$28 million Megabucks breaks record

Monday, Jan. 3, 2000 | 11:30 a.m.

A new year, a new century, a new millennium, a new world-record slot jackpot.

During the New Year's weekend, the statewide dollar progressive Megabucks slot machines went over the previous record -- $27.6 million -- which was won Nov. 15, 1998, at Palace Station.

Early today the jackpot stood at $28,169,750 and was climbing at a brisk pace. The jackpot goes up a few pennies for ever dollar played. To hit the jackpot requires a $3 play and a tremendous amount of luck -- about one-in-50 million spins.

The last time the big jackpot was hit was for $21.3 million on June 1 at Caesars Palace by a 49-year-old Illinois man who remained anonymous.

The world record jackpot was hit by a 67-year-old Las Vegas woman, who also did not divulge her name to the public -- although to collect the jackpot she had to reveal it to International Game Technology, makers of Megabucks, and the Internal Revenue Service.

That slot record officially will be set the next time some gambler lines up the Megabucks symbols on either the third pay line of a three-line machine or on the lone center line of a one-line machine.

There are more than 700 Megabucks machines in more than 150 Nevada casinos.

The game can be played by anyone who is 21 or older. Winners have the option of being paid in installments over 25 years or receiving a lump-sum payment. The jackpot has been hit 48 times, paying off more than $267 million.