By Amanda Finnegan 
Friday, Jan. 21, 2011 | 10:03 p.m.
Steve Marcus
Fireworks explode over the Aria hotel-casino during the official opening Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009. Aria is the centerpiece of the $8.5 billion CityCenter project, which is a partnership between MGM Mirage and Dubai World.
A gambler at a Strip casino turned $6 into more than $12.7 million when she hit the Megabucks Jackpot at Aria on Friday afternoon.
The gambler, who wished to remain anonymous, was visiting Las Vegas for her niece’s birthday when she hit the jackpot at the CityCenter casino. After she hit the winning symbols, she thought the machine was malfunctioning until her niece pointed out that she had won.
“I was on my way to my room when I saw this machine and decided to play,” she said in a statement.
The winner went on to say she was excited to share the news of her win with her husband and was looking forward to paying off her mortgage.
Reno-based gaming supply company International Game Technology is the maker of the Megabucks product line, which launched in 1986. The largest jackpot ever paid out was $39 million, won in March 2003 at the Excalibur.
ARIA Resort & Casino at CityCenter The centerpiece of CityCenter Las Vegas is Aria Resort & Casino, a stunning AAA Five Diamond resort on The Strip featuring an unprecedented combination of striking architecture, sustainable design, spectacular amenities, high-end service and premium meeting and convention space.
From unique culinary offerings created by the world’s most talented chefs, to innovative nightlife, indulgent spa treatments and Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil, ARIA embodies the excitement and vitality of Las Vegas.
Aria is home to an incredible collection of stylish and technologically advanced accommodations including Sky Suites, a AAA Five Diamond hotel within a hotel experience. And it's hard to miss — it lit up its new 25-foot-tall LED sign in April 2013.
Combined with CityCenter’s unparalleled amenities including luxurious shopping at Crystals and the first-of-its-kind public Fine Art Collection, ARIA introduces a new generation of resort experiences, unlike anything Las Vegas has ever seen. CityCenter is a joint venture between MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) and Infinity World Development Corp, a subsidiary of Dubai World.
3730 Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas,
NV 89109
702-590-7757
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Maybe she can lend it back to help bring down the debt... lol
Why is it always these people who put in a few bucks? It just doesn't seem fair to all the grandma's out there putting in $100 every day. And the money isn't even staying in the state. Someone needs to warn her of the megabucks curse though...
i don't think she put in only 6 bucks.
Story isn't written very well. The opening sentence suggests she only put $6 in the machine but nowhere does it specifically say that. Most people don't put in $6. They put in a $20 bill or a $100 or something like that. Whoever wrote the story probably thinks it costs $6 to spin when it's actually $3.
How often do these Megabucks machines pay off at a property that is in it's infancy?
From a casual observer's standpoint, it seems like it happens A LOT.
Yes Gmag, it tends to happen at new places.(I've been here for 30+ years and have seen it at least ten times) I guess Cosmo is next?
Boris, you listening? get over to the Cosmo on your next visit, and be sure to send a lttle commission to Gmag and The Next Opinion for the hot tip after you win the Megabucks. : )
I wonder if you follow her might she drop a few stray hundreds? Hmmm -
Good for her. Nice to see people winning the big jackpots. That is what it is all about. Once in a while someone wins the dream of many.
Dang! I forgot to play some Megabucks when I was there over New Year's!
if (when) i hit, it will say 'he only put $20 in the machine.' it wont tell the public about the 100 of thousand of dollars i lost over the last 30yrs trying to win a big jackpot.
am i stupid for feeding the slots? OF COURSE. but an addiction is an addiction. they probably wont publish my comments if i win either for I WILL TELL THE TRUTH!!!!!
She immediately lost the money in 3 hours.
So now what does her niece get for her birthday?
hehe, she'll pay off her mortgage! love it! congrats!
Most of my jackpots were after I just sat down!
if i win the megabucks, i wouldnt mind holding another lottery to give away $10,000 to 50 lucky locals in las vegas hahah :)
$10,000 each btw... :P
I would think you have play $3.00 and pull the handle twice. DUH!
Come on folks. Can't you just be happy for someone once in a while and not look for the hidden conspiricies in everything? Who cares if it was $6.00 or $600.00? It was her money. You are sounding like "sour grapes" to me....
Keepin the GLITTER GULCH DREAM alive.
I'm happy for her.You cant begrudge her good fortune,just hope that you'll be the next lucky player.
I'm familiar with that bank of Mega-bucks machines at Aria.I hit an 1,800.00 taxable on one of those machines in April of 2010.Had about 375.00 into it before I hit that.
Overall Mega-bucks is the worst slot play in any casino,but I up playing them a bit because you just never know.$6 dollars in and that gals life has changed forever.
"i don't think she put in only 6 bucks."
Why the stupid comment? So what if she put in more? She still won!
Her first reaction was "...the machine was malfunctioning... ." From the point of view of the House, her first reaction is correct.
That's Life! A loser can dump his paycheck into a slot for thirty-years and never win. While some happy grandma drops a few bucks and the machine blows it wad.
You just never know....good for her
That is amazing god bless her.