like a rock star.'
Finally, partying and playing at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City isn't just its own reward. You'll rack up points for nearly every little thing you do on the casino floor and off. This means that your next trip could rock even harder than your last. Enroll in the Backstage Pass Rewards Club for free and be the first to know what's happening at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City. Plus, get invited to exclusive events and parties. For more information visit www.hardrockcasinosiouxcity.com.
Pechanga Resort & Casino is one of the largest tribal casinos in the entire country, and the largest in California. Located in Temecula, California, it offers games, tons of restaurants, a spa, and even an RV park. Below, we will further explain the full experience Pechanga has to offer.
Pechanga Casino Fact Table
| Year Opened | 2002 |
| Phone Number | 877-711-2946 |
| Address | 45000 Pechanga Way, Temecula, CA 92592 |
| Number of Games | 4,700+ |
| Minimum Age to Gamble | 21-years-old |
Games You Can Find At Pechanga
Pechanga has the largest casino floor in all of California, featuring over 4,500 slot machines.
Slots
The casino is always adding new slot machines while continuing to offer many classic favorites. Slots enthusiasts will find plenty of games to appreciate during their time at the casino.
Table Games
Not counting poker, there are a total of 154 table games available. Some of these include old favorites like Three Card or Crazy 4 Poker, but you can find plenty of other table games such as:
- Pai Gow
- Royal Flush Blackjack
- Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em
- Let It Ride
- Roulette
- Baccarat
- Craps (including variations that offer up to five times normal odds)
There are 46 distinct tables from which to choose.
Poker
For those who prefer poker, you'll be pleased to know that favorite poker varieties, like No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em and Omaha Hi-Lo, are both offered at Pechanga.
There are daily tournaments on Mondays through Thursdays, plus Friday and Saturday morning tournaments. Other seasonal or yearly tournaments pop up here and there, as well. On top of potential game winnings, when you play, you'll also be automatically entered for several promotions and special jackpots.
Even better, Pechanga offers private cash games and private tournaments. To do so, you'll need to reserve the space ahead of time. Alternatively, you can hire poker instructors from Pechanga to teach you how to become an expert.
Bingo
If you're in the mood for other types of games, be sure to check out Pechanga's Bingo Hall. The Bingo Hall features enough seating for up to 700 people, plus a selection of amenities so you're always comfortable. There are matinee and evening sessions and special Sunday Mega Matinees, which have opportunities to earn even more money. Themed Bingo nights are also pretty common, like Taco Tuesdays.
High Stakes Gaming
A special 14,000 ft.² high limit area is a perfect spot if you prefer high-stakes wagering. There are over 200 slot and video poker games in this area, plus a secluded cash cage that gives you added privacy when collecting your winnings. This high limit section features its own amenities and a special theme.
Off-Track Betting For Horse Races
Lastly, Pechanga offers off-track horse race betting. You'll be able to enjoy live satellite racing action on six days throughout the week. Iconic California tracks stream their races directly to Pechanga. There are 72 seats in total and 22 flatscreen TVs. Betting here is an excellent alternative if you can't make it to a race track in time for a big race.
Check out our Guide To California Tribal Casinos.
Events And Experience At Pechanga Casino
Pechanga is an incredibly popular casino, not only for its variety of games but for the events it hosts throughout the year. The casino has a ton of event space, including a full concert hall, a comedy club, and a boxing ring.
The Pechanga Theater hosts regional and world-famous concerts and other performers. The Pechanga Summit is perfect for hosting conferences or business conventions, but must be reserved in advance.
Dining
There are also plenty of places to eat at this phenomenal resort. In fact, there are more places to eat here at almost any other California casino. Available eateries include:
- Pechanga Café, an American restaurant
- Blazing Noodles, which serves Thai and Chinese food
- Blends, a wine bar that also serves coffee and tea
- Bamboo, a pan-Asian and Chinese restaurant
- Temptations Food Walk, an elegant food court
- Round Bar, one of the best bars in the area
- Umi Sushi and Oyster Bar
- Corner Bar, another excellent place to grab a bite and a drink
- Lobby Bar and Grill, which also hosts live entertainment and comedy from time to time
- A buffet that serves food from a variety of countries
- Journey's End, another American restaurant
Pechanga includes one of the most luxurious hotels and spot experiences, as well. It's an all-inclusive resort, not just a gaming casino.
Pechanga Casino History
Pechanga operates within the same legal jurisdiction as other Indian casinos throughout California. The casino stands on sovereign tribal ground, which is not subject to state law, so it can legally offer a wide range of gambling activities.
The history of this casino began in 2002 when the original Pechanga Resort & Casino opened its doors for the first time. The original casino included the main floor, a 1,200-seat showroom, a 14-story hotel, a massive convention center, and the Eagle's Nest Lounge.
However, 2004 saw the casino undergo a 100,000 ft.² expansion. This added even more gaming space and the above-mentioned high limit gaming area, plus the food court. The poker room was also added during this time.
Pechanga Casino FAQ
You have to be 21-years-old to enter. This is because the alcohol is readily available, and casino operators don't want underage adults drinking on their premises. From 2002-2003, the age restriction was 18-years-old, but this has been amended.
You can use self-parking structures toward the north and east sides of the property. Alternatively, valet parking is available for a fee.
It's a separate parking area that allows RV owners to come to the casino without having to store their large vehicles off-site. Guests can even stay in their RVs instead of the hotel and still enjoy the rest of the casino experience.
Pechanga Casino Slot Winners
The National Indian Gaming Commission regulates gambling at this and all other Indian casinos in California.
