After 20 Years Without Win, Slot Machine Pays $2.4M

Couple played 'Lion's Share' for 5 minutes before winning
By Elizabeth Armstrong Moore,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 25, 2014 4:03 AM CDT
After 20 Years Without Win, Slot Machine Pays $2.4M
A tourist plays a slot machine at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The most popular slot machine out of 1,900 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the "Lion's Share" has had a reputation since it was installed in the '90s for boasting a sizable jackpot—thanks to no one ever having won it. It's so popular that it's played once every five seconds, reports the Guardian. So Linda and Walter Misco from New Hampshire couldn't quite believe it when they watched the elusive three green emblems line up in front of them on their last night in town, and walked out of the casino $2.4 million richer.

"It was surreal when it happened," Walter tells the Las Vegas Sun. "I just sat there thinking it hadn’t actually happened." Walter, a retired horse farmer, says his wife of 48 years told him to play it; they've been coming to Vegas every few months for 20 years, and are MGM Grand regulars. This time, it took roughly five minutes placing the maximum $3 bet to win the whole jackpot. Walter says his next biggest winnings are $5,000 to $8,000 playing video poker. He adds that he plans to use the money for his children's and grandchildren's college educations. (Check out the size of the jackpot 17 adult siblings are splitting in New Jersey.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X