Megabucks-mania moves into high gear

Friday, April 11, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

The largest slot jackpot in history is waiting to be won.

Late Thursday, the Nevada Megabucks progressive jackpot went over the $12 million plateau for the first time. As of early today, the jackpot stood at $12,067,500.

The previous world record jackpot was $11,967,141, hit Jan. 27, 1996, on a Megabucks machine at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Nevada Megabucks was last hit Oct. 26, 1996, for $6.2 million, and it has been building since it reset to its base amount of $5 million.

Gamblers have been lining up to play Megabucks machines at local casinos.

"The 'Mega-watch' continues as we wait to see how high the jackpot will go before it's finally hit," said Ward Chilton, director of progressive systems for International Game Technology, creator of Megabucks.

"We love it when Megabucks rewrites the slot jackpot record books, and it's going to happen again. We just don't know where or when."

Chuck Hickey, director of slot operations for the Silver Legacy in downtown Reno, noted: "Over the last month ... the play on our Megabucks progressive slot machines has increased dramatically.

"Excitement over the growing Megabucks jackpot is evident on the casino floor, with customers and employees alike. Now we just hope it'll hit here."

Last weekend, a woman at the Orleans hotel-casino lined up the Megabucks symbols for what would have been the big jackpot, but had just one dollar instead of the three-dollar maximum needed for the record prize.

Nevada Megabucks has produced 44 major winners, whose combined winnings total more than $199 million.

Nevada Megabucks connects more than 750 slot machines in 136 Nevada casinos. IGT provides eight other progressive systems in Nevada, including Wheel of Fortune, Dollars Deluxe, Quartermania, Quarters Deluxe, Nevada Nickels, Nickels Deluxe, Fabulous 50s and High Rollers.