Megabucks mania hits hard all over state

Monday, April 7, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

As gamblers line up at Megabucks slot machines across the state for a chance to win one of the world's largest jackpots ever, one person blew a golden opportunity to cash in Friday.

A tourist lined up the four Megabucks symbols on the reels but had just one coin in the three-coin machine, missing out on the jackpot that reached $11.58 million this morning.

The incident occurred at the Orleans hotel-casino. Few details were available, but the gambler was described by hotel employees as an older woman visiting from another state.

A spokeswoman for International Game Technology, which operates the statewide banks of Megabucks progressive slot machines, could not independently confirm the hit today.

Michelle Masse, however, noted that if it was a three-line machine, the gambler received nothing by playing one coin because the first dollar lights up the middle line, the second coin activates the top line and the third lights up the bottom line where the big jackpot is recorded.

However, if it was a one-line machine, the gambler would have received a smaller jackpot, perhaps $5,000, by playing one coin and lining up the Megabucks symbols.

The jackpot threatens to overtake the world record slot jackpot of $11.9 million hit last year on a Megabucks machine at the Las Vegas Hilton.

"I play this machine every time I come here, but it's never been this big before ," Jacob Morehouse of San Jose, Calif., said while plunking dollars in a Megabucks machine at the Reno Hilton.

"Every time it gets over $9 million, I play $20 on it," added Shirley Jackson of Reno, another Reno Hilton gambler. "I've been doing it for about 10 years now, so I'm hoping eventually it'll pay off for me."

The progressive jackpot has been building steadily since it was last hit Oct. 26 for $6.2 million. It's now at its second highest level ever.

John Tippin, 50, a Postal Service employee from Honolulu, landed the record $11.9 million jackpot in January 1996.

The Megabucks jackpot builds from a base amount of $5 million and can be won for a three-coin bet of $3. The system connects more than 750 slot machines in 136 Nevada casinos.

Casino operators said they've noticed increased play on Megabucks machines since the jackpot surpassed $11 million.

"Megabucks play levels are extremely high right now," said Kathy McNeill, slot director at Harrah's Reno. "Player interest is really high."

Since the system's creation by Reno-based IGT 11 years ago, Nevada Megabucks jackpots have been hit by 44 gamblers for total winnings of more than $199 million.